Department of Environmental Studies
Sustainable Development Field Studies
Learn more about the field studies offered through the sustainable development program.
In the Field
The Sustainable Development program offers field studies in Central and South America, among other areas.
Costa Rica
For three decades, Costa Rica has been the poster child for sustainable development and provides an excellent case study in this discipline. Students participating in Rollins field study programs in Costa Rica explore the interrelationship between humans and their natural environment within the context of sustainable development in Costa Rica. More specifically, they also work closely with models of sustainability in the areas of agriculture, ecotourism, and alternative energy production.
The program provides students with the opportunities for on-site field research in sustainable development. Throughout the program, students read and discuss material in seminar fashion and work on group projects, as well as hearing from faculty, local practitioners and visiting experts.
Each program (normally three a year) is unique, but since responses to the challenge of sustainable development vary by region, every program attempts to visit a variety of the many different habitats in Costa Rica. Usually represented are explorations of tropical dry forest of the Pacific coast, Caribbean lowland rain forest and montane cloud forest.
