Off Campus Biology Programs

Intensive study of the biology that created the Bahamas and that now constitutes the living structure of these islands. Staying at the Gerace Research Center provides access to a diversity of marine and terrestrial habitats including coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, hypersaline ponds, limestone caverns, and the “blue-holes” that connect inland waterways to the sea. The Gerace Research Center is located on San Salvador Island. Counts toward major: Biology. Prerequisite: BIO 150 or permission of instructor. Offered periodically during January term.

This course offers intensive field-biology experiences within three equatorial New World environments: the Amazon rainforest, the Andes cloud forests, and the Galapagos Islands. Students compare the rich biodiversity, the adaptations and natural history of species, and the influence of human impact on these areas. Preparation for class requires readings from texts and primary literature concerning ecological and environmental issues specific to each of these regions. Based in Quito, the three field expeditions alternate with home-based rest days allowing for reflective writing in journals, assimilation, and discussion. Prerequisite: BIO 150 or permission of instructor. Offered periodically during January term.

Students gain meaningful research experience studying marine ecosystems. The course begins on campus as students develop field and analytical skills that they will apply to their research. Staying at the Discovery Bay Marine Lab in Jamaica provides access to unique coral reef and intertidal habitats where students conduct independent research projects. The course concludes on campus for data analysis and interpretation. Offered periodically during January term. Prerequisite: BIO 150 or permission of instructor.