Biological Science

Travel and Field Courses

This page lists field courses in the biological sciences. These require a fee and are typically eligible for college credit, though for some it may be via Independent Study arranged at your home institution.

Spring 2026

Center for Wildlife Studies Courses

Look for course available for academic credit; you will want to set it up as an independent study through your home institution. https://www.centerforwildlifestudies.org/courses

Summer 2026

1/19 – Two-week wildlife field techniques course (May 17-30) in the Adirondacks – NY

The Northeast Section of The Wildlife Society, in cooperation with Paul Smith’s College, will be hosting our 14th annual 2-week Wildlife Field Course at Paul Smith’s College, New York, May 17-30, 2026. 

Please visit the course website for details and application materials:   http://wildlife.org/ne-section/about/student-field-course/

The course fee is $1300 and includes 3 undergraduate or graduate credits through Paul Smith’s College (PSC) and room and board for the 2 weeks.  The course is housed at the PSC Campus on 14,000 acres of forests, lakes, and streams amidst the 6 million acres of the Adirondack Park.  The course emphasizes hands-on experience with basic field techniques (small mammal trapping, bird point counts, habitat sampling, radiotelemetry, etc.) and small group work organized around the theme of conducting a biological inventory.   We also provide hunter education training and certification in Project Wild. The course is led by practicing wildlife biologists and ecologists who volunteer their time to serve as instructors providing great networking opportunities and career perspectives during evening discussion sessions.  We usually have 20+ guest instructors from various state and federal agencies, consulting firms, and universities.  The November/December 2017 issue of The Wildlife Professional (www.wildlife.org) has a short article on the course which is accessible from the course website.  Several chapters of The Wildlife Society offer full or partial scholarships to eligible students, too.

Enrollment is capped at 20 students; we accept undergrad or grad students from any college or university, you do not need to be enrolled in a wildlife major to be eligible and we also accept unenrolled students who have already completed a degree and are looking to gain field skills.   Please do not reply to this email with questions but contact me at: nefieldcourse@gmail.com.

1/19 – Freshwater Algae class – NY

FRESHWATER ALGAE IDENTIFICATION WORKSHOP – SUMMER 2026

May 18 – 29, 2026
Louis Calder Center – Biological Field Station, Fordham University

We are pleased to again offer our summer freshwater algae field course.  We focus on all groups of freshwater algae from diverse aquatic habitats. Students and professionals can gain proficiency in (or sharpen up on) using taxonomic keys, examining ecological factors influencing algal biodiversity, and collect high-resolution algal images and image vouchers.   Instructor: Dr. John Wehr ( wehr@fordham.edu )

We are located in southern New York state in a wooded preserve that includes a 10-acre mesotrophic lake. We are less than an hour from New York City, and a short distance from the Appalachian Trail, the Hudson River, and many pristine and human-influenced aquatic ecosystems.  We will sample a diverse range of lake, pond, and river habitats. We provide a full array of sampling gear, microscopy facilities, and an extensive taxonomic library.    
    Algal images from our lake: https://www.fwa-biodiversity.org/algae-of-calder-lake
    About the field station: https://www.fordham.edu/calder_center
    Housing at the field station, as available, by request (contact: aperrone@fordham.edu ).

Registration is Open!: www.fordham.edu/FWalgaeID      Deadline:  March 31, 2025.
    – Registration Fee: $2000 (double room); $2250 (single room).  Cost includes on-site housing (limited number).  
    – Meals are not provided, but cooking facilities are available with housing.
    – Transportation costs to and from the field station must be arranged by the student.
Interested or Questions?  Contact John Wehr ( wehr@fordham.edu ) or Alissa Perrone (aperrone@fordham.edu).

1/9 – Sustainable Agriculture in Greek Olive Groves

Applications are now open for the Sustainable Agriculture & Biodiversity Field Course in Greece, hosted by the Institute for Field Research and the University of the Aegean. This three-week summer program (June 6-June 26, 2026) is based on the island of Lesvos, providing students with an immersive experience in environmental fieldwork (and not to mention a beautiful backdrop for our research!). 

Course overview:  Participants will study the impact of different environmental management methods on biodiversity within Mediterranean olive groves, exploring the balance between productive farming practices and ecosystem health. Through field and lab-based research, students will contribute to research shaping conservation practices for Mediterranean agro-ecosystems. Key practical skills include:

  • Biodiversity assessments and population monitoring
  • Species identification and survey techniques
  • Environmental data collection and habitat assessment using drones and camera systems
  • Use of pitfall and pan traps for arthropod sampling
  • Scientific writing and presentation skills

Field course details: Housing is provided in modern, self-catering university dorms, and cultural activities and excursions are included in the program. Participants will earn academic credit through Connecticut College upon successful completion of the program.

Key deadlines: The priority application deadline is February 1 with rolling admissions thereafter until the course is filled.

Learn more:

12/11 – Kayapo Project Internship and Field Course – Brazil

Dates: June 26 – July 14, 2026

Location: Kayapo Indigenous Territories, Brazil

Anticipated Cost: $4495 USD*

Program Interest form: https://forms.microsoft.com/r/ZNcDFVGRT5

Program Website: kayapo.org/field-course

*100% of the program fee is used to support the A’Ukre community or cover program costs.

About the Program: The Mebêngôkre-Kayapó (Kayapo) live in, manage, and protect one of the world’s largest, continuous tropical forest areas. The Kayapo Field Course and Internship, started in 2004, is a partnership between the Kayapo community of A’Ukre, Biome Conservation, Pykôre Association, and the Protected Forest Association. Guided by an Indigenous, Brazilian, and North American team, the program offers an experiential introduction to Kayapo landscapes and livelihoods of inside Amazon’s highly threatened “arc of deforestation.” After traveling through the Brazilian frontier, participants spend two weeks with the A’Ukre community, immersing themselves in village life and learning about the Amazon forest at the Pinkaiti Ecological Research Station.

The program is offered by Biome Conservation (also known as the International Conservation Fund of Canada). University credits may be available through the Federal University of Para. Program directors can facilitate independent study or internship credits for participants. The program is also eligible for the Gilman Scholarship for study abroad. 

The program is one of the only ways to visit the Kayapo Territories.

11/5 – Hands-On Shark Research Opportunities – FL

Next summer marks the 15th anniversary of the Coastal Marine Education and Research Academy (CMERA) — one of the most immersive and hands-on shark and ray research programs for college students in the U.S.! For over a decade, students from universities nationwide have joined CMERA in Clearwater, Florida, to:

  • 🦈 Catch, tag, and collect data on wild sharks and rays
  • 🌊 Build real-world research and conservation skills
  • 🎓 Strengthen resumes for graduate school and careers in marine science

No prior experience is required — just curiosity and passion for the ocean.

Special 15th Anniversary Offer: Students registering for four or more weeks will receive the “Shark Field Research Methods” Certificate Course FREE with their enrollment.

  • 📅 Program Dates: May–August 2026 (18 flexible weeks)
  • 📍 Location: Clearwater, FL
  • 💰 Early Enrollment Discounts End: November 30, 2025

👉 Learn More: www.coastalmera.com

10/6 – Tropical Ecology Field School in Belize

Now entering its fourth season, this immersive, field-intensive course offers a rare opportunity to learn and apply wildlife sampling techniques in several protected areas across Belize. Students will explore the importance of wildlife corridors and gain hands-on experience surveying birds, small mammals (including bats), primates, crocodiles, cave-dwelling insects, and tropical plant species. Participants will also learn to collect, process, and analyze meteorological data from caves and bat acoustic data from cave-adjacent surface environments. Fieldwork spans a stunning array of ecosystems including tropical pine savanna, cohune palm ridges, broad-leaf forests, and upland tropical forests. Instruction will be delivered by conservation biologists, naturalists, community leaders, and cultural experts, offering students with direct access to local knowledge and global conservation perspectives. This fast-paced, physically demanding course (aka Jungle Book Camp) is designed for those eager to challenge themselves while contributing to a multi-year research project. Students will traverse rugged backcountry terrain with 30–40 lb field packs for up to 5 miles (round trip), collect and analyze ecological data, and present their findings to the Belizean community—an experience that will not only build science communication skills but will also foster cross-cultural engagement and personal growth. For those passionate about conservation and ready to step outside of their comfort zone, this course is more than an academic experience, it’s a transformative journey of high adventure.

All course assignments will be oriented toward the documentation and distillation of lectures and fieldwork. This will include data collection and analysis, use of smartphone apps for plant and animal identification, photo-documentation, and other work as appropriate.

https://edabroad.nau.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=11156

This program is open to both graduate and undergraduate students. Students not attending Northern Arizona University may also take this course for credit.
Application deadline: 16 FEB 2026

Fall 2026

10/6 – Semester by the Bay Program – AK

I am writing to ask and encourage you to share the following information with your colleagues and students about an amazing program offered at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula College, Kachemak Bay Campus.  The Semester by the Bay Program is an Alaska, place-based experiential learning program in Homer, Alaska is an ideal place to study and explore Marine Mammal Biology and Conservation Ecology.  We hope that all we offer (e.g. experiential learning, internships, incredible courses with world-renowned instructors, with access to one of the richest marine estuaries in the world) can work into your students’ academic program and goals.  Our Fall semester focuses on Marine Mammal Biology, while our spring semester focus is Conservation Ecology.

We are currently recruiting students and planning for the Fall 2026 semester.  

We will be offering a 16 credit Marine Mammal Biology Certificate program.  Classes offered are:
BIOL 325 Advanced Marine Skeletal Articulation (2CR)
BIOL 430 Marine Mammal Biology (3CR)
BIOL 432 Experiential Learning: Marine Mammal Biology (2CR)
BIOL 458 Behavioral Ecology of Marine Mammals (3CR)
BIOL 459 Experiential Learning: Behavioral Ecology of Marine Mammals (2CR)
BIOL 492A Undergraduate Seminar in Marine Mammal Conservation (1CR)
BIOL 495A Internship in the Biological Sciences (3CR)

We will also take applications for the Spring 2027 semester at this time.
Each Spring, we also offer a 17 credit transcripted certificate in Conservation Ecology.  Spring classes offered are:
BIOL 473 Conservation Biology (3CR)
BIOL 483 Exploration Ecology (2CR)
BIOL 484 Experiential Learning: Exploration Ecology Field Study (4CR)
BIOL 490 Global Climate Change (3CR)
ENGL/JRNL A278 Sharing Science Across Diverse Audiences, 2 credits (1 cr lecture, 1 cr lab)
BIOL 495A Internship in the Biological Sciences (3CR)

Each of these two separate semester packages of 16-17 credits includes an opportunity for students to both participate in an internship and conduct guided undergraduate research.  Some internships offer free or reduced housing and ALL students receive in-state tuition.

Completion of either semester’s hands-on, intensive program will earn a student a stand-alone degree called an Occupational Endorsement Certificate (see https://kpc.alaska.edu/academics/areas-of-study/occupational-endorsement-certificates/conservation-ecology-oec.cshtml  for Spring and https://kpc.alaska.edu/academics/areas-of-study/occupational-endorsement-certificates/marine-mammal-biology-oec.cshtml for Fall). We will work with students and their institutions to ensure course transferability in addition to earning these certificates
Please see our website for more information on internships and the SBB program
https://semesterbythebay.org/

Thank you very much for your time and attention to this email, and for your help in spreading the word about our programs.  Please direct students to our website at https://semesterbythebay.org/ or have them contact me directly at kjgoldman@alaska.edu if you have any questions.

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