SEA Semester: Documenting Change in the Caribbean
I think this course was as close to perfection as could possibly have been achieved. I am so thankful that this course came about just as my junior year did. I loved the "team" teaching and I loved the subject matter. How could SEA not have thought of this before? - Student from SEA class 208
What is it?
A social sciences and humanities-intensive semester focusing on understanding 500 years of change in the multicultural Caribbean region from European contact to the present.
When is it?
February 10 – May 4, 2009
Who should apply?
Students interested in a SEA Semester with more credits focused on the humanities and social sciences. Limited to 25 students.
Program Description
The islands of the Caribbean have seen enormous changes in the last five centuries. Europeans brought with them devastating diseases that decimated the native population, and transported some five million enslaved Africans into the islands to work plantations of newly introduced crops. Early naturalists described amazing new species of plants and animals even as they were being exterminated and replaced by species introduced intentionally or accidentally. Today there is a dynamic mix of cultures and biota in the islands that bears little resemblance to the world encountered by Christopher Columbus. As a tourist destination in the 21st century, the Caribbean continues to change as new demands are placed on limited resources. In this semester we explore how we can document these changes using the source materials and methodological approaches of both the humanities and sciences. This program is limited to 25, so interested students should apply early.
- Map of Jamaica by John Moxon, 1677. Courtesy of the John Carter Brown Library.
Courses
Maritime History and Culture (4 credits)
This course explores the political, cultural, social, and demographic changes in the Caribbean. Starting from the maritime landscape of winds, currents, islands, and harbors, it demonstrates how the physical nature of the region has influenced patterns of settlement and development from the time of the Arawaks and Caribs to the modern commodification of the Caribbean as a tourist destination.
Marine Environmental History (4 credits)
In this course, students trace the role of ships and sailors as the agents of environmental – as well as social and economic – change. Using both scientific and historical evidence to develop a timeline of ecological change, students examine the marine resources that drove European expansion in the Caribbean and the impact of introduced species, human development, and pollution on the ecosystems of coastal areas. They also look at efforts to mitigate the damaging effects of human activity on the environment and at the effectiveness of regional and international management schemes.
Nautical Science (3 credits)
Nautical science teaches the practical skills and theoretical background necessary to safely operate a tall ship in high seas. In lectures, lab sessions, field trips, and student projects, SEA’s captains introduce the principles fundamental to sailing-vessel operations. Students learn and apply essential concepts in general physics, astronomy, and meteorology.
Oceanography (3 credits)
This oceanography course provides students with the scientific foundation needed to use scientific equipment and instruments onboard the ship to investigate the planet’s oceans. Students acquire a basic understanding of global ocean processes and more detailed knowledge of the waters through which they will sail. As they learn about modern ocean studies and technological advances in instrumentation, students develop proposals for original research projects to be carried out at sea. As part of this process, students have opportunities to discuss current research with scientists working at the cutting edge of marine science.
Practical Oceanographic Research (3 credits)
Students conduct sampling surveys of the Caribbean using state-of-the-art equipment and laboratory facilities onboard the ship. Students collaborate on group projects in the oceanography of the cruise track, using the full scientific capabilities of the research vessel.
