Summer Field Courses in Marine Science

The best way to learn about marine biology is to get your feet wet, literally. Or, in the memorable words of 19th C. naturalist, Louis Agassiz, "Study Nature Not Books". Summer field courses offered by marine laboratories around the US provide invaluable opportunities for learning about marine organisms in their natural environment.

Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML; Cornell U. and Univ. New Hampshire; on Appledore Island, in the Gulf of Maine, off Portsmouth, NH). A wide range of courses in marine science are offered each summer. Only one course may be taken at a time (full-time, courses are between one week and one month in length), but courses may be taken sequentially  Academic credit (from Cornell) is transferable; students should get transfer credit pre-approved.  Apply early during the spring semester (there is a January deadline for financial aid). SML also offers research internships for undergraduates. Financial aid (scholarships and employment on Appledore Is.) is available from SML via application. Most of the courses offered will count as Marine Biology electives. Consult the SML website for more information about particular courses.

Friday Harbor Laboratories (FHL; University of Washington Marine Laboratory, San Juan Island in Puget Sound, WA). Several different courses and apprenticeships in various aspects of marine biology are offered in the fall, spring and summer quarters. Research apprenticeships (for academic credit) are also available (e.g., the Blinks Fellowship). U. Washington is on a quarter system (3 quarters/academic year). Academic credit is tranferable; students should get transfer credit pre-approved. Most courses offered will count as marine biology electives. Financial aid is available. Contact Dr. Webb for more information. Consult the FHL website for more information about particular courses.

Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB; University of Oregon, Charleston, OR) - offers a wide range of courses in the Fall, Spring, or Summer (a full semester, or 2 to 8 weeks in length) and weekend workshops on special topics. Academic credit from U. Oregon is tranferable; most of the courses offered will count as marine biology electives. Financial aid is available. Consult the OIMB website for more information about particular courses.

Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL; Woods Hole, MA). Summer courses have been offered at the MBL for over 120 years! Today, these courses are for advanced graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. However, undergraduates may participate in the MBL's Fall Semester in Environmental Science (via transfer credit from Brown University).

For information about courses at other Marine Laboratories in the US, see links on the website of the National Association of Marine Laboratories. (Click on "About Us" and then "Educational Programs" in the left column for a remarkable list of courses offered by all members of the Association).