*For reference, the Summer 2011 program dates were May 26 – July 6. These dates are subject to change. This website will be updated when the Summer 2012 dates becomes available.

Program Description

The Madagascar Study Abroad Program has been running since 1998 as an undergraduate course through Stony Brook University. Stony Brook University is a leader in the fields of anthropology, as well as ecology and evolution. Nine credits can be earned through participation in this program. Courses will conducted by resident and visiting professors of Ornithology, Entomology, Ichthyology, Limnology, Botany, Anthropology, Zoology, and Primatology. Students work alongside Malagasy and foreign students and scientists, and research station staff, with guidance from field course professors. Your independent research will contribute to our understanding of Ranomafana National Park and the link between the Park and the people of the region. For more information about the program, click here.

Program Highlights

• Anthropology, Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecology, Environmental Sciences Primatology, and Wildlife Studies
• Join the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments (ICTE) for a semester abroad in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar
• Credits awarded through Stony Brook University

Undergraduate Courses Offered

Students will take all three of the following for a total of 9 credits:

• ANP 391 Topics in Physical Anthropology: Comparative EcoRegions of Madagascar (3 credits)
  A cross-country trip will provide students with the opportunity to examine and compare ecosystems as diverse as rainforest, dry deciduous forest, spiny desert, mangrove swamps and coral reefs. At each stop, students will learn about the evolutionary adaptations that make the region unique and current conservation threats to local biodiversity.
• ANT 391-F Topics in Social and Cultural Anthropology: Exploring Malagasy Culture and Language (3 credits)
  Students will attend formal classes with native Malagasy speakers employed by the Centre ValBio to learn about Malagasy history, culture and language. Outings to meet with local community and school groups and the participation in a variety of cultural activities within the towns and villages that surround RNP with give students an opportunity to practice their skills and expand their understanding of what it means to be Malagasy.
• ANP 487 Independent Research in Physical Anthropology: Ecological Monitoring in the Tropics (3 credits)
  Students will learn the methods used by field biologists to monitor ecosystem health within a tropical forest and then develop and implement an ecological monitoring program to investigate the impact of invasive plant species within the forests of RNP. In carrying out this project, students will have an opportunity to practice the techniques that they have learned and provide much needed information to the conservation community and RNP management staff.

There will be an educational experience requiring students to participate in an organized service activity in the local community and a formal reflection on this activity

Health Insurance
International health insurance is included in the Program Fee

Eligibility

• Language proficiency is NOT required. 
• All undergraduates in good academic standing may apply.

Cost

• Application Processing Fee: $60
• Administrative Fee: $200
• Tuition costs: $220 per credit for New York residents, $613 per credit for non-residents
• Program Fee: TBA* (includes housing, two meals per day, group excursions, and international health insurance)
• Airfare: All participants will fly as a group with the program director. Upon acceptance, students will be given the necessary flight information and will purchase tickets individually. Students are encouraged to book early to secure the best price.

*For reference, the Summer 2011 Program Fee was $3,500. This cost is subject to change. This website will be updated when the Summer 2012 Program Fee becomes available.

• March 1
• Late applications will be considered at the Study Abroad Advisor’s discretion

Patricia C. Wright ( learn more about Dr. Wright )
Program Director
Professor Department of Anthropology
Director, Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments
SBS Building, 5th Floor, Room N-541
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-4364
(631) 632-7425
patchapplewright@gmail.com

Jennifer Green
Study Abroad Advisor
International Academic Programs
Melville Library, Room E5340
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-3397
(631) 632-7030
jennifer.green@stonybrook.edu