summer session I

Turks & Caicos Islands

Fundamentals of Marine Conservation

At A Glance

04 Weeks | 04 Credits
Summer 2022

Jun 6 - Jul 6

Closed

Summer 2023

Jun 2 - Jul 2

Open

Prerequisites

None

Sample Itinerary
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Fundamentals of Marine Conservation

South Caicos Island

Dive under the waves and study marine conservation. Explore the spectacular reefs and turquoise waters of South Caicos, snorkeling or diving with rays, turtles, brilliantly colored fish, and other marine life. In this fundamentals course, you’ll learn about the environmental issues and policies affecting these ecosystems and the island community, and gain the skills needed to conduct marine research.

  • Lay underwater transects to assess the health of the island’s coral reefs, which are among the largest in the world and are home to diverse marine species including the valuable queen conch
  • PADI SCUBA certifications are available on this program. Learn more here.

Application deadlines:
Summer 1 – March 15

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Program Costs & Financial Aid

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‌Academics

This academically rigorous program follows a six-day/week schedule. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to help students actively discover and understand the complexities of environmental, social, and economic issues in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Read more about the SFS program model.

Major academic themes include:

  • Marine ecology and conservation
  • Climate change and ocean acidification
  • Marine protected areas
  • Coastal management
  • Marine resource management strategies
  • Sustainable tourism and fisheries practices

Courses

On the Fundamentals of Marine Conservation program, you will take one 4-credit course. This course is participatory in nature and is designed to foster inquiry and active learning combining lectures, field exercises, assignments, and tests. This course is taught in English.

Click on each course to view a description and download the syllabus

SFS 3530 Tropical Marine Ecosystems: Monitoring and Management 4 credits

Core Skills

You will gain practical skills in the field such as: marine species identification and population monitoring, habitat and biodiversity assessment, underwater transects and quadrats, snorkel and scuba skills, coral health survey, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, and PADI Open Water Diver certification (offered at an additional cost, upon request).

Field Sites

You will visit different ecosystems and communities which may include coral reefs, mangrove islands, seagrass beds, fishing communities, carbonate platform flats, coastal ecosystems, beaches, marine protected areas, numerous shallow-water snorkeling sites, and the historical tourist hub of Providenciales.

Resources

A summer with SFS!

Take back-to-back summer sessions and get the hands-on learning and skill-building experiences of an internship, while going off the beaten path and exploring the world. Each summer session focuses on a different topic, and you’ll have time to travel independently between sessions.

RECOMMENDED PROGRAM COMBO
Marine Megafauna (Turks & Caicos Summer II)
Biodiversity and Sustainable Food Systems (Costa Rica Summer I)

Check it out
All program components are subject to change.

‌Where You'll Be Living

The Center is a small converted hotel overlooking the crystalline waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Spectacular sunsets, open-air facilities, warm sunshine, and a refreshing ocean breeze define this marine field station. A five-minute walk brings you to the small, historic town of Cockburn Harbour, where students and faculty frequently engage in community activities.

  • Dorm living in 4-6 person bunkrooms
  • Small, open campus with direct access to the ocean
  • Air-conditioned classroom and computer lab
  • Open-air dining space, and on-site cooking staff
  • Dock, dive shack, and small fleet of research boats
  • Volleyball, hammocks, and swimming pool overlooking the ocean
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