Location:

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Programs at Sea, Programs at Sea

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Fall Semester, Spring Semester, Winter Semester

Program Overview

Program Description:

SEA Semester: Ocean Exploration attracts students from all majors who are interested in gaining an in-depth understanding of our world’s oceans. Because the curriculum combines multiple academic disciplines, it draws students from majors as diverse as history, environmental science, studio art, and biology. Limited to 25 students per cruise. 17 credits through Boston University.

An interdisciplinary ocean studies semester which combines natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences with hands-on research and sailing experience. Understanding the oceans is an essential aspect of appreciating how the world works and how we relate to it as human beings. The sea is so complex that it is impossible to comprehend from the perspective of a single academic discipline. With that in mind, this interdisciplinary SEA Semester program combines insights from oceanography, humanities, and social sciences with practical skills in seamanship, allowing students to deepen their awareness of and appreciation for the ocean through hands-on research and personal experience.

Why study the oceans? No matter your major, ocean studies are an essential component of any liberal arts education. The ocean has a daily impact on you, and you on it. Isn't it worth one semester to study three-quarters of the world? Let SEA Semester take you there.

Setting Description:

Students begin with a 6-week shore component in Woods Hole on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a world-renowned center of oceanographic research. Intensive academic coursework & research preparation on shore prepares students for their upcoming time at sea. During the 6-week sea component, as full, working members of the scientific team and sailing crew on a state-of-the-art research vessel, students manage shipboard operations, navigate by the stars, analyze oceanographic samples and visit foreign ports off the beaten path. Most importantly, students learn to challenge themselves and develop new leadership, teamwork, and research skills.