Instructors Dr. Douglas Fudge and Dr. Jeremy Hsu
The Galápagos Islands played a key role in Charles Darwin’s ideas on evolution through natural selection and have continued to be an area of focus for scientists studying evolution, ecology, and environmental science. In this course, you will have the opportunity to participate in experiential learning through interactive, hands-on classes on evolution, ecology, conservation biology, and more, with a focus on the Galápagos. The course is highlighted by an eight day travel component where you will visit the Galápagos and learn about the fascinating “living laboratory” in the islands! The course is open to all majors and does not have any prerequisite course requirements.
Interested? You may sign up to be notified of any updates here.
When will this course be offered?
The course will run in June 2025. We will start on Monday, June 2, 2025; the course will begin with approximately seven days of in person classes at the Orange campus of Chapman University. Departure from Los Angeles International Airport is currently scheduled for Thursday, June 12, with return on Saturday, June 21. The course will end with two days of in person classes at the Orange campus and will conclude on June 24.
What will I learn in the class?
You will learn about key themes in evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation biology as applied to the Galápagos Islands! The course will begin with an overview of how the Galápagos shaped Darwin’s idea of evolution by natural selection, and then cover recent evolutionary and ecological studies in the Galápagos. We will also discuss the challenges of conservation and management of the amazing wildlife on the islands and the pressing environmental issues threatening the islands. Participation in all aspects of the course (the pre-trip classes on Orange campus, the field trip component to the Galápagos, and the post-trip classes on Orange campus) are required to best support your learning.
What requirements does this class count for?
ENV 227 is a 4-unit class that counts towards the natural sciences inquiry or global studies inquiry general education requirements. The course also counts towards both the environmental science minor and environmental studies minor, though it does not count as an upper-division course. Likewise, the course does not count towards the major for environmental science and policy or biological sciences majors. However, any biological sciences or environmental science and policy majors, particularly those who have taken Bio 369 (Evolution) before or those who have excelled in Bio 205, are welcome to inquire with the course instructor about the possibility of upper-division independent study.
Do I need to be a science major to sign up for the course? What if I have not travelled internationally before?
All are welcome! The course is a general education course that presumes no prior science knowledge, given that there are no course prerequisites, so all majors are welcome to sign up for the course! There is also no requirement to have travelled internationally previously – we’ve had lots of first-time travelers in past courses!
What will the travel component of the course look like?
We recommend your roundtrip flight from the US to/from Ecuador go through Los Angeles International Airport. To begin our journey, we will spend a night in Guayaquil, Ecuador, before departing the next morning for the Galápagos. Once there, we will board our chartered yacht, where we will be the only passengers on board besides the crew! The yacht will be our home for 8 days as we travel from island to island in the Galápagos. Days will include hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, and more. We will incorporate mini lessons from our Galápagos naturalist during these activities. No experience with snorkeling or kayaking is necessary, though note that there will be a moderate amount of physical activity during the travel component of the course. At the end, we will fly back to the U.S. through Guayaquil.
How big will the class be? Who will be going on the trip?
The course will be capped at 14 students to ensure personalized learning in the course. Two Chapman faculty will accompany the class on the travel component, and while in the Galápagos we will also be guided by a certified local Galápagos naturalist.
Where can I read more about this course and how it has gone in the past?
There are several blog posts highlighting past experiences! Please see here for a blog post from the course instructor, Dr. Hsu, and then blog posts from Alex Graden ’20 and Sarah Otto ’20, both of whom participated in the course in January 2020. You may also wish to view this two minute video about the course!
What is the cost of the course? What does this include?
While tuition for the course is not included in the course fee, Chapman students can apply for a one-time tuition waiver for a travel course, which you can access here. The course fee will cover the costs of the trip component of the course and will be approximately $7,200. This includes one night in shared double rooms in a hotel in Guayaquil (Wyndham Hotel), and eight days/seven nights aboard a charter yacht with only the Chapman group (and crew), all meals upon arrival in Ecuador, round trip airfare from Guayaquil to the Galápagos, all gratuities to guides, crew, and naturalists, all entrance fees to the Galápagos (e.g., Galápagos National Park entrance fee, Galápagos entry fee). This cost does not include international airfare to/from Guayaquil (usually around $600-$700 roundtrip), (optional) mask/snorkel and wetsuit rental, any luggage or trip insurance.
Is there financial aid available for the course?
There may be limited financial aid opportunities available, which we encourage you to pursue prior to applying for the course. A few opportunities that may be of interest:
- If you identify as a first-generation college student, Chapman’s Promising Futures Funding Assistance Program may cover the cost of your international air travel. Please see the Chapman Promising Futures page for more information and the application. The application deadline is April 1, 2025.
- If you are on financial aid, we highly recommend contacting the Chapman Financial Aid Office and exploring possibilities. Past students have been able to apply portions of their financial aid package to the course costs, though this is dependent on your individual financial aid package.
- You may also wish to apply to scholarships for funding this course; our Center for Global Education has compiled a list of relevant scholarships that you may wish to consider.
I’m interested in the course or would like to learn more. What do I do next?
First, please fill out this form to indicate your interest! Filling out the form is not a commitment but will allow us to send more information as well as relevant announcements and reminders. We will also be hosting an info session soon, time TBD. If you are not able to make the info session but have questions, please email the course instructor, Dr. Fudge (fudge@chapman.edu).
Chapman University’s Galápagos travel course will run this year from June 2-24 and will include an eight day boat trip that will take us to seven different islands and allow us to see and learn about the spectacular endemic wildlife of the Galápagos archipelago.
