Five College field courses present students with real-world challenges and hands-on educational opportunities. These courses often give our students their first in-depth field research experience in coastal environments. Students participate in active field learning, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
Regional Field Trips
During the academic year, we sponsor course-related field trips led by five college faculty to local New England coastal sites of interest. Field trips in the New England region have included Mystic Seaport, CT, the Darling Marine Laboratory, ME, Waquoit Bay Estuarine Reserve on Cape Cod, the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA, and a cruises aboard the brigantine Ernestina and RV/CT.
Faculty interested in support for marine-related class field trips should download the form under "More Information" at the bottom of the page.
Tropical Field Trips
Field-intensive courses are offered during January interterm and March vacation to tropical environments which complement five college course offerings. Students gain valuable exposure to different cultures and socio-economic conditions on many of these excursions.
Carbonate Systems and Coral Reefs of the Bahamas
January 2008
Geology 270j is a field-oriented course offered by Smith College. Students examine the diverse carbonate sediment-producing, modern environments typical of the Bahama Islands, including a variety of shallow subtidal shelf environments, coral reefs, lagoons, beaches, dunes, and lakes. The course utilizes the facilities of the Gerace Research Center on San Salvador Island. Students conduct an individual or small group project. This course is offered in alternate years.
Tropical Coastal Biology, St. John, Virgin Islands
March 2008
Biology 497H is a three credit University of Massachusetts course featuring intensive exploration of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The instructional approach stresses guided observation of organisms in their natural habitats, accompanied by on-the-spot discourse on the ecology, behavior, taxonomy, and physiology of the organisms encountered on the island. Field investigations are supplemented with preparatory classroom work in the weeks before the trip to St. John along with evening lectures and lab-based explorations during the trip. Click here for more details.
Featured Field Stations
Click here for descriptions of marine field stations in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean.
This month's featured station is Duke University Marine Lab.
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