Students from NTNU and UWO will form an international cohort for one semester, with 10 students from each university.

This 17-week exchange program starts with eight weeks in Trondheim, during which time students from NTNU will enroll with students from UWO in GEOG2024 (7.5 SP), a special course designed for the exchange program. While in Trondheim students will have two months of classroom-based learning, which will include two field trips, tentatively planned for Lillehammer and Sunndal. In mid-March all 20 students will travel to Wisconsin for two months of classroom-based teaching, followed by a 3-week field course to Teddy Roosevelt and Yellowstone National Parks. Courses in the Wisconsin will be History of American Wilderness, offered by the Environmental Studies program and Indigenous voices on nature, offered by the Anthropology department. 

At UWO:

ES/Anthro 346: Indigenous Peoples, National Parks and Protected Areas (3 credits/7,5 studiepoeng)

This course explores the historical and contemporary relationships of Indigenous Peoples, National Parks and Protected Areas. This course will look at Indigenous peoples of the United States and globally, whom have been directly impacted by the creation of the spaces of “wilderness”. More specifically, this course will peel back the layers of the stated intentions of the conversation, environmentalism and preservation of National Parks and Protected Areas and the often glossed over or excluded question of “at what cost”. This will challenge students to deconstruct the romantic cultural expressions of the pristine; explore the power dynamics (political, financial, social, etc) at play in the creation and perpetuation of these spaces, the reclamation of cultural interactions with these spaces, and the question of where do we go from here. 
 
 
ES 395 Field Studies: Approaches to Resource Management in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (3 credits/7,5 studiepoeng)

This intensive three-week field course puts students in the field to study the complicated issues in land management at Yellowstone National Park. We will talk with scientists, policy makers, and other stakeholders to determine different perspectives on a variety of resource management issues, including visitor and tourism management, predator management, and the impact of climate change on the park’s resource base.  
 
ES 390 Special Topics: Public Lands History & Management (3 credits/7,5 studiepoeng)

In this course will take a historical perspective to explore the role of public lands in American environmental history and in current land management controversies. We will pay particular attention to the subjects of wildlife management, wilderness as a form of land use, and ways that public lands management intersect with the three pillars of sustainability (ecological responsibility, economic security, and ecological stability). 


At NTNU: 

GEOG2024 - Conservation, Sustainability and Environmental Citizenship 1 (15 studiepoeng)

The exchange program is relevant for students studying geography, cultural heritage and social anthropology. Other students enrolled at NTNU within social sciences, humanities or other relevant programmes at bachelor level may also apply.

It will prepare students for careers in natural resource management, national park management, environmental consulting, sustainability work, international environmental aid and policy work, cultural heritage management both in Norway and internationally, masters programs in Environmental studies, geography, anthropology, and cultural heritage. Students will enhance their English skills and develop additional “soft skills” such as international competence both in traveling and learning and negotiating other cultures, teamwork and experience working in an international context.  

This program is supported by a grant from the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. The grant will cover instruction for courses and seminars in Norway and the United States; all travel costs including the US visa application, international flights, the field course to Yellowstone, and field trips in Norway. Lodging and some accommodation in Wisconsin are also covered.

There is a tuition fee (skolepenger) of 22 000 NOK to cover additional administrative and education costs at the University of Wisconsin. Tuition: NOK 22 000,- which is approximately a 72% discount from the standard international tuition rate  (ie  USD 7674/semester (NOK 77 205,-)

If the program is pre-approved by your department as study abroad, you can apply for support from the State Educational Loan Fund, Norway. This support includes tuition support.  

More information is available on that process here: https://www.lanekassen.no 

If you have any questions please contact Dr. Elizabeth Barron: Elizabeth.barron@ntnu.no