Study Abroad in Biology
In today’s world, students need to have a global perspective with respect to geopolitical issues, economic issues, social and human rights issues, and environmental issues. This is no less true for their major disciplines. Many Biology majors study abroad. As with any other major, most tend to seek programs that offer a new cultural experience while at the same time offering them an opportunity to take courses in their major taught under a different educational system. We encourage our majors to take advantage of this great opportunity, but they must plan their schedule early to allow for such an opportunity.
Study Abroad
Any student wishing to study abroad should first contact the Center for Global Programs and Studies (global.wfu.edu) to get course information about the program to which he/she wants to apply. Then the student should bring the course information including syllabus to Dr. Wayne Silver (silver@wfu.edu), who will advise the student regarding whether his/her selection of courses meets the Biology department’s requirements for transfer credit. If approved, courses taught in non-Wake Forest programs come in as transfer courses and may be applied to the major. Courses taught in Wake Forest programs are considered regular Wake Forest courses; thus they count automatically toward the major (Biology majors may also take courses in other Wake Forest and non-Wake Forest programs that do not have a biology component).
Most Biology majors choose to study abroad during the fall semester of their junior year, although any semester following the completion of the freshman year can work with careful planning. Once a major has completed the core (BIO 113, 114, 213 and 214) he/she should be able to handle higher-level courses taught in an overseas program.
Our majors have studied in a variety of locations around the world. Wake Forest offers programs in London, Venice, Vienna, Salamanca in Spain, and Dijon in France. On occasion, these programs are led by faculty from the Department of Biology, offering students the opportunity to take upper-division Biology courses in these programs. The Department of Biology offers summer programs in Peru, Australia, and Belize.
Programs Offered by Faculty in the Department of Biology
In the past, substantial financial assistance (up to $2000) has been available from the Sullivan Fund (a Biology Department fund for students doing field courses or field research), as well as funds from the International Studies Center (~ $1000) for summer programs.
Tropical Biodiversity. (BIO 349) 4hrs. An intensive field course in tropical biodiversity. Students will travel to major tropical biomes, including deserts, glaciated peaks and rain forests. Lectures emphasize the basic ecological principles important in each ecosystem; laboratories consist of student-designed field projects. The course location varies yearly. P—BIO 113 and 114 and POI. Offered in the summer only. Contact Dr. Miles Silman (silmanmr@wfu.edu), x-5596, 134 Winston Hall and see http://tropicalbiodiversity.blogspot.com/
AUSTRALIA
Ecology and Resource Management of Southeast Australia (BIO 356) 4 hrs.
The Australia course consists of four modules that focus on rainforest ecology, coral reef ecology and management (at the Great Barrier Reef), the Australian outback and aboriginal culture, and the urban environment of Brisbane. This program is field-oriented with extensive travel through the ecosystems of eastern Australia. It is a four-credit hour course for which you can receive credit in Biology (BIO 356) and it can count as an elective for the Environmental Science and Environmental Studies minors. The logistics, such as in-country transportation, lodging and many of the meals are provided by the American Universities International Program (AUIP). Offered in the summer only. Contact Dr. T. Michael Anderson (anderstm@wfu.edu) x-5974, 049 Winston Hall.
BELIZE
Ecology & Conservation Biology of Coral Reefs. (BIO 312) 4 hrs. In-depth study of the various biotic and abiotic components that come together to structure ecosystem function and biodiversity at all spatial scales in one of Earth’s most productive and diverse environments, yet one most threatened by human use and climate change. The lab component is a one-week field trip over Spring Break to Lighthouse Reef Atoll, approximately 50 miles off the Belizean coast. Lighthouse Reef is one of the most isolated and pristine coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea, and is home to both the Great Blue Hole, made famous by the legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, and Half Moon Caye, a UNESCO World Heritage site containing the only Red-Footed Booby colony on the Atlantic side of Central/South America as well as highly protected coral reefs. Contact Dr. Miles Silman (silmanmr@wfu.edu, x5596, 134 Winston Hall) or Dr. Miriam Ashley-Ross (rossma@wfu.edu, x5529, 008 Winston Hall).
WAKE ABROAD HOUSES
Biology faculty often serve as the resident professor during semester-long and summer sessions at Wake Forest Houses around the globe. See http://provost.wfu.edu/global-affairs/wfu-abroad-programs/ for general details about abroad programs