SFS-Italy: Pastures and Predators, Rewilding Central Italy
Program Details
| Program Location |
Greve, Italy
|
| Sponsor |
School for Field Studies |
| Program Type |
Co-sponsored |
| Duration |
Summer
|
| Upcoming Program Dates |
| Summer 2026 |
06/01/26 to 06/30/26
|
Please Note: Programs may be altered or adapted with little notice
Overview
What does it take to restore nature in landscapes shaped by centuries of agriculture? In this immersive program based in rural Central Italy, students explore how ecosystems can recover in working agricultural lands, from olive groves and vineyards to rewilding mountain pastures. Fieldwork, excursions, and community engagement offer a firsthand look at the ecological and cultural dimensions of restoration, as well as the conflicts and cooperation between wildlife conservation and food production. Students learn how restoration is unfolding on the ground, navigating both EU-level policy and the lived realities of farmers, rangers, and rewilding advocates.
- Monitor wolf and Marsican bear populations alongside researchers in the Apennine Mountains, and learn how rewilding projects are reshaping rural communities and conservation in Italy
- Visit the wetlands at Orbetello Lagoon, a vital stopover for migratory birds, to assess ecosystem services with conservation professionals from WWF
- Explore the rugged beauty of Maremma Regional Park, where wild boar, roe deer, and shepherding traditions collide in the ongoing story of human–wildlife coexistence
- Compare restoration approaches across vineyards, forests, rivers, and coastal scrub, and meet the farmers, foresters, and ecologists leading Central Italy’s ecological transformation
For more program information, please visit the
program website.
This program is sponsored by:
School for Field Studies.
Eligibility
The program is open to Purdue students in good standing who have completed at least two semesters of university study by the start of the program. Successful candidates will demonstrate academic success, maturity, and a desire to experience another culture.
GPA Requirement:
2.6 on a 4.0 scale
Language Requirement: none
Purdue Credit
Direct Credit
available from the following:
[
College of Agriculture]
Students interested in completing courses while abroad from Purdue colleges or departments that are not listed above should discuss this with their study abroad advisor before applying to the program.
Academic Program
This academically rigorous program follows a five days/week schedule. Each program combines theory learned during classroom sessions with field-based applications. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to help students actively discover and understand the complexities of environmental, social, and economic issues in central Italy.
Major academic themes include:
- Ecological restoration and rewilding in managed landscapes
- Conservation biology in agroecosystems
- Human-wildlife conflict and coexistence
- EU and regional conservation policy
All students will take one 4-credit class titled Wildlife Coexistence in Agricultural Landscapes.
For more course information, visit the SFS website.
Excursions
You will visit different ecosystems and communities which may include vineyards, olive groves, wetlands, lagoons, coastal ecosystems, pastures and livestock farms, mountain systems, forested landscapes, and fresh water lakes.
Housing
SFS will arrange housing in apartments with other students.
Two apartments housing up to 8 students each. Two rooms per apartment (up to 4 people per room in twin beds or bunks) with shared bathrooms. There may be up to 4 people per bedroom in twin beds or bunk beds. Each apartment has a kitchen, a living room, and small garden.
Classrooms and SFS Center are a 5-15 minute walk from your apartment.
Estimated Program Costs
Students pursuing program participation accept financial responsibility. Purdue will take measures to mitigate financial risks, although will not be liable for loss. Students should carefully note what costs need to be paid to Purdue University or to a co-sponsor or agency, and what costs need to be paid at the overseas study location. This will vary by program. Included in SFS program costs (Program and Housing Fees) are program advising and orientations, tuition and research fees, airport transfers, housing and meals during program time, field excursions and cultural activities, official transcript processing, and evacuation and 24/7 support in case of emergencies.
Costs for this program are estimated and subject to change. The cost figures listed below are
for: Summer 2026
|
Costs per term to be billed by Purdue
and Co-sponsor
|
| Program Fee |
$4,950.00
|
| Study Abroad Fee |
$609.40 |
| Housing |
$1,750.00 |
| Purdue International Insurance (per month) |
$32.00 |
|
Approximate additional costs per term
|
| To be paid by the student.
|
| Round-trip Airfare |
$1,500.00 |
| Meals |
$200.00 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses |
$0.00 -
$500.00 |
| Travel Documents (passport, photos) |
$175.00 |
Financial Aid
Purdue University financial aid may be applied to the costs of studying abroad. Students interested in receiving financial aid should
NOTE: Recipients of certain tuition remission and scholarship programs should pay careful attention to the regulations for using those benefits for study abroad. Ask your financial aid advisor about any limitations.
Click here for a list of scholarships and grants available to assist with the costs of studying overseas.
Application Deadlines
For full consideration, students must submit all supporting documents (typically an essay, transcripts, 1-2 recommendations, and copy of passport) before or by the application deadline. Popular programs fill quickly, often before the deadline. To ensure a place in a program, apply early.
As soon as a student submits an online application, a My Study Abroad account is created. Applicants should consult this page often to check on the status of the application.
| Program Application Deadline
|
| Summer Programs |
Mar 1 |
Returnees Information
Click below to search for Purdue students who have participated in this program and are willing to be contacted. If you get no results, you can use the search form to find people who studied in the country you are interested in.
Resources
The websites listed below contain information about this program. The accuracy of information at external sites cannot be guaranteed.
For more information on this program, please contact the Study Abroad Office by phone (765) 494-2383
or email
studyabroad@purdue.edu.
