Study Abroad Library

SEA Semester: Ocean Exploration (Interdisciplinary)

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 Education Association 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 four 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. SEA SEMESTER: OCEAN EXPLORATION 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. SEA Semester: Ocean Exploration 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 6 weeks - or 4 weeks during the summer session - 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 - CRUISE TRACKS VARY FROM PROGRAM TO PROGRAM During the 6-week cruise - or 4 weeks during the summer session - students participate as full working members of the crew and scientific staff on one of SEA's state-of-the-art sailing research vessels. Cruise tracks vary by program and may include the North Atlantic, Atlantic/Caribbean, Pacific, and South Pacific oceans. Students deploy oceanographic sampling equipment, complete their individual research projects, learn to operate a tall ship, and visit port stops off the beaten path.