Wildlife conservation courses and environmental study away programs—whether abroad or domestic—help prepare students for rewarding and impactful field careers. At a time when many college campuses are utilizing online-based and hybrid learning models in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, consider how a field-based program may offer a hands-on alternative.
We’ll never forget that first breath of fresh air after lockdown!
Studying abroad can help you to stay on track academically and gain practical field skills, in addition to the mental and physical benefits of living outdoors! Uncertainty is an inherent component of field work and the general nature of life in the backcountry.
As such, experiential education provides a dynamic experience which will expose students to environments and circumstances to practice a greater capacity to be flexible and learn to expect the unexpected.
Why is practical experience important for conservation?
Conservation Biology is, by definition, an applied discipline. Conservation biologists apply principles of biology and other academic fields to solve real-world complex situations. Students cannot learn the practical aspects of conservation solely from theoretical, lecture-based environments.
An academic understanding of the issues, policies, and complexities facing the biotic world (from individual species to the level of ecosystem dynamics) are important for building context around “why” we must conserve biodiversity.
But the more essential tools for building a foundational, reciprocal relationship with the environment are rooted in the miles walked, in shared conversations with local farmers and ranchers, or in watching a Golden Orb Weaver spin her web, glinting with morning dew.
Being out in the world is a LOT more stimulating (and rewarding) than staring at a textbook.
Experiential environmental education means that your knowledge of an environment is re-framed by direct observation over time as patterns of behavior or distribution are observed, and as theories to explain them are tested and retested.
The “how” is what students learn to apply through participation in a conservation-based study away program.
READ MORE: What Skills Do You Gain from Studying Abroad?
11 environmental study abroad programs that are hands-on
Editor’s Note: Due to ongoing changes in border restrictions throughout the pandemic, we advise that you reach out directly to the providers below to learn more about program dates in 2021 and beyond.
There are a number of wildlife conservation courses to choose from to study abroad. However, depending on the provider, each has a different approach to academics, scientific methodologies, and local involvement in their course culture.
1. Round River Conservation Studies
Why? Round River Conservation Studies is a research non-profit first, and a student program provider second. This distinction sets RRCS apart from other field-based opportunities because students are directly involved in real, dynamic conservation projects through close collaboration with the local land guardians who live in the landscapes where students will be working and studying. As a student, you will provide scientific expertise and help form conservation strategies that work in accordance with that community’s environmental values, while being exposed to the complexities of achieving conservation objectives in communities with diverse needs and interests. The groups are small (5-9 students) and operate more like a tight-knit biological field research crew than an outdoor classroom, living in your tent and under the gaze of blazing stars.
- Where? Chile, British Columbia, Botswana, Mongolia, Belize, and Arizona
- When? Dependent on program; Fall, Spring, Summer semesters
2. IES Abroad Freiburg: Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Why? Freiburg is a great place to keep up with your environmentally-friendly and sustainability studies. With this environmental study abroad program, participants can take courses in Environmental Studies, Forest Ecology, and Sustainability. Many of your classes will have you connect with the outdoors as you do some of your lessons outside the classroom along the Rhine River Valley, Swiss Alps, the Black Forest, and other breathtaking areas!
- Where? Freiburg, Germany
- When? Full Academic Year, Fall Semester, and Spring Semester
- Read IES Abroad reviews
3. Adelante Abroad: Ecology Conservation Program in Scotland
Why? A country rich in natural beauty and many ecosystems, you will find plenty of good reasons to take part in an environmental study abroad program in Scotland. As a student in this program, you will take classes like Conservation Skills and Habitat Management. You will also develop skills like tree felling, invasive species control, and meadow management. Program participants will find themselves outside the classroom as much as they’re inside. You will be visiting many places such as Edinburgh Castle, Isle of May, Loch Lomond, Trossachs National Park, and plenty of others! When you finish the program you will be able to gain up to six credits on your official school transcript.
- Where? Edinburgh, Scotland
- When? May, four weeks during the summer
- Read Adelante Abroad reviews
4. SIT Study Abroad: Comparative Ecology and Conservation in Ecuador
Why? Ecuador is known for its rich biodiversity, making it a great place to take some wildlife conservation courses! With this environmental study abroad program, you will participate in three week-long classes and be introduced to all the different ecosystems around Ecuador. Outside the classroom you will travel to farms, forests, and grasslands. Some well-known locations you will visit include the Andean Cloud Forest, Amazon Rainforest, and the Galapagos Islands. During your excursions and classroom time, you will be observing the impact human beings have on the environment and analyze different ways to promote conservation.
- Where? Ecuador
- When? Year-round, Fall Semester, and Spring Semester
- Read SIT Study Abroad reviews
5. GVI: Mexico Marine Awareness Service Learning for Groups
Why? For water lovers, this wildlife conservation course focuses on marine conservation in the Caribbean ocean surrounding Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. As a program participant, your courses will be curated to your academic level and interests. In your classes, you will study the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and discuss how you can apply what you’ll be learning to the UN’s initiative. You’ll take what you’ll be learning in the classroom even further and apply your knowledge to the outdoors. In addition to your classroom studies, you’ll be able to earn your PADI Open Water diving certification and dive along the Mesoamerican coral reefs while learning how to identify the different wildlife the reef is home to.
- Where? Mexico
- When? Year-round
- Read GVI reviews
6. Operation Wallacea: Indonesia
Why? With Operation Wallacea, the sky’s the limit in the number of conservation research projects you can participate in. The program’s location ranges between Buton Island and Wakatobi Island. The site has discovered 21 new vertebrate species and has been in over 90 scientific journals, detailed with the site’s scientific discoveries. Participants aid in data collection and are trained in certain skills and certifications to help learn more about environmental conservation. This environmental study abroad program offers the opportunity for students to use their research experience to help complete dissertations and senior theses.
- Where? Buton and Wakatobi Islands, Indonesia
- When? Year-round, 2-4 weeks or 5-8 weeks in summer
- Read Operation Wallacea reviews
7. DIS Copenhagen: Sustainability
Why? In a city where the number of bike users have surpassed car users, Copenhagen, Denmark is on track to become one of the world’s (if not the first) carbon-neutral capital city by the year 2025. Participating in an environmental study abroad program in Denmark, you will surely be exposed to some world-leading sustainability initiatives and environmental conservation projects. As a student, you can take part in multiple programs that range from Environmental Studies, to Food Science, to Public Policy, and many others! In this program, you will take your core class and have the option to add three or four other elective courses to tailor a program to your specific educational interests. You will even have the opportunity to apply to stay in the Green Learning and Living Community!
- Where? Copenhagen, Denmark
- When? Year-round, Fall Semester, and Spring Semester
- Read DIS Study Abroad reviews
8. SIT Study Abroad: Geoscience in the Himalayas – Summer
Why? This environmental study abroad program in Nepal includes courses that cover field geoscience, geohazards, and other kinds of environmental sciences. Students will go on mountain treks, conduct earth science fieldwork, and study the impact and connections humans have on the natural environment. With access to courses and fieldwork in the Himalayas, students will study the rocks and use maps and other tools to understand the changes that the Earth goes through. Better yet, as a student you will be able to conduct a field study project that is tailored to your interests.
- Where? Nepal
- When? Year-round and summer
- Read SIT Study Abroad reviews
9. Carpe Diem Education: East Africa Semester
Why? In this program, we promise you will not be short on sustainability and environmental conservation learning opportunities. From working on international development projects in Rwanda, tracking endangered rhino species in Uganda, and volunteering in rural schools in Tanzania, you will always be on the move. As a student, you will study sustainable food practices, sustainable and environmental conservation, and will help build homes in the local communities. During your time off from studying, you can have some fun and take a ferry ride to the island of Zanzibar to learn all about music and art. Sounds like an activity-packed itinerary where you’ll surely get the most out of your wildlife conservation course studies!
- Where? Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania
- When? 3-6 months; Year-round, Fall Semester, and Spring Semester
- Read Carpe Diem Education reviews
10. Pacific Discovery: New Zealand and Australia Gap Year Semester
Why? This program offers great individual attention and small-group learning, led by two experienced teachers. For three weeks, you will be participating in service and conservation projects throughout New Zealand and Australia. Both of the countries boast plenty of national parks, diverse wildlife, and marine environments where you’ll spend most of your outdoor studies. As a program participant, you will have the opportunity to backpack, canoe, rock climb, surf, and snorkel with turtles and fish, among many other outdoor activities. Environmental conservation is heavily stressed in this program, as Pacific Discovery devotes its programs to sustainable and ethical travel practices.
- Where? New Zealand and Australia
- When? 9-12 weeks; Year-round, Fall Semester, and Spring Semester
- Read Pacific Discovery reviews
11. CIEE: Tropical Ecology and Conservation in Costa Rica
Why? Divulge yourself into a world rich in biodiversity and learn all about tropical ecology and conservation in Costa Rica! As a program participant, you will take classes on tropical ecology and even some Spanish language courses to help boost your resume and language skills. You even have the choice to live with a local Spanish-speaking family to further practice your skills. As a student on this environmental study abroad program, you will also conduct an independent research project either in tropical ecology or environmental conservation. This specific program also includes outside classroom excursions to further your understanding of environmental conservation with on-site learning. Have time off from your studies? You can sign up for trips that visit the diverse landscapes of Costa Rica such as mangroves, dry forests, beaches, and rainforests to name a few!
- Where? Costa Rica
- When? Fall Semester and Spring Semester
- Read CIEE reviews
Can’t choose? Compare these programs side-by-side for FREE with MyGoAbroad
Environmental study abroad programs will boost your degree!
Leave that comfort zone and do something new!
If you plan to pursue an advanced degree in the environmental or biological sciences, learning the role you are best suited to can be solidified, discovered, or re-directed by studying afield!
If you are someone hoping to learn more about yourself and which role you might play in promoting, preserving, or protecting the finite resources on our planet—whether your career aspirations are to be an artist, an economist, or a field biologist—consider an alternative study away program where you can live in and learn from the landscapes you value.
Outdoor-based programs are able to provide socially distant, small “isolation pods”, and may very well be safer than staying at home or on campus as we navigate the uncertain future this pandemic has brought us. If chosen well, personal and professional skills development are not the only benefits of participation in an off-campus environmental program.
Whether you immerse yourself in landscapes near to home or across the globe, students will learn to observe the natural world by immersing themselves in the landscapes and ecosystems they are studying, such that they begin to see themselves as a part of, rather than separate from, wilderness and in turn can discover their role in supporting the continued vitality of life on our planet.
Explore ALL environmental study abroad programs on GoAbroad.com
This article was written with help from Round River Conservation Studies. Round River has been operating since 1991 with the goal of implementing strategies around the world that help conserve and restore wilderness.
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