Undergraduate Programs

Great Challenge, Great Adventure

SEA Semester is unique among study-abroad programs because it offers you academic challenge combined with the adventure of an extended research cruise under sail. More than 6,000 students from colleges and universities across the country have taken advantage of our 12-week, full-credit program and 8-week summer session.

  • A broad understanding of the world’s oceans through an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and public policy. The various programs place emphasis on different disciplinary areas.
  • Demanding academics on shore followed by practical application at sea.
  • 12 weeks of study (8 weeks for the summer session) divided between a 6-week shore component at Woods Hole on Cape Cod and a 6-week sea component in the Atlantic, Atlantic/Caribbean, or Pacific.
  • The only ocean education program to offer extended deep-sea sailing/research experience. Open to students with or without sailing experience.
  • Academic credit from Boston University that can be transferred to most colleges and universities, with direct credit for students at our affiliated institutions. The 12-week programs carry 17 credits for successful completion (12 credits for the 8-week summer session).
  • The ability to work one-on-one with a dedicated faculty of specialists.
  • The opportunity to plan and conduct an original research project.
  • Stops at intriguing ports of call integrated into the curriculum.
  • Leadership development and personal growth.
  • The adventure of a lifetime.
a semester at sea sailing and science research

SEA Semester
Gain a comprehensive, interdisciplinary view of the world’s oceans with an emphasis on oceanography. Open to students from any major.

SEA Semester Summer
An 8-week version of SEA Semester for students who cannot spend an academic semester away from campus.


READ MORE ABOUT SEA SEMESTER

New Programs

Oceans & Climate Semester

Oceans and Climate
Study the role of the oceans in one of the pivotal scientific questions of our time – global climate change. Designed for advanced science students.

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documenting change in the caribbean

Documenting Change in the Caribbean

Compare the modern mix of cultures and biota in the islands of the Caribbean with those documented in early histories. Especially for social sciences and humanities majors.

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Program Schedules

Program dates, overview of general routes and ports.

View Schedules

University Affiliations & Transfer Credits

Details on transferring SEA Semester credits, colleges and universities we work with, and campus contacts. Read more

Academic Credit

Students who successfully complete SEA Semester receive 17 semester credits (12 credits for the SEA Summer Session). Read more

Collaborative Programs

Specialized collaborations with other academic institutions. Read more