Pre-College: Oceanography

High School and Pre-College Program

Pre-College: Oceanography

High School and Pre-College Program

An academically rigorous three-week program for rising juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates interested in pursuing oceanography, marine biology, environmental science, or other related disciplines at the undergraduate level.

SEA’s Pre-College: Oceanography program is designed as a college level seminar led by SEA’s PhD-level scientists. While exploring advanced oceanographic lab and field research techniques, students participating will investigate how physics, chemistry, biology, and geology come together to shape the ocean’s complex systems such as ocean-climate interactions, biogeochemical cycles, and the physical forces that drive global circulation patterns.

With over 40 contact hours of formal instruction, students participate in college-style lectures, laboratory work, field sampling, data analysis, and a collaborative research project. By the end of the program, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of ocean processes and improved skills in scientific observation, data visualization, critical thinking, and research communication.

Program cost: Coming Soon

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Summer 2026

Sessions

Jun 22 - Jul 9

SEA campus in Woods Hole, MA

Jul 15 - Aug 1

SEA campus in Woods Hole, MA

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Introduction to Oceanography

Oceanography is the scientific study of the ocean environment, encompassing its physical, chemical, geological, and biological properties. Oceanographers seek to understand the mechanisms that govern ocean circulation, the exchange of heat and gases between the ocean and atmosphere, and the ways in which the ocean supports life and influences Earth’s climate.

Program Topics

Students participating in SEA’s Pre-College: Oceanography program can expect to explore:

Physical and Geological Oceanography: Investigate ocean circulation, waves, tides, and the structure of the seafloor, including bathymetry, plate tectonics, and coastal processes.

Chemical and Biological Oceanography: Examine nutrient cycles, ocean chemistry, and how energy and matter flow through marine food webs.

Climate and Human Impacts: Analyze how the ocean regulates Earth’s climate system, and explore how human activities influence ocean health and global change.

Students will receive a certificate of completion upon successful completion of the program; there is no high school or college credit associated with this program.

Research & Field Experience

Over the course of their three weeks on campus, students will complete a research project on a topic of their choosing. Students will work in small groups to investigate an environmental problem or topic of interest, develop a testable hypothesis, collect and analyze data, and present their findings to their peers, faculty, and members of the surrounding science community. Examples of past research projects include:

The effect of freshwater input and increased precipitation on salinity levels within Waquoit Bay
Tidal fluctuation and dissolved oxygen in the Little Sippewisset marshland
Pollution sources and microplastic concentrations in the Gulf of Maine

Students will also have the opportunity to visit the local and world-renowned institutions in Woods Hole such as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Marine Biological Laboratory, the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Woodwell Climate Research Center. With exclusive tours of local lab facilities, students will interface with scientists, engineers, marine technicians, and educators to learn about the cutting-edge research happening in this unique science community.