SFS TURKS & CAICOS: MARINE RESOURCE STUDIES (SEMESTER)

PROGRAM DETAILS

• Terms: Fall, Spring
• Credits: 16 semester-hour credits
• Prerequisites: One semester of college-level ecology, biology, or environmental studies/science, 2.7 GPA, 18 years of age
• Application Deadline: Fall: May 1st. Spring: November 1st. Early applications encouraged
• Financial Aid: All accepted students can apply for need-based scholarships, grants, and loans

OVERVIEW

Spend a semester on the island of South Caicos, where spectacular marine ecosystems are still largely untouched by tourism and development. Throw on your wetsuit and discover a host of marine life while conducting research on coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves. Evaluate fisheries resources and policies while collecting data that helps community members balance their rights and needs with the island’s conservation goals. 

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• Swim, dive, or snorkel nearly every day in the tropical western Atlantic – learn marine species identification and population assessment techniques while visiting coral reefs, sea grass beds, mangrove nurseries, sand bars, and tiny, uninhabited cays. 
• Explore one of the Caribbean’s largest cave systems on a multi-day expedition to Middle and North Caicos. Tour an old cotton plantation and learn Indigenous histories of the islands. 
• Participate in coral restoration work firsthand; learn basic methods used to establish coral nurseries and work with local organizations to outplant coral to support reef regeneration. 
• Earn your Open Water SCUBA certification during the first month of the program. This lifelong certification unlocks years of underwater exploration! Further your education and expand your underwater skills in the Advanced Open Water course offered later in the semester. Learn more here. 
• Conduct a comprehensive field research project: Develop a research question, collect and analyze data, write a paper, and present your findings.

SFS students live and study at the Center for Marine Resource Studies. 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.

RESEARCH THEMES

• Marine ecology and conservation
• Climate change and ocean acidification
• Approaches to sustainable tourism and fisheries
• Marine resource management
• Traditional island livelihoods
• Coral health and resilience
• Costal management
• Marine protected areas

 

CORE SKILLS

• Coral health assessment
• Marine species identification
• Underwater transects and quadrats
• Video and photo tracking
• Marine survey techniques
• Habitat and biodiveristy assessment
• Ecosystem services valuation
• Research design and implementation
• Data collection and analysis
• Research presentation
• PADI certification (at an additional cost)

 

LEARN MORE

REQUEST INFORMATION

APPLY NOW

CONNECT WITH SFS

Visit the SFS website
Call the Admissions Hotline at 800.989.4418
Email admissions@fieldstudies.org
Read updates from the field on the SFS Blog
Follow SFS on Instagram and Facebook
Watch student videos on YouTube and Vimeo