About BUMP's Marine Semester

Every Marine Science major participates in at least one Marine Semester (typically in the junior and/or senior year). Structured differently from the typical academic semester, students take four intensive marine courses in four blocks. Each block is typically 18-20 days and allows students the time for hands-on experiments and field work outside the classroom. Classes take place both on-campus and off, with travel courses in Belize (Central America), Scituate, MA at the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, at the New England Aquarium, and in Woods Hole and the Caribbean in partnership with the Sea Education Assoication.

This semester is also open to non-Marine Science majors and non-BU students as long as the student meets prerequisite requirements.

NOAA's research vessel, AUK, the primary vessel used in BI 546, Marine Megafaunal Ecology

Current on-campus course offerings:

  • BI 463/663, Chemosensory Biology
  • BI 468/668, Marine Microbial Ecology
  • BI 531, Ichthyology: Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution of Fish
  • BI 536, Molecular Ecology and Evolution
  • BI 547, Marine Invertebrates: National History and Molecular Phylogeny
  • ES 543, Estuaries and Nearshore Systems

    • Current off-campus and travel course offerings:

  • BI 532, Field Biology of Belize Coral Reefs: Expeditionary Ichthyology (taught in Belize)
  • BI 546, Marine Megafaunal Ecology: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and Surrounding Waters (taught in Boston and in at the Stellwagen Bank/NOAA Sanctuary in Scituate, MA)
  • BI/GE 578, Marine Geographic Information Science (taught on campus and at the New England Aquarium)
  • ES 545, Tropical Oceanography of the Caribbean Sea (taught in conjunction with the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole, MA)
  • ES 546, Tropical Oceanography of the Caribbean Sea: Applications and Research (taught in conjunction with the Sea Education Association at sea in the Caribbean; CRUISE TRACK: St. Croix-to-Key West)

    • Marine Semester Application and Prerequisites

    Application deadline for Fall 2009 Semester: March 27, 2009.
    Check back in January 2009 for application materials.

    General Prerequisites

    One Marine Breadth Course (see Undergraduate Program for courses)
    At least Junior class standing*

    (*those students wishing to participate without junior standing must get consent from the Director of BUMP)

    Application Materials

    IF YOU ARE A BUMP STUDENT: submit a completed application form (PDF | MS Word) and an unoffical transcript.

    IF YOU ARE A BU STUDENT, BUT NOT A BUMP CONCENTRATOR: submit a completed application form (PDF | MS Word), an unofficial transcript, a brief (no more than 1 page) personal statement describing why you want to attend the Marine Semester, and the name and contact information of one professor or TF who could recommend you for the Marine Semester.

    IF YOU ARE NOT A BU STUDENT: All interested non-BU students must contact BUMP at (617) 358-4961 or bump@bu.edu for application materials.