MSCI 332 - Coastal Marine Habitats in North Wales
Course Goals
This is an intensive 16-day, field-based course conducted in north Wales, U.K. in association with the School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University. The course emphasizes field-based instruction and student-led data collection in coastal marine environments in northern Wales, the Isle of Anglesey, and the eastern Irish Sea. Topics that students will become familiar with include the ecology of rocky shores, biological and physical processes affecting species distribution and ecology in high- and low-energy macrotidal coastal environments, strand and dune plant ecology, marsh paleoceanography, and geological history of the region.
Syllabus and Grading
This accelerated two-week course heavily utilizes field-based instruction and experiential learning, which are augmented with interactive laboratory and lecture based study. Students typically complete several mini-studies or mini-experiments during time spent in the field, and bring specimens back to the School of Ocean Sciences campus for additional experiments and data collection. At the end of the course, students present their experimental findings to their classmates and School of Ocean Sciences staff.
Students are graded by the participation and citizenship in the course (5%), a practical exam (85%), and a presentation (10%). A generic syllabus is available for viewing.
Course Logistics
Students are responsible for their individual travel costs and airfare (the instructors will coordinate arrival and departure travel plans). Housing is provided in dorms located at Bangor University's campus, in Bangor, U.K.. Kitchen spaces are provided in the dorms; students may elect to cook meals together or eat at one of the options in Bangor.
Recommended Gear for Wales Field Course
Recommended Gear for Wales Field Course PDF
