A unique approach to environmental field studies.

We offer students an immersive and personal experience with important environmental and cultural issues facing our wildlands and the cultures they support. Our small student teams travel to the heart of where today’s environmental challenges occur, and together we seek solutions for the critical concerns facing our world’s wildlands. Students have an unparalleled opportunity to work side by side with our faculty and active researchers, helping to find answers to important environmental problems. Our overarching goal is to have students leave our program with extensive knowledge about a specific region and the broader skills and understanding of ecological, geological and social sciences to effectively evaluate this information in their future careers.

Affordable immersion.

Wildlands Studies field programs are affordable—at a fraction of the cost of other field and study abroad programs—and financial aid may apply. Our academic term programs offer just the right balance of intensive academic coursework, and enough time left in the quarter
to explore on your own.

Data driven.

Students study primary research, field manuals, environmental impact assessments and planning documents, and also consume published research, case studies and government research. They may confer with public land management officials and staff, and attend guest lectures featuring speakers from relevant wildlands and wildlife management agencies, researchers from nearby universities, conservation organizations and a wide variety of interest groups.

How is academic credit established?

Academic credit for our programs is established through Western Washington University and is based on contact hours—the amount of time students spend engaged in direct learning activities such as lectures, immersive hands-on fieldwork and on-site academic assessment activities. Our courses meet the university’s credit standards while offering an immersive, field-based, experiential academically rigorous education. 

During the program, students typically spend 8 to 10 hours per day, 6 to 7 days a week, in active contact with instructors. A typical day begins with a group discussion over breakfast, followed by lectures, seminars, fieldwork, or site visits, and ends with dinner and an evening debrief or discussion. 

There is very little downtime—students usually have only a half day every week or two for personal needs such as laundry or rest. Assigned readings, papers, and other academic work are often completed early in the morning or in the evening, outside of scheduled instruction. 

Over the course of 42 academic days, students accumulate just over 280 contact hours. This is nearly double the contact time required for a standard 15-quarter-credit university course, reflecting the intensive and rigorous nature of our programs. 

Many students report that the challenge and depth of their field experience with Wildlands provided a richer, more satisfying learning opportunity than a traditional classroom setting.

The profile of the ideal student. 

Students seeking outdoor field study are an ideal fit for our programs. They will get the most out of the experience if they are flexible, open, patient, are self-motivated and willing to work toward a common goal. A sense of humor is always welcome and a plus.  

Successful students tend to embrace being outdoors regardless of the weather. They want the experience of living in rustic areas and have an enthusiasm for new experiences, people and places.