Location

Kathmandu, Manaslu Conservation Area, Tsum Valley, Nepal

Program Description

Information Sessions

Monday, October 28 at 12PM on Zoom, Passcode: 034829

Join us for a four-week, six-credit summer program in Nepal that offers an in-depth look at the country’s diverse environmental landscapes and rich cultural heritage. This program combines adventurous experiential learning with a human-environment analytical framework, focusing on real-world experiences with climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development in one of the world’s most rapidly changing mountain regions.

During the program, students and faculty will spend several days exploring the ancient temples, historic palaces, and vibrant streets of Kathmandu. Following this, participants will embark on a 4-5 day trek to Tsum, a mountainous valley in the Manaslu Conservation Area, located at approximately 11,000 feet near the border with Tibet.

In Tsum, students will engage with the local Indigenous community to study the challenges, successes, and limitations of integrating traditional ecological knowledge into climate change adaptation and infrastructural development efforts. We will specifically examine the impacts of melting glaciers, rising temperatures, shifting tree lines and species habitats, and changing agricultural practices. Additionally, we will investigate how these environmental changes are connected to socio-cultural transformations in areas such as education, aging, and migration.

This course offers a field-based research experience focused on the human dimensions of climate and environmental change in the Nepal Himalayas. Students will explore themes of vulnerability, adaptation, and resilience to deepen their understanding of sustainable development. The program encourages openness to new ways of thinking and being in the world.

A typical day includes a morning session for discussing readings and planning activities, an afternoon spent on community-based outings, and an evening session for reflection, along with free time for reading and writing. Students will also have the opportunity to attend guest lectures by Indigenous knowledge holders, local scholars, conservationists, and development planners. Visits to cultural and educational institutions such as the Taragaon Museum, Photocircle, and the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory, as well as UNESCO heritage sites, are also included.

The course teaches qualitative ethnographic fieldwork methods, such as participant observation, interviews, storytelling, and writing engaging field notes and texts. Students will have the opportunity to develop and conduct their own research projects. The program includes a final workshop with students and faculty from Kathmandu University's Master’s program in Indigenous Education and Development. Throughout the course, faculty will guide students in interacting with local communities, partners, and the environment in relational, responsible, and reciprocal ways. Upon returning to JMU, students will have a group reflection and debriefing session on their study abroad experience.

Location Description

The program will begin in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, and then move to Tsum, a high mountain valley in the Manaslu Conservation Area near the border with Tibet. Students will hike into Tsum, navigating the region’s rugged terrain and diverse ecological zones, and then take a helicopter out.

Director

Nadine Plachta | plachtnx@jmu.edu | SIS - Geography

Galen Murton | murtongb@jmu.edu | SIS - Geography

Accommodations

Students will stay in a mix of local guest houses and hotels throughout the program. Most accommodations will have shared double rooms and internet access. While hotels in Kathmandu will offer amenities such as hot showers and laundry facilities, local guest houses in the mountains will be more basic.

All meals are included during the trip. Students will have group meals at local guest houses, hotels, and restaurants, and they will also receive stipends to cover additional food costs.

Additional Items to Consider

A visa is required to enter Nepal, and detailed instructions for the application process will be provided during the pre-departure orientation sessions.

For phone services, students will use SIM cards from Ncell, a major provider in the country. Students can either use their own smartphones or purchase a basic cell phone upon arrival.

This program is intensive and demanding, involving extensive travel and hiking in remote regions at altitudes up to 11,000 feet. Please note that some accommodations may have minimal facilities, such as limited access to running water or electricity. A detailed packing list will be provided upon acceptance into the program.

Ensure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before the program. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccinations for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid for unvaccinated travelers aged one year and older traveling to Nepal. Additionally, be aware that dogs infected with rabies are commonly found in the country. For more information, please visit the CDC website: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/nepal.

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a GPA minimum of 2.0

Open to all majors and class levels, including graduate students.