Study Abroad 2007: Environment, Society, and Culture of Ecuador

Study Abroad 2007 - Tentative Itinerary REVISED APRIL 9, 2007

SEE DETAILED ITIINERARY BELOW

Environment, Society, and Culture of Ecuador
July 24 – August 12, 2007
If you are interested in the trip, please contact Dr. Betty E. Smith besmith@eiu.edu or (217) 581-6340 or office 4112 Physical Science Building.
If you missed the informational meeting and would like to see the presentation, it can be downloaded as a Power Point file. This is a large file (20 MB) and requires high speed connection to download.

The Informational flyer can also be downloaded as a PDF file.

Program Name: Environment, Society, and Culture of Ecuador
Location: Ecuador: City of Quito, Andes Mountains, Coastal Ecuador, Tropical Rainforest, and Galapagos Islands
Faculty Directors: Dr. Betty E. Smith besmith@eiu.edu  or (217) 581-6340 and Ecuadorian geographer Dr. Mario E. Andino marioandinoe@hotmail.com
Dates: 7/24/07-8/12/07

Foreign/Study Abroad Course Number(s) and Title(s):
Registration for a total of 4 semester hours of credit required for this program
Undergraduate:
STA 3970 4 SH Study Abroad, faculty-led program, 4 semester credits
STA 3990 (Honors-special permission required from Honors College ) 4 SH Study Abroad, faculty-led program, 4 semester credits
Graduate:
STA 5970 3 SH Study Abroad, faculty-led program, 4 semester credits

EIU Equivalency or Substitution Course(s):
GEG 1100G Cultural Geography 3 SH GENERAL EDUCATION SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORIAL SCIENCES
GEG 1190G Cultural Geography Honors 3 SH GENERAL EDUCATION SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORIAL SCIENCES
GEG 3065 Geography and Culture of Latin America 3 SH
GEG 3970 Study Abroad in Geography 4 SH
HIS 3970 Study Abroad in History 1-4 SH
FLE 3985 Environment, Society, and Culture of Ecuador 1-4 SH
EIU 4101G Spaceship Earth GENERAL EDUCATION SENIOR SEMINAR 3 SH
EIU 4190G Spaceship Earth GENERAL EDUCATION SENIOR SEMINAR HONORS 4 SH
ESC 4400 Independent Study in Earth Science 4 SH
GEG 4400 Independent Study in Geography 4 SH
GEG 4444 Independent Study in Geography (Honors) 4 SH

Estimated Program Cost: $5597 (Tuition and Fees Additional)

Deadline to sign up:    9 April 2007.  Please do not miss this deadline. 
You can sign up through the School of Continuing Education
http://www.eiu.edu/~adulted/programs/studyabroad.php

Brief Program Description: This Study Abroad program will provide a cross cultural and scientific experience as participants, over a three week period of time, traverse and explore unique ecological zones along the equator. The course combines the study of geography, earth science, culture and history. Participants will study the volcanic landscape forming processes of the region and observe the impacts of these processes on topography, hydrology, soils, various forms of agriculture and settlement patterns. Rural mountain and jungle people are visited. The geography of human environment interactions are examined in the high Andes Mountains, north coast, tropical rainforest of the Ecuadorian Amazon, and on the Galapagos Isles located 600 miles off the coast of South America . At the conclusion of this program participants will have life time memories and a broader view of the cultures of the developing world.

City of Quito is a United Nations (UNESCO) World Heritage site of exceptional cultural value
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and stands at an altitude of 9,200 feet. Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has the best-preserved, least altered historic centre in Latin America. The monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo, and the Church and Jesuit College of La Compañía, with their rich interiors, are pure examples of the 'Baroque school of Quito', which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art.

The Galapagos Islands is a United Nations (UNESCO) World Heritage site of exceptional natural beauty
The Galapagos Islands are part of the country of Ecuador. Situated in the Pacific Ocean some 600 miles from the South American continent, these nineteen islands and the surrounding marine reserve have been called a unique living museum and showcase of evolution. Located at the confluence of three ocean currents, the Galapagos are a melting pot of marine species. Ongoing seismic and volcanic activity reflect the processes that formed the islands. These processes, together with the extreme isolation of the islands, led to the development of unusual animal life - such as the land iguana, the giant tortoise, and the many types of finch - that inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution following his visit in 1835.

What is a UNESCO World Heritage site? Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located. Since 1972 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has sought to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.

Passports:
If you received your last passport more than ten years ago, or never had one, it is time to get a new passport.  They are easy to obtain, but may take between six (6) and eight (8) weeks so it is best to order them early.  On the U.S. Department of State's Passport page look on the left side naviagation bar to choose either a first time (new) passport or a renewal.  Passports fees total $97.  You will also need two (2) 2" x 2" color head shots.  The photos can be obtained at Walgreens, Osco, Kinkos, and many other similar stores.

Itinerary REVISED APRIL 9, 2007: