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Hatfield Marine Science Center
Advantages of the Oregon Coast as your learning lab
Take a minute to see why HMSC Academic Program Coordinator and Instructor Itchung Cheung thinks spending the summer at the Oregon Coast at OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center is a memorable and worthwhile experience for students in a variety of fields.
Who can take courses this summer at the coast?
You! Pretty much anyone interested in our diverse summer course offerings in Marine and Environmental Studies can participate, whether they want to take a single course or a set of courses in our program. I have identified three themed sets of pathways for those interested in a set of courses for the summer:
Marine Biology path - Intro to Marine Biology, Biology and Conservation of Marine Mammals and Aquatic Biological Invasions.
Educators path - Intro to Marine Biology, Biology and Conservation of Marine Mammals and Understanding Free Choice Learning for Education and Outreach
Professional Development path - Eco and Adventure Tourism, Understanding Free Choice Learning for Education and Outreach (Aquatic Biological Invasions can be taken concurrently) and Aquaculture and Aquarium Science.
We've had part-time and full-time students from community colleges, undergraduate and graduate students, teachers, industry professional, marine resource managers and life-long learners from all over the state and country take our courses.
What do you see as the advantages of taking courses at HMSC this summer?
HMSC is a world-class research and teaching facility and the summer provides an ideal time to take advantage of field experiences and to learn from top researchers, while living for a few weeks at the Oregon Coast. HMSC is located on the scenic Yaquina Bay and allows us to offer class outside of the classroom. Students enjoy the hands-on learning in small class size settings. Our instructors love their research field and love to teach. Students can pick and choose from several short 1-, 2- and 3-week intensive courses and or take a whole string of courses.
What do you think is the most unique course being offered this summer at HMSC?
That's a tough one. I would say that it's a tie between the Coastal Eco and Adventure Tourism course, which combines environmentalism and marine resource management, and the Understanding Free Choice Learning for Education and Outreach course, which is a real hot topic in bridging science research and education.
What is your favorite part about Summer Session at HMSC?
It would definitely be the accessibility of the marine environment for learning. Our classes take full advantage of the natural learning environments. Students spend the bulk of their time in the field at a rocky shore, muddy estuary, tranquil bay or sandy shore studying marine life in their natural habitat and then in the education wing full of wet labs with running sea water and tanks with living animals. We have a pretty amazing facility.
What would you tell a student who was interested in Summer Session at HMSC?
HMSC is a wonderfully interactive community of students, educators and researchers. Take a look at our diverse course offerings and be a part of our community. We have on-site housing and some housing scholarships may be available.
What is new for HMSC Summer Session '08 this year?
Two new courses at HMSC are Coastal Eco and Adventure Tourism, and Aquaculture and Aquarium Science. Our Aquatic Biological Invasions course is offered every other summer and by popular demand, we are offering it concurrently with the Understanding Free Choice Learning for Education and Outreach course.
Back to Summer Session at the Hatfield Marine Science Center.
Visit the HMSC summer website for a complete list of summer 2008 courses, detailed course descriptions, housing and scholarship information.
