Eligibility
- 18 years of age or above
- Good academic and disciplinary standing at Penn State
- 3.3 cumulative GPA or better at the time of application review
- Junior standing or above at the start of the program
- Students from all disciplines are welcome on the program. Course projects can be tailored to fit academic interests and community needs.
- Students should expect long days of walking and hiking for research, sometimes in rugged terrain, and in hot, humid weather conditions.
Program Description
Udzungwa Mountains National Park lies in south-central Tanzania, about 200 miles west of the coastal city of Dar es Salaam. Containing some of the highest biological diversity in Africa, Udzungwa also borders human settlements where villagers struggle every day to meet their basic needs for food, fuel, and clean water. One of the greatest challenges faced by the park is conserving nature amid growing local populations and their needs.
This interdisciplinary program focuses on those local communities, aiming to create designs and development strategies to accommodate village needs for food, fuel, and water on lands outside the park, thus reducing the pressure to use park resources. Reducing pressure on park resources is, over the long term, essential for biodiversity conservation. Led by faculty conducting research at the park, the program also involves partners from Tanzanian universities and government agencies, international non-government organizations, and researchers, exposing students to a wealth of inter-disciplinary and inter-organizational expertise.
The program welcomes students from all backgrounds to gain hands-on experience in the principles of environmental design, land use planning, and ecotourism development through an applied project and visits to Udzungwa and other parks, towns, and villages to observe and document land use and biodiversity.
Additional information available at https://arts.psu.edu/degrees/study-abroad-tanzania/
Dates
Summer: May 16 - June 23, 2023
Program Costs
Summer Costs
For more information on program costs, please be sure to review the budget sheet. These budget sheets include information on costs that are billable to the bursar bill, as well as estimated additional costs. Costs vary by program, so it is important to review this information carefully.
Please note that tuition rates may vary depending on major and class standing.
Scholarships
The Education Abroad Office awards a number of grants and scholarships to students who participate in an education abroad program through Penn State Global. The application for the scholarships awarded through the Education Abroad Office is included with your program application. Eligibility is based on academic merit and/or financial need. You must have a current FAFSA on file to be awarded. There are additional scholarship opportunities through our partner universities, Penn State Academic Departments, and other sources. To view a full list of scholarships, eligibility requirements, and deadlines visit Funding Study Abroad.
Student Aid
Penn State students who plan to study on a Penn State approved program can use most forms of financial aid towards the cost of the program. Exceptions include work-study awards and some athletic scholarships. If you have specific questions regarding your aid awards, contact the Penn State Office of Student Aid.
Withdrawal & Refund Policy
Withdrawal and refund details are dependent on the timing and reason for your withdrawal from a Penn State Education Abroad Program. For specific details and steps on how to withdraw, read the Education Abroad Policies.
After Commitment
Once a student has committed to a Penn State Education Abroad program, they are financially responsible for any fees incurred on their behalf. Therefore, if a student plans to withdraw from a program it is their responsibility to immediately notify the Education Abroad office, in writing; email is preferred.
Regardless of the timing or reason for the withdrawal, the student will be responsible for paying the Education Abroad Administrative Fees. For faculty-led freestanding programs, there is a specific withdrawal penalty schedule.
Education Abroad makes every attempt at keeping the program and administrative costs to a minimum. However, when you commit to participating in a program, Education Abroad begins to make financial commitments on your behalf. In case of withdrawal, the following fees will be charged to your Bursar account
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Upon Commitment - 90 Days Prior to Departure: 25% Program Fee + EA Admin Fee
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30 - 89 Days Prior to Departure: 50% Program Fee + EA Admin Fee
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29 Days - Departure Date: 100% Program Fee + EA Admin Fee
Following the start of the summer semester, any adjustment of tuition charges will be made according to the Tuition Adjustment Schedule as determined by the Office of the Bursar. More information can be found on the University Senate Policy on Withdrawal and Leave of Absence.
After the Start of the Program
If a student withdraws after the start of a program, any adjustment of Penn State tuition charges will be made according to the Tuition Adjustment Schedule as determined by the Office of the Bursar. Students may be responsible for up to 100% of program costs. In most cases, partial credit cannot be awarded for leaving a program before its successful completion.
For additional information on withdrawal policies, separate and apart from financial consequences, please consult the University Senate Policy on Withdrawal and Leave of Absence.
