SIT Study Abroad: Panama - Tropical Ecology, Marine Ecosystems, and Biodiversity Conservation
- Location(s): Panama City, Panama
- Program Type(s): Study Abroad
SIT Study Abroad
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(For American Students)
Panama has some of the world’s most biodiverse and complex ecosystems, from highland cloud forests to Caribbean coral reefs. You will conduct seven weeks of field studies in five unique settings in Panama and Costa Rica. Learn how to estimate fore... read more
All Reviews
I gained life skills and a set of professional skills I can apply to future jobs. I was one of the few students who didn't have a STEM major. My major is politics with a minor in environmental science and I learned so much relating to environmental and social justice. Also, the field work associated with each module provides imp... Claire C - University of San Francisco View Entire Review
I gained a deeper appreciation for ecology and understanding of the research process through the ISP project. Interacting with people from around Panama also taught me a lot about sustainable agriculture, resource management, and community resilience. SIT Panama was 100% worthwhile for me. A student - Carleton College View Entire Review
I gained a new unique understanding and perspective on tropical marine ecosystems and blue carbon. I saw the impact of all kinds pollution in the natural environments and organisms on both land and in water. Mary K - University of Massachusetts / UMass - Boston View Entire Review
Not only did I learn information from my professors during our units, but I also learned life lessons during the program. I learned how to be on my own. I learned how to step out of my comfort zone when meeting new people and when speaking a different language. I learned how to go with the flow because not everything can go to p... A student - Ursinus College View Entire Review
I gained a broader perspective on life, especially learning about people from different backgrounds than my own, and a deeper understanding of the overlap between environmental and social themes. It was definitely worthwhile! Sofia H - Georgetown University View Entire Review
With SIT Panama, I grew in every imaginable way! Most notably, I have so much more confidence in my capabilities as a student, and as a thinker. Being a student is hard! I am more driven than ever to put myself into the work I am doing, and the work I will do after I graduate. My classmates and the people I was surrounded by whi... Macy A - University of North Carolina - Asheville View Entire Review
My experience with SIT Panama exceeded my wildest expectations. I was drawn to the program as a hands-on learner passionate about environmental issues, but I could not have expected the level of immersion, cultural & natural beauty, and generally incredible experiences that I was exposed to. This program gave me a much more nuan... Benjamin D - University of Richmond View Entire Review
I grew infinitely more confident in my abilities as a person from the obstacles and challenges of this program. The program gives students freedom and choice that requires one to really step up and make their own choices. It means that this program is what you make of it in the best way possible. Rose Z - Gettysburg College View Entire Review
I feel more aware of my place in the world and secure in my own competence and capabilities academically, socially, and professionally Joseph B - Sewanee: The University of the South View Entire Review
I learned so much about ecology and conservation in many different tropical ecosystems. I gained experience designing and implementing my own research project. This program was 100% worthwhile, and an amazing experience for people interested in conservation, tropical ecology, or who just love the outdoors. A student - Tulane University View Entire Review
This was absolutely a worthwhile program. I can't think of a better example of experiential learning or learning outside the classroom. I also had the opportunity to travel to some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life. Isaiah Moore - Lafayette College View Entire Review
I learned about another country and improved my skills as a researcher. It was 110% worth it. Gabriel Lefkowitz - Middlebury College View Entire Review
I learned an incredible amount about the intersection between humanity and the environment, the way that relationship plays out in society and politics, and how we can act within those dynamics. It was definitely worthwhile. A student - California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo View Entire Review
I gained an incredibly amount of knowledge and understanding inside and outside of the classroom. I felt challenged to look beyond the curriculum I'd been presented with at my home institution at the people and environments at the heart of tropical ecology. I was immersed in both local communities in Panama and in a community of... A student - Rice University View Entire Review
It was 100% worthwhile! The level of learning, cultural immersion, and social connection I took out of this experience is beyond words. I gained a much broader perspective on life, and I feel so much more confident, both in my skills as a scientist and in my ability to thrive in the global community. Every moment spent in this p... A student - Brandeis University View Entire Review
This program really pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me a lot more comfortable interacting with people I've never met before. I learned so much about the many different cultures and peoples represented in Panama, and about a range of biological, environmental, and social issues. Thomas M - Gettysburg College View Entire Review
Social skills, confidence traveling abroad, learning a language, overcoming language barriers, field methods, cultural immersion, place-based learning, seeing insane plants and animals, meeting incredible people from all walks of life, being reminded of the innate beauty and kindness of people. Kayley P - Middlebury College View Entire Review
I learned so much about so many different environments and communities Caruna G - School for International Training View Entire Review
It was very worthwhile. I gained new perspectives and experienced many new unique things and environments. John M - Georgetown University View Entire Review
I had an incredible semester seeing some of the most amazing things and places that I've ever seen all while learning about ecology and conservation. It really was amazing and I would do it again in a heartbeat. The travel aspect of this program was what made it so amazing, since trips to some of the best parts of Panama were pl... A student - Brandeis University View Entire Review
I gained a reaffirmation that traveling and sharing unique experiences with amazing people will always be something I pursue. I gained patience during chaotic times and when not everything was working out perfectly. I gained a ton a amazing friends that I will keep in touch with for the rest of my life. Cameron K - University of Colorado - Boulder View Entire Review
I felt like I learned more about myself in the 3 months I was in Panama than in the 3 years before. This program gave me a chance to push myself, try new things, and work on things I love. Kerry E - Gettysburg College View Entire Review
My experience in Panama was one that I will never forget. After the program I feel a lot more confident in my knowledge of tropical and marine ecology and in my conversational Spanish skills. I really loved how much the program challenged my world view, encouraged me to recognize my privilege as a visitor to the country, and hel... Sophia S - Brandeis University View Entire Review
I learned so much about field work and ecological research while on this trip. I learned how to create and execute my own research project and live by myself in a foreign country, which was an invaluable experience. Soleil F - University of Colorado - Boulder View Entire Review
I learned so much about myself, how to perform scientific research, and so much Spanish. I have zero regrets about going. A student - Davidson College View Entire Review
About
Program Type(s):
Study AbroadProgram Length(s):
- Fall
- Spring
Instruction Language(s):
- Spanish
- English
Relevant Study Subject(s):
- Agriculture
- Natural Resources, Conservation
- Environmental Studies
- Environmental Science
- Ecology, Evolution Biology
- Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture
Minimum GPA:
2.5Website
Take me there!Statistics
SIT Study Abroad Scholarships
Students who are Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) Scholars will receive a $2,000 award for SIT Study Abroad semester or summer programs.
$2,000
To recognize and support alumni of EIL summer high school programs who also participate in SIT Study Abroad programs. $1,000 for semester programs and $500 for summer. A $400 scholarship is also available to students who indicate that they have an immediate family member who has participated in an EIL or its College Semester Abroad program.
$400 - $1,000
For students enrolled at Hispanic-serving institutions, including member institutions of HACU who demonstrate financial need, SIT will award a $3,000 scholarship for participation in a semester program and $2,000 for a summer program.
$2,000 - $3,000
For students enrolled at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and who demonstrate financial need, SIT will award a $2,000 scholarship for participation in a semester program or $1,500 for a summer program.
$1,500 - $2,000
To recognize students participating in this community service program. Upon receipt of confirmation from a student’s Bonner mentor, SIT will award $2,500 for semester programs and $1,000 for summer programs.
$1,000 - $2,500
To recognize students participating in the National Security Education Program (NSEP) funded award, which focuses on study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to US interests and underrepresented in study abroad. Upon receipt of the student’s Boren confirmation letter, SIT will award a $1,000 scholarship.
$1,000
For students enrolled at Big 10 Academic Alliance universities. Eligible students demonstrating financial need will receive a $1,500 scholarship for semester programs and a $750 scholarship for summer programs.
$750 - $1,500
This is an automatic scholarship to recognize and support students who participate in two or more SIT Study Abroad programs, including alumni of short-term summer programs. The scholarship will be applied to a student’s second full term of study with SIT. The scholarship is $1,000 for a fall or spring semester program or $500 for a full-term, international summer program.
$500 - $1,000
An average of $4,500 (amount varies) is awarded to one female student, 22 years of age or younger, who demonstrates international awareness and a desire to create a more peaceful world through international exchange. This scholarship is available for summer programs only.
$4,500
These scholarships ($30,000 divided between several students annually, with an average award of $3,750 per student) are for students who wish to study in Latin America or East Africa and focus primarily on women’s reproductive health and/or other topics such as girls’ education, poverty, social justice, ecology, or regional integration. Preferred SIT East Africa programs are those based in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, or Tanzania.
$3,750
This $10,000 scholarship opportunity is for one student per year. The student must demonstrate extreme financial need, attend an HBCU (or other minority-serving institution), be a first-generation college student, and have never previously traveled abroad.
$10,000
SIT matches Federal Pell Grant funding up to $2,500 for semester students who use their Pell Grant to help pay the cost of their SIT program. Students utilizing their Federal Pell Grant for SIT Study Abroad summer terms receive up to a $1000 match.
$1,000 - $2,500
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