Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands is first and foremost an academic travel program. Students are required to enroll for three hours of undergraduate or graduate credit. More information about specific course offerings will be available shortly.

Instead of lectures, the emphasis is on dialogue and discussion that actively involves the students. Because the instructor travels with the group, meaningful discussions often develop during routine activities. Active participation in those formal and informal discussions, together with sufficiently displayed group solidarity, is absolutely necessary to make this excursion interesting and rewarding. Therefore, they will form the basis for a large portion of the final academic grade. The nature of the assignments will vary slightly for students seeking graduate credit. 1-2 extra EMU Biology credit hours (designated as independent study/special problems) are available in consultation with the faculty tour director for students with interest in deepening their study of some aspect of the excursion.