ATTENTION STUDENTS LOOKING FOR AN AFRICAN EXPERIENCE!!

The Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University is offering a 4- week study abroad program to South Africa entitled "Conservation and Biodiversity in South African Parks and Game Reserves" for Summer 2005 (May 14 – June 8,
2005)
This will be a wildlife ecology & management based course.
Primary objectives of the course are to:
–Introduce students to different conservation and management practices within and between national parks and private game areas/reserves.
–Introduce students to forest, grassland, wetland, desert, and coastal ecosystems.
–Allow students to examine plant and animal biodiversity within and between the different ecosystems.
–Provide an understanding of the interaction of wildlife conservation and management practices with local cultures and communities in a political and historic context.
–Provide students with hands-on, on-the-ground learning opportunities.
We can accommodate 12 students. We would prefer to take 12 students with strong conservation biology, ecology, wildlife biology and/or wildlife management type backgrounds and interests, no matter which institution they attend.
Non-MSU and out-of-state students pay for 6 Lifelong Education credits, which is slightly more than in-state tuition but CONSIDERABLY less than out-of-state tuition.
More details can be found below or at the following web sites: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/programs/safricacon.html
http://www.fw.msu.edu/studyabroad/southafrica/slideshow.htm
If you're interested, you can find an application at the following website: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/applications/index.html
Please feel free to contact me with any questions (schne181@msu.edu; 517-353-
2979)
Thanks,
Jim Schneider
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Conservation and Biodiversity in South African Parks and Game Reserves
Summer 2005
May 14 – June 8, 2005
What's this program about?
This four-week program, offered by the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University, will tour various South African parks and game reserves, including Kruger National Park, Cheetah Safaris and Game Lodge, Barberspan Bird Sanctuary, Campspannen Game Reserve, Kalahari Transfrontier Park, Hottentot Nature Reserve, and the Cape Peninsula.
At a time when natural resource managers are asked to consider global contexts of biodiversity and ecosystem approaches to management, this course will expose students to various South African ecosystems and will broaden students' scope of management by taking into account the impacts that land-based activities and international policies have on the natural communities in these ecosystems. The role of game reserves and National Park areas as management tools will be investigated and students will be introduced to social issues that are encountered when protection of biodiversity restrictions are imposed on a society. We will also address the role of hunting as a management tool of big game species on private game reserves and the impact of hunting on the surrounding communities.
Students will familiarize themselves with the flora and fauna of the different ecosystems visited; will interact with government officials and land managers; and will be able to participate in hands-on learning, including bushwalks, habitat sampling, population surveys and other field experiments.
What can I study?
Students will be required to enroll for six (6) credits in the following course:
FW 480 International Studies in Fisheries and Wildlife 6 cr.
Where will I live?
Accommodations will include tourist-class motel facilities in Pretoria, Kuruman, Upington, Stellenbosch, and Cape Town; cabin-style facilities while in the Kalahari Transfrontier Park, Cheetah Safari, and at the South African Wildlife College; and camping-style accommodations while at the Campspannen Game Area in the Kalahari Desert.
Most meals will be provided.
Who can tell me more about this program?
Jim Schneider
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
40A Natural Resources Bldg.
Phone: (517) 353-2979
E-mail: schne181@msu.edu
Harold Prince
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
13 Natural Resources Bldg.
Phone: (517) 355-3697
E-mail: hhprince@msu.edu
You can also visit the program’s Web site at
http://www.fw.msu.edu/studyabroad/southafrica/
Am I eligible?
This program is primarily intended for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students majoring in biological sciences, natural resources management, zoology, or a related field, but Michigan State University students from all academic majors, as well as students from other universities are encouraged to apply.
Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.00 at the time of application. Students will also be required to have completed an organismal biology course (i.e. BS 110 or ISB 202). Meeting these two requirements does not, however, guarantee admission – additional eligibility criteria may apply. Preferences will be given to upper-level undergraduate students and graduate students, and those with a science related background, particularly ecology (ZOL 355).
An applicant's participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.
How much does it cost?
The program fee is expected to between $2,500 and $3,000 (the exact program fee will be available once the budget has been finalized) and will include the following:
application fee
deposit
pre-departure orientation
accommodations
most meals
local transportation
accident and sickness insurance
field trips
Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget
include:
MSU tuition and fees*
airfare
books and supplies
additional meals
passport application fee ($85)
visa application fees (if applicable)
pre-departure doctor visits
pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
personal spending money

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Jim Schneider - Academic Adviser
Undergraduate Advising Center
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife
Michigan State University
40 Natural Resources Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-1222
Office: 517-353-9091
Fax: 517-432-1699
E-Mail: schne181@msu.edu
FW Web Site: http://www.fw.msu.edu/