Have you ever dreamed of spending a semester at sea, learning to sail and conducting important scientific research?  

If so, the SEA Semester might be right for you. Please join us for an informational session about the program with an admissions counselor from the Sea Education Association. The information sessions will take place on Wednesday, September 23, in the Battelle Atrium from 10 to 12 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m., and in the Sports Center Complex 235 from 6:20 to 7:15 p.m. Students who completed the SEA Semester program will appear at the morning and evening sessions to talk about their experiences and answer questions.

About the SEA Semester 

Each semester and over the summer, AU students have the opportunity to become part of small research teams aboard sailing vessels from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Through the program, students study at sea, learn how to sail the ship, and conduct research in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, or South Pacific. Research themes include marine biodiversity, colonization and conservation in the Caribbean, and the global ocean. Programs offer full-time credit and are open to all majors. 

It’s all part of the Sea Education Association (SEA), an internationally recognized leader in undergraduate ocean education. For nearly 45 years and more than one million nautical miles sailed, SEA has educated students about the world’s oceans. The program looks for motivated undergraduates of all majors who are passionate about learning, inspired to tackle real-world problems, and eager to become part of an unparalleled learning community.  

"The SEA Semester is a long-established program with a great reputation,” said Christopher Tudge, associate professor of biology and director of the AU Honors Program. “The academics are sound, and the on-board experience brings out the best in all participants. The new SEA offering will expand the choices for off-campus courses for many of our science majors." 

Meg Weekes, director of the College of Arts and Sciences Leadership and Ethical Development Program (CAS LEAD), is hosting the evening informational session in her classroom. She says that the program builds key leadership skills. “SEA Semester provides rigorous academic coursework and research, coupled with outstanding opportunities for developing and practicing leadership,” she says. “The two students from the CAS LEAD program who enrolled in SEA Semester last summer reported that they learned more than they ever thought possible. The experience provided knowledge and perspective that has helped them excel in all their studies, and has also enabled them to advance in their leadership skills and responsibility.” 

About The Sea Education Association 

Sea Education Association is an internationally recognized leader in undergraduate ocean education. Since 1971, we have equipped students with the tools to become environmentally literate leaders prepared to address the defining issue of the twenty-first century: the human impact on the environment.  

Its fully accredited study abroad program, SEA Semester, is the leading off-campus environmental studies program focused on the ocean. While the academic focus varies, each program offers an interconnected suite of courses designed to explore a specific ocean-related theme using a cross-disciplinary approach. We look for motivated undergraduates of all majors who are passionate about learning, inspired to tackle and address real-world problems, and eager to become part of an unparalleled living and learning community. 

For More Information 

For more information, please contact: Professor Christopher Tudge at ctudge@american.edu or Mike Galaviz at mgalav@american.edu. Or visit the SEA Semester website.