Playing with children in the rainforest.

The International Environment and Development (IED) program is a unique course of study that combines a seminar in Washington, DC with an intensive field practicum in Costa Rica (fall) or Ghana (spring). Together, we learn about key actors in the global community, study specific issues such as education, water and sanitation, bio-diversity, social entrepreneurship, and climate change.  
Students have a unique opportunity to meet and interact with experts, decision-makers, and others who work in the fields of development and environmental sustainability. Our time in Washington, D.C. includes visiting such well known organizations as the World Bank, USAID, and the Smithsonian, while we also regularly meet and interact personally with activists working on such topics as: community organizing, education in the developing world, wildlife preservation, coral reefs, women's rights, energy policy, and climate change innovation. We utilize diverse D.C. resources to explore environment and development issues locally, in national politics, and globally. Our trip abroad, towards the end of the semester, enables our class to study these issues in a real-world setting, to learn about new cultures, to meet people actively involved in solving diverse challenges, and to see and visit amazing sites such as the rain forest and cloud forest of Costa Rica (fall) and rural communities along with the elephants and baboons in Mole National Park (spring).

This program will help you to expand your understanding of environment and development issues, to build your professional skills and experiences, and enable you to explore exciting new places - all while learning from and working together with diverse students, experts, community members, and many others. We hope you will join us!

Please note that these program descriptions are proposed plans of activities. Specific travel itineraries and venues are subject to change.