TIERA Program

The interdisciplinary TIERA program is designed for students who are concerned about the environment and looking for a way to make a difference. Our two-week summer field courses embed students in a community-led conservation program in Ecuador led by FCAT, an award-winning Ecuadorian NGO. Students work closely with highly experienced locals on research projects linked to FCAT’s real world conservation programs, like monitoring reforestation outcomes, developing and marketing ecotourism ventures, protecting endangered species, and improving food and water security. These linkages between scholarship and conservation outcomes make TIERA a unique experiential learning experience for students who are passionate about environmental justice. Students that wish to continue their involvement in the TIERA program after the field course spend the following year developing and then implementing independent research or conservation projects, before writing them up as Honors theses. The 3 credit field courses satisfy the Public Service requirement and take an inherently interdisciplinary approach; students from all disciplines are welcome and scholarships are available.