Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Campus Villarrica

This course examines different methods for studying wildlife species, communities, and their habitats. It uses a range of social science methods including standard qualitative and quantitative methods. This course explores methods for documenting local environmental knowledge and change and it discusses culturally appropriate, ethically-sound, and environmentally sustainable field studies. This course offers a combination of lectures, discussions, labs, and field activities to develop research skills relevant to sustainability and environmental conservation.

This course explores the principles and practice of sustainability and sustainability planning. The workshop format combines reflection on the notion of sustainability with development of a sustainability planning and design project. Students collect data and develop research proposals in the course Field Methods for Examining Socio-Ecological Systems. They use that information in this course to discuss socio-ecological problems and design practical solutions based on sustainability principles.

This intensive, two-week Spanish course covers basic grammar, oral and written skills, listening, and reading comprehension. Chilean colloquialisms and vocabulary related to environmental studies, ecology, biology, and sustainability are covered. This course also integrates topics in Chilean culture.

This course is an introduction to the natural history, ecology, and conservation of forest biodiversity with particular focus on vertebrate wildlife from South American temperate ecosystems. It examines the relationships between forests, wildlife, and people on a local, regional, and international scale. This course integrates case studies in order to discuss current research problems.

This intensive, two-week Spanish course covers advanced grammar, oral and written skills, listening, and reading comprehension. Chilean colloquialisms and vocabulary related to environmental studies, ecology, biology, and sustainability are covered. This course also integrates topics in Chilean culture.

This course analyzes, from a sociocultural and political perspective, the concept of territory in the context of La Araucanía region and the Mapuche people. It examines the role of the educational system on local cultures, environmental and energy issues, intercultural relations, and the preservation of indigenous languages and ecosystems. This course explores the political and social processes of the Mapuche and their relationship with national society and public policies.

This course is an introduction to the discipline of conservation biology in Latin America including distribution of biodiversity in the region and challenges to biodiversity conservation. It examines the primary features of Chilean ecosystems and the distribution and features of protected areas and wildlife with a particular emphasis on La Araucanía region. This course also compares the current situation of wildlife and protected areas of North and South America.