George Mason University
IN-1: Innovation 1

The Smithsonian Institution and George Mason University (Mason) have formed the Smithsonian-Mason Global Conservation Studies Program, which prides itself on providing unique academic conservation experiences for undergraduates, graduates, and professionals. A highlight of this collaboration is the Smithsonian-Mason Undergraduate Semester in Conservation Studies conducted at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia. The curriculum of 16 credit hours is an interdisciplinary set of classes designed as an experiential, hands-on learning environment for tomorrow’s conservation leaders.

With unparalleled interactions with the scientists, researchers, and resource managers of SCBI and George Mason University, who also serve as guest lecturers, undergraduates are introduced to the nuances and challenges of conservation through a semester as immersive as many abroad.

All undergraduate university students in biological, wildlife, environmental and ecology sciences are encouraged to apply, as are those individuals seeking to gain a broad conservation perspective to apply to other fields, such as economics, business, journalism, and others. The semester constitutes a minor in conservation studies, and faculty will work together with home institutions in the transfer of credit hours. The Smithsonian–Mason Program began with 15 undergraduate students in the fall of 2008. The program is currently being expanded. In fall of 2012, the program will be able to accept 60 undergraduate students and 60 graduate students and professionals.