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Study Abroad Home : Students - Programs Overview : Short Term Programs : Faculty_Led Programs

AN AMAZONIAN ADVENTURE

 

Facts Eligibility Academic Overview Safety Leaders Dates Costs

  • Meet the Amazon Forest
  • The largest freshwater system in the world
  • The largest biodiversity
  • One of the most unexplored ecosystems
  • But one being destroyed the fastest

City FACTS

We will be based in the city of Manaus the capital of the Amazonia State (the largest State in the Amazonian region in Brazil), located on the margins of the Amazon River, where we will be taking boats and land transportation to reach our field destinations. Manaus is centrally located, deep into the Amazon forest, but has an infrastructure that includes an international airport, universities, roads, internet, hospitals, city markets, and an opera house.

Eligibility Requirements

This program is open to all undergraduate and graduate students who are matriculated towards a degree in a U.S. university or college and have completed at least 24 class units by the time of the trip. Student must speak English, Portuguese or Spanish. The faculty leader speaks fluent Portuguese and will serve as an interpreter when needed. Those majoring in degrees other than Biology, but are looking for an educational adventure abroad, are welcome and encouraged to apply.  The diversity of the participating group of students can only enhance our learning objectives.

Academic Program

This course is offered by the Department of Biological Sciences at SJSU and all participants must enroll in 3 units of  Bio190 (http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/catalog/courses/BIOL190.html). Bio 06 is not a prequisite for this program. Students who have not taken Bio 06 should request an add code from Professor Ouverney.

Program Overview

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an unforgettable educational experience about the Amazon Tropical Rain Forest.  The Amazon basin, made of the Amazon forest and River, is a spectacular and vast tropical natural environment, covering an area larger than all of Western Europe.  It affects nearly every living organism on the planet by playing a major role in the global climate and global oceanic trends.  Students will visit a variety of subjects from global climate change to the ethnobotanical knowledge of indigenous tribes through daily field trips.   Students will be expected to keep a personal journal, which will be used in a final paper assignment describing their personal journey into the hidden treasures of this tropical sanctuary.

Accommodation, Safety, and Visas

We will stay in a hotel in the city of Manaus centrally located, secure, affordable, clean, and comfortable (separate bathroom and shower in each room and air conditioning). Standard amenities include daily room service, telephone, a small fridge, and a healthy complete breakfast with fresh juices and local fruits, breads, cakes, coffee, and tea.  Each room will be shared by two students, but for an extra fee a student may opt for a single room.

Visas: Students holding an USA passport must obtain a tourist visa one month prior to traveling to Brazil. Students holding passport from many other countries are exempted.  A list of exempted countries can be found at: http://www.brazilsf.org/visa_by_country.htm. Further information about tourist visas (including an application form) can be found at the Brazilian Consulate in San Francisco (http://www.brazilsf.org/visa_tourist_eng.htm). For all other locations, visit the Brazilian Embassy (http://www.brasilemb.org/).

Vaccines: The World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control (http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationbrazil.aspx) strongly recommend that those traveling to the Amazon Region be vaccinated for yellow fever, tetanus, hepatitis A and B, and typhoid fever.  Students must make arrangements with their healthcare providers for these vaccines.

Program Leaders

Cleber C. Ouverney, Ph.D.
Department of Biological Sciences
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0100
Email: cleber.ouverney@sjsu.edu
Office: 408-924-4806
Fax: 408-924-4840

Web: http://www.biology.sjsu.edu/ouverney

Program Dates

May 28th - June 18th

Application Form

Estimated Costs

SJSU Special Session Tuition (3 units, $250 per unit) $    750
Roundtrip Airfare $ 1,200

Housing, local transportation, class expenses, health insurance

           
$ 1,345
Estimated Total $ 3,295
   

These estimated costs do not include personal expenses as this varies among different participants.

Information Meeting for 2008 held:
Jan 28th, Monday 12-1pm DH549
Feb. 5th, Tuesday 12-1pm DH549
Feb 13th, Wednesday 12-1pm DH549
Feb 21st, Thursday 12-1pm DH549
Feb 29th, Friday 12-1pm DH549



 
Contact us at the Study Abroad Office, Clark Hall, Room 543 Tel  (408) 924-5931 Fax (408) 924-5976
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