| Click here for a definition of this term Class Eligibility: | Junior, Pre-Junior, Senior | Type of Program: | Intensive Course Abroad |
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This is a one-week field course designed to prepare students for successful careers in the geosciences. Course emphasizes scientific methodology and traditional techniques that provide a strong foundation for the broad range of modern technologies used by today’s industry, academic, government and private workforces. Students learn to collect field observations and measurements, compile detailed rock descriptions, measure stratigraphic sections, and construct geologic maps and cross sections.
This is a synoptic, capstone field experience for Geoscience majors and minors. It is a required, core course in the Geoscience curriculum, and provides valuable field training for students in the GEO minor as well as for students interested in issues related to natural hazards, earth, and environmental sciences. The course emphasizes instruction and practice on how to make, read, and interpret geologic maps and how to envision field problems and collect data. Learning field methods, understanding field geologic relationships and the concepts of geological mapping are crucial skills in the development of a professional earth scientist.
By participating in this program, you will gain proficiency in:
• Drawing and interpreting geological maps
• Identifying rocks, minerals, and fossils in the field
• Interpreting the geological record and deducing the environment in which rocks formed
• Using field data to reconstruct a region’s geological history
Credit/Registration
Students will be registered for GEO 375 for 3 credits as part of their fall term course load. Students must leave room for the credits in their fall credit load when registering for fall term, or will be billed for credits exceeding the credit maximum.
Pre-reqs: GEO 101 or GEO 350/550; Open to Pre-Juniors, Juniors, Seniors.
Instructors
Loyc Vanderkluysen, Associate Professor of Geoscience, lv322@drexel.edu
Jocelyn Sessa, Associate Professor of Geoscience jsessa@drexel.edu
Arrival Date: Sept. 6, 2026 (students will likely need to leave on 9/4 or 9/5 to arrive on 9/6)
Departure Date: Sept. 13, 2026
Tentative Itinerary Overview
| Date | General Field Site Location | Field Exercise(s) |
| 6/1 | Zoom – remote | Welcome and Q&A session for registered students |
| 8/3 | Zoom – remote | Pre-travel orientation |
| 8/24 | Zoom – remote | Pre-travel reading and assignments |
| 9/05 | Travel to Kos - Kardamena | Students are responsible for their travel to the town of Kardamena, on the island of Kos (KOS airport is the destination), prior to the start of the program on 9/6 |
| 9/06 | Kardamena to Mandraki | Students are to meet no later than 8:30am on 9/6 at the harbor of Kardamena. The group will board a boat to Nisyros, which leaves promptly at 9:30am Afternoon: overview of the volcano + free exploration Evening: welcome dinner |
| 9/07 | Photogrammetry exercise (Nisyros caldera) |
Morning: capture of photographic data in Nisyros hydrothermal zone. Afternoon: generate 3D terrain model using structure-from-motion |
| 9/08 | Carbon dioxide and temperature survey (Nisyros caldera) |
A survey of temperature and diffuse degassing of CO2 from Nisyros hydrothermal craters |
| 9/09 | Features of mafic volcanism | Morning: mafic volcanic sequence of Holaki / Mandraki Afternoon: explosive mafic sequences of Nisyros caldera Evening: meeting with the mayor’s office about volcanic hazards |
| 9/10 | Stratigraphy exercise (Nisyros caldera) |
Detailed stratigraphy of the caldera road cut |
| 9/11 | Stratigraphy and mapping (Pali / Lies) |
Stratigraphy and mapping of the Lies volcanic sequence Evening: farewell dinner |
| 9/12 | Nisyros history and culture (Mandraki) |
Morning: visit of the ancient acropolis + free exploration 3:30pm: boat departs for Kardamena. Flights depart in the morning of 9/13 |
| 9/13 | Return Flight to US |
Due May 1st, 2026 - $500 Advance Payment + $25 application fee
Due July 1st, 2026 - $1,280 Final Payment
*All payments are non-refundable unless declined admission or program cancels for unforeseen reasons.
*$1000 grants generously supported by the Vidalakis Scholars Fund will be awarded to accepted students with a 3.0+ cumulative GPA. Awards can be used toward out of pocket expenses such as flight and course materials. All recipients are required to complete a post travel survey and testimonia. Awards will be posted to students' DrexelOne account AFTER the ICA final program fee deadline and should not be relied on for the final payment..
Included in Program Fee:
Not Included in Program Fee (Estimates):