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Locations: Bocas del Toro, Panama
Program Terms: Summer
Homepage: Click to visit
Program Sponsor: Field Studies

Dates / Deadlines:

There are currently no active application cycles for this program.

Fact Sheet:

#i18n(14)#
Program Type:	Affiliate Partner	Housing Options:	Dormitory
Credit Type:	Transfer Credit	Language of Instruction:	English
Provider:	SFS	Experiential Learning:	Research, Service-Learning

Program Description:

CONNECT WITH SFS

Visit the SFS website
Call the Admissions Hotline at (800) 989-4418
Email admissions@fieldstudies.org
Read updates from the field on the SFS Blog
Follow SFS on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Watch student videos on YouTube

TOURISM & ISLAND SYSTEMS:
ASSESSMENT OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES,
PANAMA

PROGRAM DETAILS

Term: Summer Session I
Credits: 4 semester-hour credits (8 credits if taken with Session II in Costa Rica)
Prerequisites: No course prerequisites: 18 years of age
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions. Early applications encouraged
Financial Aid: All accepted students can apply for need-based scholarships, grants, and loans

OVERVIEW

This course introduces students to the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of Bocas del Toro and the challenges presented by a growing reliance on tourism for economic development. Students assess the impact of tourism on the natural environment, including cultural, economic, and political dimensions. Students gain an understanding of the challenges of developing environmental policies that effectively conserve the region’s natural resources while providing economic sustainability for local communities.

Recognize the major forms and incentives of tourism in Bocas del Toro and identify key issues
Snorkel on the archipelago’s coral reefs, mangrove cays, and seagrass meadows to evaluate the health of local marine habitats
Practice environmental assessment techniques to identify drivers of human-induced stress in natural systems
Visit national parks in the archipelago to determine how tourism can support protected areas
Compare ecotourism lodges with large-scale resort hotels and assess their impacts on social, economic, and environmental systems
Explore lowland humid rainforests to understand terrestrial biodiversity
Perform cost-benefit analyses on tourist activities and identify the positive and negative effects on natural systems and livelihoods in the archipelago
Draft model plans for optimizing sustainable tourism in Bocas del Toro

This summer course can be taken individually (4 credits) or in combination with Session II: Applied Research Techniques & Strategies Toward Sustainability in Costa Rica (8 credits). The combined summer program provides a thorough introduction to environmental management, tourism, and sustainable development in tropical ecosystems.