UMW in Jamaica

Human-Environment Interactions

Program Dates

February 26 — March 6

Spring Break 2022

Registration

View our cancellation policy.

Program Fees

$2,750

$500 deposit due upon registration.
Final $2,250 payment due December 1, 2021.

Included

Round-trip airfare
Ground transportation in Jamaica
Accommodations
Some meals
Group excursions
International health insurance
UMW Education Abroad fee

NOT Included

UMW tuition (may be included in your spring course load)
Transportation to and from Dulles International Airport
Some meals
Personal expenses
Supplemental meals or snacks
Souvenirs
Immunizations

Health Information

International travel may require immunizations or preventative medicines. Please refer to the US Center for Disease Control’s Traveler’s Health Information Page for recommendations. The UMW Health Center provides free travel consultations by appointment, as well as travel information for UMW students. The Center for International Education recommends that each student have a personalized medical consultation prior to international travel.

This program will require fairly rigorous hiking, swimming and
snorkeling, boat trips (life jackets available), and travel on
unimproved dirt roads to achieve the course goals.

Dr. Melanie Szulczewski and Dr. Pam Grothe invite you to join them for an exciting 4-credit course with a trip to Jamaica during Spring Break. Students will explore and study both environmental and social sustainability initiatives and challenges from the oceans to the mountains over eight days on the island. We will hike through remote mountains to observe Jamaica’s 27 endemic birds, beautiful waterfalls, and more. We’ll stop in the capital of Kingston to visit the Bob Marley Museum and the Hope Zoo Iguana Conservation Center. We will also take a boat trip through a mangrove forest, visit the famous Pelican Bar (almost one mile offshore), and have a Jamaican cooking lesson by locals with locally sourced food (jerk chicken or tofu, anyone?). And lastly, we’ll explore the Caribbean Sea, snorkeling the coral reefs during the day and swimming in the Luminous Lagoon at night.

Accommodations

In Jamaica students will stay in local hotels, hostels, and villas in groups of two to four. Depending on location and availability, some queen-sized beds may need to be shared by students. Each accommodation will have WiFi available and some locations will have a kitchenette to use for the preparation of breakfast and picnic lunches.

Coursework

Students will earn 4 credits for EESC 360E which will meet weekly during the Spring 2022 term in addition to the time spent in Jamaica over spring break.

This course satisfies the Beyond the Classroom OR Diverse and Global Perspectives general education requirement by contract with the Faculty Director only.

Requirements & Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course. Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in order to participate. This program is open to all UMW students regardless of major or year of study.

Space is limited and in addition to registering for the program, students need to complete an additional application form. Email your completed form to Dr. Melanie Szulczewski (mszulcze @u mw.edu).

Scholarships

Faculty-Led Program Scholarships are available to UMW students (deadlines apply).

Payment

See the program fees and payment due dates in the right column. Use the Make a Payment button below to pay your deposit and regular program payment. Use the Special Payment option to pay a special amount (such as additional insurance or payment in a different amount as a result of a scholarship award).

Online payees have the choice of either credit card or eCheck payment. Credit card payments will incur a 2.75% service fee. There is no service charge for eCheck payments.

UMW in Jamaica | Human-Environment Interactions