Location:

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Fall Semester, Winter Semester

Program Overview

Program Description:

This Bioko Island Study Abroad Program takes place in the Spanish-speaking central African country of Equatorial Guinea and is built upon the long term academic partnership between Drexel University, the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program (BBPP), and the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE). The format of the program includes individual field research projects at the Moka Wildlife Center in the southern highlands of Bioko, coursework at UNGE in the capital city of Malabo, and additional fieldwork in the tropical forests, mountains, lakes and beaches of Bioko Island. To maintain the high level of individualized study, the program is offered twice a year (September - December & January - March) to a class of six to ten students.

The island of Bioko is one of the most beautiful and biologically-significant places in all of Africa. It is home to one of Africa's greatest concentrations of endangered primates and to numerous unique species of frogs, plants, insects, and many more species. During the dry season (November to February), butterflies gather in the rain forest and endangered marine turtles come ashore to nest on the black sand beaches. Nearly 200 species of birds fly amongst the island's three volcanic peaks, the highest almost 3000 meters above sea level (~ 10,000 ft). Located 20 miles (37 km) off the coast of Cameroon in west central Africa, Bioko is a part of the African country of Equatorial Guinea. At Bioko's northern tip is the country's capital city, Malabo (population: 100,000), a city pulsing with petroleum wealth and easily accessible from many European capitals. Moving south the island becomes increasingly rural, devolving into large swaths of undisturbed virgin rain forest.

The courses offered in this program have been specifically designed to reflect the realities of biodiversity conservation and sustainability in developing countries.Students are required to take all 5 courses for a total of 22 quarter credits (15 semester credits) during each 11-week term. Please note that Drexel students will be registered for 20 credits--earning only 2 credits for the Lang 180 course. There are opportunities for service learning, especially teaching English as a Second Language, as well as volunteering in local schools, clinics and at BBPP's Moka Wildlife Center.

The courses in the program are taught in English and the professors have advanced degrees from accredited universities in the United States.

Additional Program Information

Requirements:

- 3.0 minimum GPA - Sophomore status or higher - Open to all majors interested in learning about biodiversity, sustainability and conservation