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"The people who make GAIAS possible are all very inspirational. The professors are at the top of their fields and are filled with knowledge and enthusiasm, and really enjoy spending time with the students both inside and out of the classroom."
-- Matthew
The program is based at the Galápagos Academic Institute for the Arts and Sciences (GAIAS), an arm of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, a highly regarded university in Ecuador. World-class professors come from the mainland to teach at GAIAS. You may choose one of two course tracks of study: "People, Politics, and the Environment" (a social science focus) or "Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation" (a biology focus).
BIOLOGY FOCUS: Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation in the Galápagos
Designed for students of the life sciences, this program examines the central concepts of evolution and ecology and their application to conservation biology.
SOCIAL SCIENCE FOCUS: People, Politics, and the Environment in the Galápagos
Designed for students of the social sciences, this program examines the social and economic considerations relevant to the management of fragile environments. Students will explore the impact that people have on fragile environments, and the ways in which conflicts and issues created around these concerns can be resolved in just and peaceful ways.
All IPSL students take a special class, "Organizations, Development and Volunteerism," which begins in Quito and continues through the semester, in which you explore issues related to development, the environment and service, and relate them to your volunteer service experience. In addition, you will choose 4 of 5 GAIAS courses offered in your program focus (biology or social sciences). GAIAS courses are intensive courses taught in 3-week modules, worth 3 credits each. You may earn 15 credits for the semester. A transcript from the Universidad San Francisco de Quito is issued upon successful completion of the program.
Optional courses are offered for both tracks of study and include:
Spanish - A basic Spanish class may be available at the beginning of the program for students lacking any knowledge of the language. (Free of charge, but students must purchase the textbook.)
Dive Course - Students are encouraged to take an optional Open Water Dive Course offered by a PADI-certified dive instructor. (Additional fee required.)
Salsa - An introductory salsa dance course will be offered part-time in Quito and part-time in the Galapagos. A minimum of 10 students must register to open this course. 1 credit. (Additional fee required.)
Introduction to Digital Photography – Formal classes, critiques and daily photographic activities are combined to give students an overall understanding about technical and aesthetic issues in photography. A minimum of 10 students must register to open this course. 1 credit. (Additional fee required.)
Focuses on the concepts that have shaped the theory of evolution, and how Darwin’s experience in the Galapagos Islands influenced his ideas. Includes field research.
| Recommended US Credits: 3 | More Course InformationStudies the diverse manners in which humans have adapted to their environment, particularly to the sea and coastal environments, as well as the impact of their adaptation.
| Recommended US Credits: 3 | More Course InformationReviews and discusses the diversity of life forms dependent on the sea, their ecosystem context, and oceanographic conditions that support such life forms, leading to understanding of marine productivity and conservation issues. Includes regular observation of intertidal areas, diving, snorkeling, and monitoring of local fisheries.
| Recommended US Credits: 3 | More Course InformationProvides an introduction to the unique vegetation and introduced flora of the Galapagos Islands and reviews current conservation measures being used to control the threats affecting native flora.
| Recommended US Credits: 3 | More Course InformationExplores ideas and writings focused on development, the environment, and service, and relates to the students’ volunteer service experience.
Required | Recommended US Credits: 3 | More Course InformationExplores the fundamentals of conservation and wildlife management, examining some of the causes of decreasing biodiversity and exploring the tools used to assess, maintain and conserve bio-diversity at all levels. Includes fieldtrips to the cloud forest and Amazon basin of Ecuador.
| Recommended US Credits: 3 | More Course InformationEstablishes linkages between the environment and conflict, exploring the connections between environmental degradation and scarcity and the emergence of regional tension. Traditional approaches to security are progressively reframed to integrate the concept of human security, making the linkages between the environment and security increasingly apparent.
| Recommended US Credits: 3 | More Course InformationStudies the diverse manners in which humans have adapted to their environment, particularly to the sea and coastal environments, as well as the impact of their adaptation.
| Recommended US Credits: 3 | More Course InformationStudents who wish to pursue a specific area of interest may, with the guidance of a professor, develop a project that examines a particular socio-environmental issue in the Galapagos and propose possible solutions to the issue explored.
| Recommended US Credits: 3 | More Course InformationExplores ideas and writings focused on development, the environment, and service, and relates to the students’ volunteer service experience.
Required | Recommended US Credits: 3 | More Course InformationUsing different case studies in Ecuador and the Galapagos, the question is examined: Is tourism a threat or an opportunity? While tourism can produce serious negative impacts for local people and the environment, it also has the potential to provide incentives for conservation and social development.
| Recommended US Credits: 3 | More Course Information
