COURSE OF STUDY, 18 CREDITS

ENTS 285: Wildlife Conservation and Livelihoods  

(6 Credits)

This field seminar will explore the evolution of wildlife management in Tanzania and Ethiopia. At various sites along the program route students will examine the tension between wildlife conservation and people’s livelihoods, discuss with local experts, and carry out a short research project to develop a better understanding of the challenges/ opportunities towards developing a sustainable land use system that meets the needs of the local people while sustaining the resilience of wildlife populations. Students will write a series of short papers that summarizes their understanding, focusing on how the sites visited fit into the larger debate on conservation and development.

Instructors: Tsegaye Nega and Bernard Kissoui

ENTS 264: Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods in Africa (6 Credits)
Smallholder agriculture is the mainstay of livelihoods in much of Sub Saharan Africa.  In east Africa, for example, smallholder farming accounts for about 75% of agricultural production and over 75% employment.  Yet the productivity of the sector is very low to the point that famine is a recurrent phenomenon.  In this course, students will study the structure of the smallholder farming communities, the economic and institutional constraints under which these farmers operate, and current efforts to address them. The group will explore these issues at various sites throughout the program.

Instructors: Tsegaye Nega and Local Faculty
 
ENTS 280: Research Projects on Conservation and Development (4 Credits)
This course will cover basic research methods in the social and natural sciences including how to collect, analyze, integrate, and report social and ecological data to critically understand and evaluate environmental issues in Tanzania and Ethiopia. Participants will work in small groups to develop and execute research projects which will be conducted in both countries in consultation with local faculty.

Instructor: Tsegaye Nega
 

ENTS 284: Cultural Studies

(2 Credits) S/CR/NC

This interdisciplinary course will use readings, meetings with local experts, guest lectures, and visits to cultural sites and museums to examine cultural practices in Tanzania and Ethiopia.
Instructor: Local faculty