About SEA

Program Description

SEA is the only organization in the world that brings students from all disciplines to the deep ocean under sail to study the science & culture of the sea. We offer a variety of SEA Semesters to suit any undergraduate academic major, as well as High School Summer Seminars, all providing a hands-on approach to marine science education.

Academic Excellence

• SEA offers an interdisciplinary curriculum with an emphasis on hands-on learning and independent research
• SEA Semesters carry 17 credits; the Summer Session offers 12. Credits are issued either through the home institution (colleges or universities affiliated with SEA) or through transfer credit from Boston University.
• High School Summer Seminars offer academic rigor combined with experiential learning; some offer college credit.
• Maximum student-teacher ratio of 25: 3 (25:10 at sea). SEA students work more closely with faculty that at almost any other academic institution.
• All SEA faculty have the highest professional degrees in their fields. None are hired without extensive experience with SEA and in their field, and many are alumni of the program.
• SEA has received funding for our shipboard labs through the NSF, NOAA, and NASA as a result of the long history of success of SEA in ocean research and education.

More Than One Million Miles Sailed

• Since 1971, SEA has educated over 7,500 students about our world’s oceans while sailing over 1,000,000 nautical miles.
• SEA operates two 134’ sailing research vessels, both custom-designed for our educational purposes: the SSV Corwith Cramer and the SSV Robert C. Seamans
• The SSV Robert C. Seamans is the most sophisticated oceanographic research/sailing school vessel ever built in the United States
• SEA vessels are inspected and certified by the U.S. Coast Guard as Sailing School Vessels (SSV) and meet or exceed the Coast Guard safety requirements for their class

The Woods Hole Community

• SEA is located in Woods Hole, MA a globally recognized center for ocean and scientific exploration.
• Access to collaborations with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Marine Biological Lab (MBL), United States Geological Survey (USGS), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and Woods Hole Research Center.
• Students have visiting lecturers and access to programs at the other facilities.
• SEA students have full access to the WHOI-MBL library, finest oceanographic research library in the world.

Commitment to Affordability

• SEA remains committed to making our programs affordable for all qualified and motivated students
• Generous merit- and need-based financial aid packages are available