Description

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 semester combines insights from oceanography, humanities and social sciences with practical skills in seamanship, allowing students to deepen their awareness of and appreciation for the sea through hands-on research and personal experience.

Based in the world-renowned scientific community of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, SEA Semester provides undergraduates with the opportunity to study the ocean from a multitude of academic perspectives, and do to it from the platform of a traditional sailing vessel. Our six diverse SEA Semester options are the only full-credit programs in the world that combine an engaging academic and research curriculum with the sailing adventure of a lifetime; the SEA Summer Session is an abbreviated version of SEA Semester: Ocean Exploration, designed for students who are not able to spend a full semester off campus.

SEA Summer Session

To a large extent, the fate of the oceans determines the fate of our planet. The sea is so complex that it is impossible to understand and appreciate from the perspective of a single academic discipline. The SEA Summer Session takes an interdisciplinary approach that combines data and insights from oceanography, the humanities and social sciences, and public policy - together with practical skills in nautical science - so students can develop a broad understanding of the sea. This knowledge is increasingly important today, when society is becoming more aware of how the world's oceans affect the operations of the planet, from climate patterns to the origins of life itself.

Shore Component - Woods Hole

For the first 4 weeks students take academic classes and labs to prepare for their research at sea. SEA faculty work with students as they design individual research projects to complete during the voyage. Students have access to the renowned Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution/Marine Biological Laboratory Library. Maritime Studies adds perspectives from the humanities and social sciences, including public policy. Nautical Science grounds students in seamanship - no prior sailing experience is necessary. Students live in communal housing at SEA's Woods Hole campus and have a chance to enjoy the science & culture of the area.

SEA Component - Hawaii to California

During the 4-week research voyage, students participate as full working members of the crew and scientific staff on one of SEA's state-of-the-art sailing research vessels. Students deploy oceanographic sampling equipment, complete their individual research projects and learn to operate a tall ship.

Highlights

For 40 years and more than 1,000,000 nautical miles, SEA has educated students about the world's oceans through a fully accredited off-campus study program. Combining perspectives from the sciences, humanities and social sciences, SEA offers extraordinary opportunities for interdisciplinary project-based learning on shore and the immediate application of that new found knowledge at sea. SEA admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all SEA Semester programs.

No matter your major, SEA considers ocean studies to be an essential component of a liberal arts education. Why should you study the ocean? You can't afford not to. The ocean has a daily impact on your life, and you on it. SEA offers students a connection to this invaluable resource, an experience that you will likely never have access to again.

Hands-On Ships
SEA vessels are hands-on ships. After careful instruction both on shore and at sea, students put their education into practice, demonstrating competence in sailing, and using the vessel's systems to carry out their class mission. Radar, radio-telephones, GPS navigation systems and depth sounders on each vessel ensure their navigational safety. Auxiliary machinery includes refrigeration systems, desalinization, firefighting and pumping equipment, and electrical generators. In the unlikely event of an emergency, fully-equipped life rafts can accommodate each ship's entire company.

Each vessel goes to sea with a professional staff of ten, including captain, chief scientist, three mates, three assistant scientists, an engineer, and a steward. In addition, a visiting scholar is frequently on board. Students, 25 on Corwith Cramer, and 25 on the Robert C. Seamans, round out the complement.

SEA vessels fly the United States flag and are inspected and certified by the United States Coast Guard as Sailing School Vessels (SSV). Sailing School Vessels are required to meet stringent safety standards that differ from those of a passenger vessel on a comparable route. Our shipboard labs are funded by the National Science Foundation & are among the most advanced oceanographic research vessels in the world.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Minimum Education

High School

Subject Areas

Cost in US$:

Visit our website for information on costs, affordability, and financial aid

Program Fees Include:

* 12 course credits issued by Boston University (or home institution, if affiliated with SEA)
* Student housing on the SEA campus in Woods Hole during the shore component
* Prepaid grocery cards for use during the shore component
* Three meals plus three snacks a day at sea, prepared by a professional steward
* Research fees & access to SEA library, computer lab & wireless network; WHOI/MBL joint library membership
* Academic field trip and science lab fees
* Full-time Head Resident on site for student support and supervision
* 24-hour emergency assistance and support from on-site staff

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of 2-8

Scholarships are Available

SEA awards over USD1 million per year in both need-based and merit scholarships to students participating in SEA Semester. Over 50% of our students receive some form of financial assistance; out of those, 95% receive aid directly from SEA. SEA remains committed to making our programs affordable for all qualified and motivated students.

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Essay
• Transcript
• Letters of Reference
• Phone/Video Interview
• Other

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

SEA Semester's Mission Statement

SEA is an educational institution dedicated to exploration, understanding and stewardship of the oceans, and to the study of humanity's relationship with the oceans. SEA offers students an interdisciplinary curriculum, on shore and at sea aboard tall ships, that provides challenging voyages of scientific discovery, academic rigor, and personal growth.

Year Founded

1971