Frequently-Asked Questions
Application/Admissions
1. What's the difference between a Field Expedition course and a Zoo Expedition course?
All Field Expedition and Zoo Expedition courses incorporate interaction with peers and instructors in a combination of face-to-face and Web-based learning communities.
Field Expedition courses provide direct study experiences at Earth Expeditions sites in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. In a Field Expeditions course, students join cheetah conservation efforts in Namibia, explore Neotropical ecology in Costa Rica, investigate the reintroduction of blue-and-gold macaws in Trinidad, contemplate Buddhism and conservation in Thailand, explore manatees and howler monkeys in Belize, steppe ecology and conservation in Mongolia, study sustainable approaches to human-wildlife coexistence in Kenya, desert ecological field methods in Baja. Orangutan conservation efforts in Borneo, and rainforest and avian populations in the Amazon (locations are subject to change). In addition to the international experience, all Field Expedition students also engage in a Web-based learning community during the fall semester.
Zoo Expedition courses take place at the Cincinnati Zoo, using the wealth of Zoo resources. Classes on primate behavior and conservation; habitats, adaptation, and evolution; and plants and people take place through seminars and investigations at the Zoo. Students attend four Saturday workshops at the Zoo during the fall semester: Please see each course page for specific dates. In addition to the workshops at the Zoo, all Zoo Expedition students also engage in a Web-based learning community during the fall semester.
2. Do I have time to apply?
Please see Admissions.
3. Who is eligible to apply?
Please see Admissions.
4. Can I apply for both a Field Expedition and a Zoo Expedition?
Yes. You may apply for both a Field Expedition and a Zoo Expedition. If you are accepted to both courses, keep in mind that during the fall semester you'll be enrolled in Web-based learning communities for two courses. Each course will require from one to three hours of work per week on the Web, discussing course assignments, developing and presenting projects, and exchanging ideas. So, if you are accepted and enroll in two courses, you'll be required to participate in two Web-based learning communities simultaneously.
The Field Expedition application is usually available on the Web from fall to the January 28 deadline. The Zoo Expedition application is usually available on the Web from late spring to the July 15 deadline. Applicants to Field Expedition courses are reviewed by a selection committee; however, qualified applicants are accepted to Zoo Expedition courses on a first-come, first-served basis.
5. By what criteria will I be evaluated?
Field Expedition: After you submit your Web application, a selection committee composed of Earth Expeditions instructors and staff from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Project Dragonfly at Miami University will review your application materials. The selection committee will be looking carefully at your entire application. Of particular importance are your essays. The committee is looking for a wide cross-section of people -- different levels of experience, different ages, different kinds of educators from school and non-school settings -- to accept into the program.
Zoo Expedition: Qualified applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
6. Must I have had a long and outstanding teaching career and/or have previously traveled abroad to be considered?
No. You need not have won any awards or traveled at all. The selection committee is looking for a wide cross-section of people -- different levels of experience, different ages, different backgrounds, different kinds of educators from school and non-school settings -- to accept into the program. Our courses are also open to select undergraduate and graduate students from Miami University. Please also see Admissions.
7. Are there physical requirements?
Yes. Both Field Expedition and Zoo Expedition courses have physical requirements. Please see Admissions.
8. Must I submit my application and resume on the Web?
We highly recommend applying via the Web-based application. Please click here to learn how to access the Web application. The Field Expedition application is usually available on the Web from fall to the January 28 deadline. If you cannot apply via our Web site, please contact us at earthexpeditions@muohio.edu. The Zoo Expedition application is usually available on the Web from late spring to the July 15 deadline.
9. I'm not a classroom teacher/I'm not a science teacher. Am I still eligible for the program?
Absolutely. Please click here to see who is eligible. We strive for educators from all disciplines and backgrounds.
10. When will I be notified if I'm accepted?
Field Expedition: Successful candidates will be notified by March 15 of each year.
Zoo Expedition: Successful candidates will be notified by August 1 of each year.
11. If I am selected for an Earth Expeditions course this year, may I reapply next year?
Yes. However, participation in an Earth Expeditions course does not guarantee a spot in future courses.
12. I teach in a financially strapped school where few staff have computers. And I don't have a computer at home. Will this affect my chance of being chosen? How will it affect my completion of course work?
All Field Expedition and Zoo Expedition students are required to have a valid email address and access to a computer with Internet connection. The reason is that, in addition to the face-to-face component abroad or at the Cincinnati Zoo, all students also interact via an easy-to-use Web platform. From home or work on their own schedule, students work on the Web with course instructors and classmates to discuss course assignments, develop and present projects, and exchange ideas.
Although our courses have technological requirements, lacking email and a computer with Internet access will not hinder your chance of being accepted to the program. If you are accepted to Earth Expeditions, we can help you establish a free email address. Remember that the Web component of this course is on your own time, so you may be able to use a computer with Internet access in your school's library or a public library. Don't let the technological requirements bar you from applying. But remember that you'll need to have access to a computer with Internet capability from one to three hours a week.
13. I don't live in Ohio or near Cincinnati. Will this affect whether I'm chosen?
No. Whether you live in Cincinnati, Dallas, or Honolulu, your place of residence does not affect whether you are accepted to any Earth Expeditions course. It does not matter where you live or work.
If you are accepted to a Zoo Expeditions course, you must plan on traveling to the Cincinnati Zoo for at least four Saturdays in the fall.
Also, as part of its support of Earth Expeditions, Miami University has waived all out-of-state tuition for Earth Expeditions courses.
14. Do I have to have taken classes at Miami University to apply?
No. You need not have taken classes or be a graduate of Miami to apply. Please click here to see who is eligible.
15. Will age be a factor in the selection process?
No. Miami University does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or veterans' status in its education programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies. All Earth Expeditions applicants will be considered based on their application materials.
Grades/Credit Hours
1. Will I receive a letter grade? Would it be possible for me to audit an Earth Expeditions course or take it Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit?
Earth Expedition courses are taken for a letter grade and cannot be taken on a non-credit or pass/fail basis.
Field Expedition students must complete both parts of the course: the international field experience in the summer and the Web-based learning community in the fall. Field Expedition participants' final grades are based both on the field and Web-based portions of the course.
Zoo Expedition students are required to attend classes at the Cincinnati Zoo on four Saturdays in the fall semester and also engage in a Web-based learning community throughout the fall. Final grades are based both on attendance at the Saturday classes and on the Web-based portion of the course.
2. How many graduate credit hours will I receive for completing this course?
Please see Admissions.
3. Do you offer a master’s degree program?
Yes, Project Dragonfly and Miami University's Departments of Botany, Microbiology, and Zoology have partnered to offer the Global Field Program master's degree where you can choose to enroll in either a Master of Arts in Zoology (MA) or a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Biological Sciences. For more information, e-mail us.
4. Can I apply my Earth Expeditions course credits to a master’s degree program?
Yes, you can apply up to 7 Earth Expeditions credits toward a Master of Arts in Zoology (MA) or a Master of Arts in Teaching in Biological Sciences (MAT) at Miami University. For more information, e-mail us.
5. Will this Earth Expeditions class count toward my teaching licensure/certification?
It depends. Each state has different requirements for certification. Please check with your local university's college of Education or similar department to find out the details for your area.
Course Travel/Meeting Dates
1. What are the travel dates for Field Expedition courses? What are the Saturday meeting dates for Zoo Expedition courses?
Field Expeditions: Please see each course page for specific dates -- Kenya, Mongolia, Belize, Costa Rica, Namibia, Thailand, Trinidad. All Field Expedition students will also join a Web-based learning community from September to early December.
Zoo Expeditions: Students in Zoo Expedition courses are required to attend all-day workshops at the Cincinnati Zoo on four Saturdays during the fall semester: Please see each course page for specific dates -- primate behavior and conservation, habitats, adaptation and evolution, plants and people. All Zoo Expedition students will also join a Web-based learning community from September to early December.
2. What is the approximate cost of airfare for Field Expeditions international courses?
Accepted applicants will receive up-to-date estimates of airfare for Field Expedition courses with their enrollment materials. To estimate fares to any of our locations, interested applicants may wish to visit an online fare finder (such as Travelocity, Expedia, or Orbitz), or call a travel agent. Bear in mind that airlines have seasonal fluctuations in fares and many factors may influence your final airfare pricing. Earth Expeditions allows you the option of flying on your own, and not as a group, to assist you in saving on airfare costs. Upon acceptance, you will receive details on your instructors flights should you be interested in finding a similar airline itinerary.
3. If I am accepted to a Field Expeditions course, is it my responsibility to arrange my own airfare?
Yes; however, accepted applicants will receive further information about traveling to their course destination. If you are accepted to a Field Expeditions course, you are responsible for making your own travel arrangements to the specified city within the country of your Field Expedition. It is also each student's individual responsibility to meet the class at the specified time and location. Due to the complexities of group travel in-country and logistical constraints such as hotel and transport reservations, the class cannot wait for tardy students. We recommend that students arrive in their destination country with plenty of time to ensure that they join the class at the specified time and location.
4. What about visas/passports/travel insurance/other Field Expedition trip details?
If you are accepted to a Field Expeditions course, you will be provided with a wealth of information you'll need to travel abroad with the program. Miami University requires that students traveling outside the U.S. purchase travel insurance, which costs about $22, and carry a valid passport. But again, if you're accepted to a course, you'll be provided with all the necessary information.
For information about passports, visas, travel advisories, and other detailed travel information, check out the U.S. State Department's Web site at www.state.gov/travel/.
To access information about traveler's health and vaccines, take a look at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Web site at www.cdc.gov and under the heading "Health and Safety Topics," click on "Travelers' Health" or "Vaccines & Immunizations."
5. What are the accommodations like during the international experience?
Please see Admissions page.
Costs
1. How much do Earth Expeditions courses cost?
Miami University is currently waiving all tuition for Earth Expedition students who are educators, who hold bachelor's degrees and who are not full-time students at Miami University. All out-of-state tuition is also waived.
Field Expeditions: The tuition waiver and grant funds are keeping CURRENT course costs for the overseas Field Expedition programs down to $1150 plus airfare”. Miami University also requires all international workshop participants to purchase travel health insurance for about $22. (Successful applicants will receive more details in their acceptance packet.) Students will be required to purchase a course reader, and in some classes an additional textbook. In some countries, you may have to pay entrance and departure taxes/fees at the airport, which usually do not exceed $20 U.S.
Once you arrive with the class in-country, you will have no additional charges for hotel, food, or transportation. You are responsible for purchasing incidentals and gifts, and for tipping at your discretion.
Cost: $1150 + Airfare
All basic expenses in-country are covered in the course costs, including:
- Meals (incidental snacks and drinks not included)
- Lodging
- Field station fees
- Field equipment (as needed)
- Ground transportation (van, boat, train, etc., as needed)
- Park entrance and guide fees
Course costs do not cover personal expenses, such as gifts, or some ancillary costs, such as passport fees and course texts.
Zoo Expeditions: The tuition waiver and grant funds are keeping 2009 course fees for the zoo-based Zoo Expedition courses down to $195.
Zoo Expedition course costs of $195 cover:
- Meals or snacks for each of the four Saturday Zoo Days
- Entrance to the Zoo and parking for each Saturday workshop
- Entrance to the Zoo and parking for project work throughout the semester.
In addition to course costs, accepted applicants will be required to purchase a course reader and, for some classes, an additional course text. Zoo Expedition students are also responsible for personal expenses incurred at the Zoo, such as gifts and snacks.
2. Is financial aid available?
Tuition and fees for Earth Expeditions courses, including the out-of-state surcharge, are waived by Miami University as part of the university's support of this program. Because of this support from Miami University and also the Cincinnati Zoo, each student's course costs are a fraction of the amount Earth Expeditions expends on each student.
Earth Expeditions recommends that accepted applicants to the program check with their school district or employer to see if professional development funds are available to further offset costs. Additionally, you may find our grant tips to be useful in getting you started.
3.What if I am unable to attend my Earth Expeditions course?
If you decide you cannot participate in an Earth Expeditions course for which you have paid $1,150, and you notify the Earth Expeditions program in writing by April 15th, 2010, your course costs may be applied to a later course within the next 12 months, subject to acceptance. Some additional administrative costs apply.
If you decide you cannot participate after the April 15th deadline, your course costs are forfeited and cannot be used for a future Earth Expeditions experience. After April 15th, it is highly unlikely we can fill an empty space in the course.
Miscellaneous
1. What is a 'Web-based learning community'?
As a feature of every Earth Expeditions course, all Zoo Expedition and Field Expedition students join their Earth Expeditions colleagues and instructors on Dragonfly Workshops' Web-based learning community. Topics, discoveries, and ideas that arise from face-to-face encounters within your Earth Expeditions experience are extended through semester-long learning communities on the Web. From home or work on their own schedule, students interact with each other and with Earth Expeditions instructors in a seminar-style discussion in this collaborative, Web-based learning community. For a few hours a week, students discuss course assignments, develop and present projects, and exchange ideas on the Web.
To get an overview of the Web platform, visit www.dragonflyworkshops.org.
2. Who is teaching the Earth Expeditions courses?
Click here to see brief biographies about each of our core faculty members.
3. May I contact someone directly?
If you can't find your answers on the Earth Expeditions Web site or here in the FAQs, please feel free to email your questions to earthexpeditions@muohio.edu.