Location:

Kingston, Jamaica

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Winter Semester

Program Overview

Program Description:

This travel course familiarizes students with the organisms (invertebrates, fishes and algae) and habitats (coral reefs, sea grass meadows and mangrove forests) within tropical marine coral reef ecosystems. The course consists of formal lectures, demonstrations and instructor-led field trips and involves snorkeling, SCUBA diving, reefwalking and underwater photography. Students will develop individual research projects requiring field observations and collecting data and will write a research proposal and final research papers.

The first half of the course will be devoted to twice-a-day formal lectures, demonstrations and instructor-led field trips to provide students with a basic knowledge of the common organisms and roles they play in various the coral reef ecosystems. For the second half of the course, lectures will be once per day and faculty will work with students to develop individual research projects examining organismal ecology of coral reefs. Students will write a research proposal and experimental design and faculty will work with students to develop a project which is scientifically thorough, and which considers the ecology of the reef. Thereafter, on a daily basis, much of the student’s time will be devoted to making field observations and collecting data for their research projects. Students will deliver oral progress reports to the class, allowing for students to get feedback from both the faculty and other their peers. Final progress reports will be written and will serve as the basis for their final papers.

Setting Description:

The Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory (DBML) was founded in 1965 as a laboratory dedicated to research on the biology and geology of coral reefs and on the organisms inhabiting them. Originally only partly funded by the University of the West Indies (UWI), it later became an integral part of the University, closely associated with the Department of Life Sciences, but with its own staff and Director. When the Centre for Marine Sciences (CMS) was formed at the Mona Campus in 1990, DBML became part of the new Center. DBML comprises a suite of laboratories and offices, wet laboratories, two accommodation blocks, a fully equipped SCUBA dive center and a marina with research vessels of various sizes. DBML hosts groups of scientists and students from universities worldwide, engaged either in research or in higher education. This activity has continued since the laboratory was founded and has resulted in DBML having an international reputation for excellence and expertise in coral reef biology a

Cost:

Estimated cost per student, in-state: $ 880.00 Tuition (4 credits) $ 7.50 College Fee $ 2,750.00 Program fee* $ 200.00 IAP Admin Fee $ 300.00 - $600 Airfare Total:$ 4,137 - $4,437 Estimated cost per student, out-state: $ 2452.00 Tuition (4 credits) $ 7.50 College Fee $ 2,750.00 Program fee* $ 200.00 IAP Admin Fee $ 300 - $600 Airfare Total $ 5,700 - $6,000