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SFS Study Abroad: Himalayan Climate and Sustainability in Bhutan

Name: SFS Study Abroad: Himalayan Climate and Sustainability in Bhutan
Brand: The School for Field Studies (SFS)
SKU: 48648
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

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Location

Bhutan

Term

Fall, Short Term, Spring, Summer

Subject Areas

Agriculture Animal Science Asian Studies Biology Botany Conservation and Preservation Cultural Studies Earth Sciences East Asian Studies Ecology Environmental Studies Field Studies Geography Humanities Indigenous Cultures Life Sciences Natural Sciences Philosophy Public Policy Religious Studies Social Sciences Statistics Sustainable Development Tourism Wildlife Sciences +15

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Program Details

Program Type

Provider

Degree Level

Associates Bachelors

Housing

Dormitory

Language

English

Pricing

Price Details

Program fees include tuition, housing, daily meals, field excursions, entrance fees, cultural activities, advising services, airport transfers, 24/7 mental health and well-being support, official transcript processing and more – check out our website. Need-based scholarships available.

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Classes Meals Transportation Wifi

What's Included (Extra)

No Application Fee!

What's Not Included

Airfare Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Aug 03, 2023

Last Reviewed: May 26, 2019

Wish List

17 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

SFS offers some of the best (and most adventurous!) hands-on study abroad programs. 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.

The SFS campus is located in the stunning Paro Valley, at the base of a towering ridgeline dotted with Buddhist monasteries. Campus is a small cluster of buildings designed in the traditional Bhutanese architectural style. A short walk brings you to the markets, shops, and cultural events of Paro Town.

Click on Visit Site above to learn more about studying abroad in Bhutan with SFS!

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Program Highlights

Earn academic credit: 18 credits for semester programs and 6 credits for summer programs. Conduct a 4-credit research project during the semester program.
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.
SFS Bhutan semester research topics may include mountain ecology and conservation, climate change, Gross National Happiness, forest management, river ecosystems, agriculture and urban migration.

Popular Programs

Semester | Himalayan Environment in Transition

Spend a semester in a corner of the Himalayas where few foreigners ever step foot. Trek through remote villages and high mountain passes to experience Bhutan’s vibrant culture, Buddhist philosophy, and environmental issues firsthand. Learn about the challenges of maintaining biodiversity and traditional rural lifestyles in a time of transition.
5 classes | 18 credits | One life-changing study abroad experience.

Summer | Forests in the Land of the Thunder Dragon

Explore the rich culture, biodiversity, and dramatic mountain views of the Bhutanese Himalayas and learn how forests - which cover more than 70% of the landscape - are integral to the goals of Gross National Happiness. Spend your time surveying forests, visiting ancient shrines, and studying conservation and development in one of the most fascinating countries in the world.
1 class | 6 credits | One life-changing study abroad experience.

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I have been back in the U.S. for 2.5 weeks now, and I am glad to say that despite the time continuing to pass, I will never have a shortage of amazing memories to look back on from my semester in Bhutan.

The School for Field Studies has opened up the world for me; it has shown me another culture and way of life, a stunning country, and it has turned typical Western education on its head: you don’t have to be in a classroom to learn; you don’t need a library to study. SFS fosters learning in real-life situations: having to cope with language barriers when trying to interview locals; collaborating with peers to complete research projects; most of all, I think it helps foster self-reliance, self-compassion, and self-knowledge. Kadrinche la, Bhutan!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

Monks on the roof of a monastery, DANCING! They were fixing something on the roof and one was tied to another with a rope...it was both the most absurd and heartwarming thing I had seen!

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

female hiking

Why did you pick this program?

Elizabeth: I picked this program because I wanted real research experience and to travel abroad.

What do you wish someone had told you before you went abroad?

Elizabeth: I didn't want advice. I wanted to learn on my own.

What is the most important thing you learned abroad?

Elizabeth: Problem solving and communication. My people skills got a work out.

What do you tell your friends who are thinking about going abroad?

Elizabeth: DO IT and keep an open mind!

What was the hardest part about going abroad?

Elizabeth: Trying to not get frustrated at the new changes and adjustments you have to make to yourself.

What's your favorite story to tell about your time abroad?

Elizabeth: I love to tell people about the trek through the Himalayas and the sinking in quicksand, leech encounters and beautiful scenery.

What made this experience unique and special?

Elizabeth: Bhutan is a country that most people will never go to or see. Many people have not even heard of it. Just to go there was an honor.

Tell us about an experience you had that you could not have had at home.

Elizabeth: Climbing a mountain in a driving rainstorm was one of the proudest moments of my life. Even after climbing another taller mountain a month later, that mountain in Bhutan has to be my proudest moment.

bhutan fields

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Elizabeth: Keep and open mind and do not stress out if something doesn't work the first time.

What made this trip meaningful to you, or how did this trip change your perceptions, future path?

Elizabeth: This trip proved that I was made out of much sterner stuff than people gave me credit for.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Sophie Ohaus

Program

SFS Study Abroad: Himalayan Climate and Sustainability in Bhutan

Sophie Ohaus is currently the Program Intern at The School for Field Studies (SFS) in Bhutan. Sophie graduated from Colorado College in 2014 with a degree in Sociology and Global Health. After graduating she spent the year working for a qualitative analytics firm and a local community foundation, but the urge for adventure kept calling, leading to her to one of the most remote countries in the world, Bhutan!

Did YOU study abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

I studied abroad three times! The first time was between high school and freshman year of college with The School For Field Studies in Australia. The second time was the summer between sophomore and junior year of college in Ecuador, and the third time was junior spring in India.

The first time I studied abroad, I went because I wanted a break from conventional schooling before starting college. However, I found that I loved it so much I was constantly driven towards finding more opportunities to study abroad.

Also, as a sociology major I discovered my passion for understanding how people interact with the world around them, especially the interactions between humans, development, and the environment. Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to explore these interactions among different cultures all over the world.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Communication is key! I believe that proper communication is one of the most important aspects towards insuring a successful company, especially in study abroad where everyone is working outside their home environment and it is easy to get lost in a hectic schedule.

Our staff makes sure to check in at least once a day by having breakfast all together, and we have longer staff meetings once a week. These daily check-ins and weekly meetings help all of us stay on the same page and also makes sure that everything runs smoothly.

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What unique qualities does your company possess?

I believe that The School for Field Studies gives its student a rare opportunity to immerse themselves and give back to the local community through the unique Directed Research (DR) component. During the DR part of the semester, students have the chance to conduct a research project that specifically relates to the local community’s environmental needs.

Due to each SFS research station’s unique long-term research plan, these projects can build off themselves year to year, ensuring that the research informs local stakeholders and helps them to create positive changes in the community.

Here in Bhutan, the students don’t only get to present to the local community, but they also get the opportunity to present to a much larger audience in the country’s capital of Thimphu.

The Directed Research aspect is such a strong feature of SFS that with the guidance of our professors and the help from local stakeholders, the students often produce very high quality reports which has allowed them to present back home, get published, or develop senior theses.

Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of the SFS team.

It's hard to pick one specific time that I've felt especially proud to be part of the SFS team, there are just too many! Seeing how much our students grow over their experience in Bhutan is always a very rewarding experience.

This usually culminates for me when I watch them present their Directed Research findings at the end of the semester. Dressed in traditional ghos and kiras, the students always impress me, not only with their research but also in the way that they present themselves.

The ease at which they can talk to the local people, dress in national dress, and discuss their research makes me proud to know that these students are a part of The School for Field Studies' community.

About The School for Field Studies (SFS)

The School for Field Studies (SFS) offers field-based programs that revolve around environmental studies and research. The programs involve exploration of the human and ecological aspects of issues having to do with the local environments. Students assist SFS's global partners and host communities in their research, finding meaningful solutions to...