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SEA Semester: Colonization to Conservation in the Caribbean
Location: - Multi-Country: Locations in the Carribbean
Term: Spring, Trimester
Dates: February - May
Call Us
Phone: 800-552-3633 ext. 770
Fax: 800-977-8516
Description
Colonization to Conservation in the Caribbean (CCC) attracts students who want to understand environmental, political, and social change from an interdisciplinary perspective and in an historical context. This writing-intensive semester draws students from majors as diverse as environmental studies, marine biology, anthropology, and English. It is an especially good fit for International Studies or Comparative Studies majors given the focus on a variety of Caribbean nations & cultures. Limited to 24 students per cruise.
The Caribbean Islands have seen enormous changes in the last five centuries. Europeans brought devastating diseases that decimated native populations, and transported millions of enslaved Africans to the islands to work plantations of newly introduced crops. Early naturalists described amazing new species of plants and animals even as they were being exterminated and replaced. Today, this region bears little resemblance to the islands encountered by Christopher Columbus. As a tourist destination in the 21st century, the Caribbean continues to change as new demands are placed on limited resources. In this semester, we explore how we can document these changes using the source materials and methodological approaches of both the humanities and sciences.
Shore Component - Woods Hole:
During the six-week shore component students take two concurrent classes, team-taught by SEA faculty. Maritime History and Culture explores political, cultural, and demographic changes in the Caribbean from the arrival of Europeans to the present. Marine Environmental History uses both scientific and historical evidence to develop an ecological timeline for the Caribbean. Students examine the marine and terrestrial resources that drove European expansion, and track the impact of introduced species, human development, and pollution on coastal ecosystems. Students will approach both courses from the perspectives of science, maritime studies, and navigation.
Sea Component - Caribbean Voyage:
Aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer, students study the environmental consequences of over 500 years of change and human development in the Caribbean region. They conduct sampling surveys of the area's biology, geology, chemistry, and physics using state-of-the-art equipment and laboratory facilities. They also apply their nautical science skills to operate and navigate the vessel as a member of the crew. Port stops in a variety of Caribbean islands such as Cuba, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic encourage students to explore this diverse region.
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.
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
Cost in US$:
Visit our website for information on costs, affordability & financial aid
Cost Includes:
Cost Include Description:
* 17 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
Credit Available
no
This Program is open to
Worldwide Participant.
Typical Living Arrangements
- Group living
Participants Travel
Independently or in Groups
Application Process Involves
- Letters of Reference
- Phone/Video Interview
- Transcript
- Other
- Online Application plus Application Assessment
- Essay
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
