LAS 340 - Environmental Science Seminar

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OFFERED SPRING SEMESTERS ONLY. As the foundation of the Environmental Science concentration, participants explore the natural sciences in a tropical setting and study their influence on the process of sustainability through this seminar and the required co-requisite field research. Students are immersed in a variety of ecosystems: dry forests, lowland rain forests, mountain cloud forests, volcanic regions, as well as beautiful reefs. Costa Rica serves as a natural laboratory. Students of the Environmental Science Concentration will 1) Aid in longitudinal research projects ranging from ecology to ecotourism; 2) Examine sustainable development and management of Costa Rica’s protected natural areas; 3) Investigate the general ecology of several tropical biomes, including highland cloud forest, mangrove forest, coral reefs, lowland rain forests and dry forests; and 4) Study from the perspective of an informed Christian steward of the creation.

Required Pre-requisites: One semester of zoology or an applied laboratory science, Recommended Prerequisites: One semester of general chemistry or physics.
Corequisites: Corequisites: LAS 352.

Notes: Enrollment is limited to students admitted to the Latin American Studies Program, a study abroad semester based in Costa Rica.