1. SEMESTER PROGRAMS

GAIAS offers full-semester programs in English to international and national students of the biological and social sciences. The area of "Evolution, Ecology and Conservation in the Galapagos" targets students of the biological sciences, while the "People, Politics, and the Environment" track is aimed at social science students. A Marine Ecology program will be opened in Fall 2007 to focus on marine life and ecosystems. The semester-long programs each consist of five intensive 3-credit courses, all taught in three-week modules. As part of the GAIAS courses, the students will also visit theTiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazonia, and at USFQ's Riobamba campus in the highlands; in the Galapagos, the courses include outings to various sites and a 4-day cruise in the archipelago. In addition to the core courses, GAIAS also offers optional Basic Spanish and an Introduction to Digital Photography. GAIAS students are also able to participate in fieldwork, volunteer work and/or independent research projects for credit.

Course options:

Evolution, Ecology and Conservation in the Galapagos

Tropical Ecology
Native and Introduced Plants of the Galapagos
Evolutionary Biology
Introduction to Marine Life of the Galapagos Islands
Human Ecology and Maritime Communities

People, Politics and the Environment

Wildlife Conservation Management
Health and the Environment
Political Ecology
Tourism, Community, and Environment
Human Ecology and Maritime Communities

Optional:
Hands-On Galapagos (3-credit independent study project)

Marine Ecology

Biology of Fish and Fisheries
Techniques for Marine Research
Introduction to Marine Ecosystems
Marine Conservation Biology
Human Ecology and Maritime Communities

Program Highlights

• Independent study and/or community service project
• Field trips & fieldwork as an integral part of every GAIAS course
• Small class size & individualized attention
• Optional 1-credit course, "Introduction to Digital Photography"
• Optional Basic Spanish course
• Galapagos day boat tours
• Trip to Isabela Island
• Trip to Riobamba and Volcano Chimborazo (Ecuadorian highlands)
• Trip to Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon jungle ( http://tiputini.usfq.edu.ec/ ) Evolution and Politics programs only
• Quito City Tour & Mitad del Mundo (equatorial divide)
• Galapagos homestay option
• Resident Coordinators in Quito and Galapagos

Application Deadline:

June 15 for Fall Semester
November 15 for Spring Semester

2. Short Programs

In addition to our regular academic programs, GAIAS offers short-term, tailor-made programs that can be designed to fit the specific needs of any group. These specialized courses generally last two to four weeks and can be taught by USFQ, faculty from the interested institution in conjunction with USFQ and/or local experts from the Galapagos.

3. Community College for the Local Population

In September 2002 USFQ began operations of its community college at GAIAS. The community college aims to provide the necessary skills for the sustainable development of the unique, delicate, and complex natural environment of the Galapagos by offering courses designed for the local population, including ecotourism, languages, hospitality management, culinary arts, sustainable agriculture and fishing, and home and health management. Two-year Associate degrees are currently being offered in Business Administration, Natural Resource Management and Tourism Management.

4. English as a Second Language (ESL)

In addition to regular course selections, GAIAS also offers English as a Second Language (ESL) to its students and members of the local community. Experienced teachers are recruited internationally and undergo an intensive training session at USFQ’s main campus in Quito before traveling to the Galapagos. ESL volunteers reside at GAIAS during the length of their term.

5. Educational Enrichment Courses

Throughout the year GAIAS offers professional development courses, seminars and workshops to the local population. These sessions, which have included topics such as tourism management, math and techniques of teaching English as a Second Language, are carried out with the intention of enriching the educational level of the local population.

6. New Summer Program: Marine Mammals

Marine conditions of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands present perfect possibilities to study marine mammals on site. At the GAIAS field station at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on the Galapagos Islands where several baleen whales and dolphin species can be found just off San Cristobal, students can learn how to identify a variety of the 33 species occurring in Ecuadorian waters. Galapagos sea lions are famous for their tameness and actually have their largest colonies on the beaches of San Cristobal where GAIAS is involved in an ongoing sea lion monitoring and conservation program.
The continental coast of Ecuador is one of the main breeding areas for the south eastern pacific humpback whale population and at the tropical coast of Esmeraldas humpback whales NAZCA/ USFQ is carrying out a longterm monitoring project on the dynamics, behaviour and habitat use of these animals.

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