This program fills quickly, often before the application deadline. Students wanting to participate in this program are strongly encouraged to complete the application early

Venture to a mountain kingdom where change is on the horizon. Few foreigners ever set foot in Bhutan’s small villages and stunning Buddhist monasteries – not until 1974 did the country open its borders to tourism. 

Based in Paro, you’ll explore the challenges of protecting biodiversity and maintaining traditional rural lifestyles in this time of transition. Study conservation and environmental issues firsthand against a backdrop of vibrant culture and Buddhist philosophy. Learn more about the famed principles of Gross National Happiness, gain an in-depth knowledge of local ecosystems, and wrap up the semester with an extensive field research project. Students meet SFS staff in Bangkok two days before the program start to explore the city and to ensure travel to Bhutan on the same flight.

The School for Field Studies (SFS) semester program, Himalayan Environment and Society in Transition, gives students a broad exposure to the core areas of environment, culture, development, and governance in Bhutan. Students will apply conceptual, analytical, and technical skills to help address questions related to natural resource-based livelihoods, conservation of biodiversity, and vulnerabilities to disasters.

• Embark on a multi-day cultural trek through remote villages and high mountain passes to experience the natural beauty of Bhutan's countryside and the traditional lifestyles of its people.
• Visit monasteries, such as the famed Tiger's Nest, and take part in unforgettable tsechus (festivals) to learn more about Buddhism and Bhutanese culture.
• Explore Bhutan's diverse range of biomes through trips to Himalayan ridges, the subtropical Punakha and Chukha Valleys, and the alpine meadows of Phobjikha.
• Debate and reflect on the complex and philosophical intersections of nature, development, livelihoods, religion, and happiness.
• Conduct a comprehensive field research project: Develop a research question, collect and analyze data, write a paper, and present your findings.
  

For more program information, please visit the program website. This program is sponsored by:School for Field Studies.

The program is open to Purdue students 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.

Prerequisites: One semester of college-level ecology or biology is required. Coursework in international development, cultural anthropology, and/or Eastern religions is strongly recommended.

GPA Requirement: 2.8 on a 4.0 scale
Language Requirement: none

You will take three 4-credit disciplinary courses, one 2-credit religion and culture course, and a 4-credit capstone Directed Research course. Courses are participatory in nature and are designed to foster inquiry and active learning. Each course combines lectures, field exercises, assignments, tests, and research. All courses are taught in English.

 

This is a field studies program which requires active field study. You will gain practical skills in the field such as: GIS and mapping, species identification and distribution mapping, forest and biodiversity surveys, camera trapping and mist netting, protected areas assessment, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, research design and implementation, and research presentation.

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.

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