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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Semester Program GAIAS offers full-semester programs in English to international and national students of the biological and social sciences. Each program track consists of five intensive 3-credit courses taught in three-week modules.
MOUNTAIN STUDIES NEW Geology, Ecology and Socioeconomic dynamics of the Tropical Mountains in the Andes and the Galápagos Islands The high Andes of Ecuador are renowned for their active volcanoes, the beauty of their mountains, and the rich cultures that inhabit this range. Rich in biodiversity and history, the Andes are also crucial in terms of regulating the water supply of millions of people that live under the shadow of these mountains, a feature that generates intense social and environmental conflicts that challenge the long-term conservation of the high Andean ecosystems. With this program on Mountain Studies the GAIAS Institute of USFQ offers a unique academic and learning opportunity to students interested in the ecology, geology, culture, and conservation of the fragile mountain ecosystems of the northern Andes. Combining lectures and discussions in the Quito and Riobamba campuses of the USFQ, field and climbing trips to the Galápagos volcanoes and to some of the most beautiful peaks in Ecuador, the students will have a full immersion into the geomorphology, the ecological functioning, and the social and cultural factors that define the complex nature of the high altitude environments in Galápagos and the Tropical Andes. This semester program is divided in four modules intended to provide the students with a complete picture of the biophysical features of the tropical mountain environments and the cultural and social dynamics that have shaped their past and current condition. Courses include:
Please note: Students interested in taking full advantage of the trips and climbs that we will have during this module should be in good physical condition and must be ready to enjoy the unpredictable and sometimes very cold climate of the Ecuadorian Andes. PEOPLE, POLITICS AND THE ENVIRONMENTThrough classroom discussion and visits to several indigenous and traditional Andean communities, as well as to the Ecuadorian Amazon and the impressive Galapagos Islands, students in the People, Politics and the Environment program will explore the economic, cultural, and social issues that affect the relationship between humans and their environment. On both a local and global level, program participants will investigate the ways in which societies adapt to diverse ecosystems and examine the economic, political, and social transformations that societies have experienced as a result of tourism, fisheries, agriculture, and conservation efforts. Students will also evaluate the impacts that societies have had on fragile environments and address the manner in which conflicts related to these impacts can be managed in just and peaceful ways. Courses include:
The program is designed to address the importance of marine conservation and the social aspects of marine management by combining coursework and fieldwork on the Pacific Coast, as well as the unique Galapagos Islands. Students will study a variety of ecosystems in the classroom and on site, including subtropical ecosystems of the Humboldt Current and tropical ecosystems of the northern coast of Ecuador. Visiting mangroves, wetlands, cliffs, inter-tidal ecosystems, open oceans, and rocky and coral reefs, while studying sharks, marine mammals, reptiles, sea birds, and fish, students will learn in depth about different habitats and communities. Known for its diverse marine life, Ecuador is one of the best places in the world to study marine ecology. Courses include:
This program focuses on gender and ethnicity in the Andes. Particularly, given that in recent years Ethnopolitics has become a major focus in the social sciences, this track aims to provide an innovative program by bridging ethnicity with gender in the exploration of identity politics. The program addresses the relationship between gender and ethnicity from different disciplinary perspectives. Students will explore issues of gender, race and ethnicity in politics, literature, anthropology, and public health. One of the most distinctive features of our program is the opportunity to interact with local indigenous communities and carry out fieldwork based on each student´s academic interests. Our program aims at submerging students in the daily indigenous life while focusing on specific research and outreach projects designed with professors both from our program and the Center for Andean Freedoms, a research center based at the Instituto Santiago de Quito. The final course, “Hands-On the Andes,” consists of a fieldwork experience in indigenous communities under close academic guidance. In addition to the courses and fieldwork, the program includes a variety of trips to Cuenca, the Cotopaxi and Chimborazo National Parks, the indigenous communities of Casa Condor and Jambikiwa, and to the Caja Marca. Classes are held in SPANISH, although students are required to master both English and Spanish in order to access reading materials and speakers’ interventions in both languages. Courses:
GALAPAGOS AND ANDEAN GEOSCIENCE This innovative and interdisciplinary course aims to study the sciences that teach us about the Earth´s formation and cyclic evolution in a holistic way, from the origin of oceanic crusts and islands to the development of continents and mountain ranges. The interpretation of the geological archive related to climate change will be addressed, as well as the link between geological processes and the origins of life and biodiversity. Bridging archeology with environmental security, students will learn about the impact of volcanic eruptions on the evolution of ancient cultures. Socio-economic aspects of geological hazards and modern politics of disaster relief will be analyzed as well. The course will be held both in the majestic Ecuadorian Andes and in the “Enchanted Islands.” Courses include:
*All semester programs will open each semester provided that a sufficient number of students apply. To find out which programs are currently being offered, please contact the GAIAS Program Coordinator (gaias@usfq.edu.ec)
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