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Prerequisites for ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Coastal Studies Semester

1. BIO 1102 or 1109 or placement in 2000 or higher; 
   or CHEM 1102 or 1109 or placement in 2000 or higher;
   or EOS 1105 or 1305 or 1505 or 2005;
   or PHYS 1140 or placement in 2000 or higher
2. Math 1050 or placement in 1600 or above
3. or Permission of the Program Director in consultation with instructors.

Fall 2025 Course Offerings

BCSS Requirements

ALL FOUR courses are project based which will allow students to have place-based research and scholarship experiences across the curriculum. This model will be an excellent launch pad for future student research opportunities at the Center across the disciplines from marine biology and oceanographic science, to social sciences and the arts and humanities. The semester includes extensive field work in Casco Bay and beyond, with 4 days trips to Hurricane Island and Kent Island.

Benthic Ecology, BIOL 2233/ENVS 2333, (a. INS, MCSR), Christopher Wells

The principles of ecology emphasizing the hard- and soft-bottom communities of Casco Bay and Harpswell Sound. Field trips and field exercises demonstrate the quantitative principles of marine ecological research, including good practices in sampling designs and field experiments. A class field project designs and implements a long-term study, based at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Marine Laboratory, to monitor and detect changes in community structure driven by climate change in the twenty-first century. Assumes a basic knowledge of biological statistics. Taught in residence at the Schiller Coastal Studies Center. Benthic Ecology is a course-module in the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Marine Science Semester and is taught with three other co-requisite courses.

Ocean Acidification, EOS 2625, (a.), Michele LaVigne

Recent trends of carbon dioxide emissions are causing acidification of the ocean at a rate unprecedented in the geologic record. The associated changes in ocean chemistry present myriad potential difficulties for marine ecosystems and the shellfish industries that rely upon them. Considers the causes, consequences, and policy implications of ocean acidification, including the highly variable and extreme coastal carbonate chemistry conditions of the Gulf of Maine. Laboratory component includes student research projects in collaboration with community partners and the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Coastal Studies Semester to study questions related to climate, carbon, and biogeochemical cycling in local ecosystems.

Talking to Farmers and Fishermen: Social Science Field Methods for Environmental Policy Research, ENVS 2314 (b), Shana Starobin

Natural resource users—like farmers and fishermen—possess intimate knowledge of the complex socioecological systems where they live and work. How can researchers appropriately and ethically engage individual and community stakeholders as participants in environmental research? Through assignments, activities, and class excursions (lab), students will gain competence in collaborative field research skills, including the ethical conduct of research with human subjects, participant observation, conducting interviews and focus groups, writing up field notes, developing metadata, and establishing protocols for data management. Students will also practice preliminary data analysis—transcription and text analysis of field collected data, descriptive statistics, and identification of future research questions. (Same as: )

Maine Writers and the Environment, ENGL 2804  (c), Liz Muther  

Explores the wild and diverse literary territories of the state of Maine -- past and present -- with a focus on coastal narratives and environmental writing. Considers Maine's multi-ethnic folkways, its austere modernisms, remorseless gothic landscapes, natural splendors and antagonisms, coastal rhapsodies and adversities, and contemporary environmental imperatives. Includes poetry, short stories, novels, memoirs, personal narratives, children's literature, nature writing, and environmental advocacy by such writers as Thoreau, Jewett, Robinson, Millay, Beston, Carson, McCloskey, King, Russo, Strout, and Bryan. (Same as: ) 

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ Coastal Studies Semester - The Co-Curricular Experience!

The Co-Curricular activities in the BCSS include field trips and the Lunch and Learn series. These events are meant to give you a low stress opportunity to meet folks from the working waterfront and understand how marine and ocean science research can impact the communities in which we do that research.

These activities are designed to:

• Introduce you to new ways of seeing and experiencing coastal questions
• Help you build networking and communication skills
• Demonstrate the breadth of experiences and perspectives offered by the people of

Maine’s coastal communities and working waterfronts

• Inspire you to think about how your research could be applied to coastal challenges
• Deepen your understanding of the interconnectivity of coastal communities, economies and environments in the Gulf of Maine.

This year’s Lunch and Learn Series included: Bonnie Tobey, Maine Seaweed Council and Mitchel Lench, Ocean’s Balance; Dave Wilson, Clam Harvester and Chair, Harpswell Marine Resources Committee; Kathleen Reardon, Department of Marine Fisheries Lobster Biologist; Angela Brewer, Maine State Department of Environmental Protection.

Field Trips included visiting Artist Matt Barter’s Brunswick studio, Two Lights State Park, Popham Beach and our Portland Working Waterfront Day.

There are no tests, no papers expected as part of the co-curriculum. We ask that for these events that you are present, engaged, and curious about the connections you can make between the people you meet, their lived experiences and your own research.