Geography of Big Bend National Park, Texas

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this Spring 2021 program has been canceled. 

The learning outcomes and objectives that you can anticipate mastering as a result of the program are an understanding and discussing the landscape elements of the Big Bend region, their nature, and how environmental processes that have affected that landscape. Also, you will be able to recognize the basic geomorphologic, geologic, and biogeographic features and characteristics of the Trans-Pecos region and understand their significance as elements of the landscape and as related to human use. You will be able to gain an impression of historic and present land uses and human impacts on the landscape, read and interpret topographic, park, and other types of maps, and collaborate with a team to produce interpretive materials based on an aspect of the park environment.

The Chihuahua Desert and Trans-Pecos region of West Texas is a very unique field setting with a rich and diverse cultural, geologic, and environmental history that most people will never visit in their lives unless it is a specific destination. There are qualities of this location that cannot be found anywhere else in Texas, or the world for that matter.

Program is subject to change and pending approval from the Texas State Board of Regents.

Dates

Program Orientation Sessions

• January 22, 2021
• January 29, 2021
• February 5, 2021

2021 Spring Semester: January 19 - May 12, 2021

Course Meeting Dates: Will meet on Fridays between January 22, 2021 - April 3, 2021.

Required: Seven-day field trip to Big Bend National Park: March 12 - 19, 2021

Course Options

Students Applying for Graduate Courses

All applicants interested in enrolling in a 5000 level or above extension course first contacted the Texas State Graduate College. This step was completed before registration was finalized into a graduate-level course.

Tuition and Program Fee

Additional Program Fee, which includes lodging, on-site transportation, and admission fees:  TBD

Important Note: Airfare, meals, and personal expenses are not included in the Program Fee. 

Additional costs / program fee:  Cost TBD

Course tuition and program fee will be billed and paid through SBS Billing and Payment.

Drops and Refunds

All university policies regarding installments, course drops, and refunds apply to all billed and paid tuition and program fees.

Applying to the Course/Program

Important:  To ensure their place in this course/program, students received approval from Dr. Townsend and submitted the application.

Registering for Courses

Students registered for their course through the Student Information System/Catsweb during the regular university registration period.

For more information about future course/program offerings, please contact Dr. Christi Townsend.

For questions about applying/registering, please contact the Office of Distance and Extended Learning.