To the Prospective Student...A message from John Finnerty, Director    of the BU Marine Program (BUMP):

    Greetings, and welcome to the BUMP! We are proud to be one of the premiere marine programs
    in the country, offering an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree in Marine Science, a chance to
    work with leading faculty whose research interests cover the wide spectrum of current marine
    science, and extensive hands-on field and laboratory opportunities in all our courses. We
    emphasize teaching the very latest scientific discoveries in a highly collaborative research  
    environment, wrapped in the context of active participation by undergraduates in the field, lab,
    and beyond.

Taking advantage of New England’s long-standing historical and scholarly ties to the sea, we have joined our efforts with those of our Academic Partners, which include the New England Aquarium, the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole.  Together we offer a stimulating marine science program that will reward you academically as well as personally. 

Via the departments of Biology, Earth Sciences, and Geography & Environment, our interdisciplinary curriculum includes courses in marine biology, marine geology and biogeochemistry, and physical oceanography to give every student a comprehensive understanding of today’s marine science. 

Please check out our unique “Marine Semester”!...in which every student has the opportunity to experience hands-on marine science research and teaching.  Taught in a “block” format in Fall semesters, only one course is taken each month for the four months of the semester.  This focused approach greatly enhances the intellectual immersion into marine science.  We offer on-campus courses that utilize our state-of-the-art marine biology laboratories, and we also offer off-campus courses on the reefs of Belize (Central America), as well as courses in collaboration with our Academic Partners.  These courses take students to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary in Scituate, MA, to the New England Aquarium, and to Woods Hole and the Caribbean through the Sea Education Association. 

If you have questions or comments, please contact us…and welcome aboard!