Download the full BIOS Spring Course Catalogue (PDF)

Take either a semester-long immersion or attend a half semester (i.e., quarter/trimester) period studying marine sciences in Bermuda. Courses include both classroom work and a number of hands-on laboratory and research experiences. In addition to academic pursuits, your time at BIOS will expose you to a unique research environment unlike a normal university setting. As BIOS is a residential community of researchers, students not only study and work with active scientists, but eat meals, play sports, and socialize with faculty, graduate students and technicians who reside on the campus.

The semester is split into two sessions. Students can attend either both sessions or a single session. Space is limited to 20 students per session - so sign up soon. Early applicants are eligible for substantial scholarship support.

Spring Semester runs from ~10 January to 10 May each year, with a week long mid-term spring break. This provides 14 weeks of instruction plus short periods for orientation and final exams. The semester is broken into two sessions. Some courses are taught as semester-long courses while others are taught on a schedule similar to those offered during a quarter (or trimester) system.

Courses include either 3 hr of lecture per week for 14 weeks (semester long) or 6 hr of lecture per week for 7 weeks (quarter long). Labs are either 4 hrs per week (semester) or 8 hr per week (quarter).

Biological Oceanography
(4 credit hours)
This course focuses on the fundamental principles of biological oceanography as they relate to different marine ecosystems (e.g., pelagic ocean systems, deep-sea vents). Knowledge of these fundamental principles is applied to the study of nutrient and energy flows within contemporary marine foodwebs. Practical laboratory exercises are designed to reinforce and integrate the principles in class. These include field observations in the near shore environment, an oceanographic cruise to the Hydrostation "S" Time-series Station, and controlled laboratory experiments. All exercises are geared to provide exposure to modern biological oceanographic research techniques. More...
Prerequisites: freshman level course in biology and/or environmental sciences.

Coral Reef Ecology
(4 credit hours)
Basic ecological principles using coral reefs as examples. Biology of corals, primary production, nutrient cycling, diseases, reef fishes, predation, feeding ecology and human impact. Extensive underwater studies. An intensive integrated introduction comprised of lectures, required reading, laboratory exercises and field surveys. The lectures cover a broad range of relevant topics in coral reef ecology that are supplemented by readings from the primary literature with attention given to active areas of research. The lab work is focused on training in practical techniques. More...
Prerequisites: freshman level course in biology, ecology and/or environmental sciences

Environmental Principles and Policy
(3 credit hours)
This course is an introductory undergraduate course on environmental issues, and environmental legislation and policy. How do we maintain and sustain the environment for the present and the future? This course is an introduction to environmental issues, policy, and legislation. We will examine key environmental issues from an interdisciplinary perspective, identifying environmental problems and analyzing strategies, policies and legislation proposed to deal with them. We will compare global issues and policies that affect different countries: e.g., Bermuda, the United States, European Community and developing nations. For example, Bermuda, as an island community of limited size, is particularly vulnerable to environmental degradation. Bermuda's ecological, economic, sociopolitical systems and environmental legislation will be examined as both a case study and as a comparative microcosm for rest of the world. Topics will include: ecosystem conservation and natural resource management, pollution and waste management, energy conservation and management. More...
Prerequisites: freshman level course in biology, ecology and/or environmental sciences

Integrated Marine Ecosystems
(3 credit hours)
This course is designed for senior level undergraduate students and will focus on the oceanic systems from an integrative point of view, focusing on the interactions between physical, chemical, and biological processes. Key principles in oceanography will be re-introduced during the first part of the course (e.g. ecological geography) to ensure a solid basis for the remainder of the course. The second part of the course will examine in detail several multidisciplinary oceanographic research programs as case studies. This examination will include an analysis of the physical, chemical and biological processes, their interactions, and the resulting impact on ocean biogeochemistry. Case studies will be chosen to reinforce the students understanding of ocean ecosystems and in particular, the contrasts between systems. This is a non-lab course. More...
Prerequisites: junior/senior standing in life or environmental sciences or permission of instructors.

Introduction to the World Ocean
(3 credit hours)
This introductory oceanography course provides an essential foundation for students with an interest in any branch of marine science. Oceanography traditionally includes the four sub-disciplines of geological oceanography, chemical oceanography, physical oceanography and biological oceanography. Each of these sub-disciplines are discussed at an introductory level that does not require previous college-level courses in geology, chemistry, physics or biology. Oceanographic research has become increasingly interdisciplinary during the last few decades - a fact that is recognized in this course, which stresses interconnections between the land, atmosphere and ocean, and the profound implications of these linkages for the living inhabitants of planet Earth. Course lectures are complemented by several field trips, including an oceanographic cruise aboard research vessel Atlantic Explorer and field observations of Bermuda's coral reef environment. More...
Prerequisites: There are no course prerequisites, although freshman level courses in science or mathematics will be helpful.

Marine Ecology
(4 credit hours)
The objective of the course is to provide a basic grounding in ecological principles using marine examples, and to discuss the factors that influence the distribution, abundance, and diversity of marine organisms. Tropical marine ecosystems will be the focus if this class, primarily coral reef, seagrass and mangrove ecology. We start with an introduction into the ocean environment and marine life, covering primary production and abiotic factors affecting life in the sea, and then explore the habitat ecology of coral reefs. The class will then progress to looking at trophic levels and energy transfer, and then we will explore seagrass and mangrove communities. The ecological processes of disturbance and competition and life history strategies will then be explained using marine examples, and we will finish with a consideration of human impacts to the marine environment and conservation management. The integrated field trips and laboratory work are designed to provide experience in commonly used marine ecological field sampling techniques and in scientific writing. More...
Prerequisites: freshman level course in biology, ecology and/or environmental sciences

Marine Invertebrate Zoology
(4 credit hours)
MIZ consists of lectures closely followed by hands on field and laboratory work. Due to the Gulf Stream, Bermuda is home to unique assemblages of semi-tropical invertebrates thriving in the most northern coral reefs, mangrove forests and tropical seagrass beds in the Atlantic; these and other semi-tropical habitats are visited during the course. This course surveys the major phyla of marine invertebrates focusing on Bermudian examples. More...
Prerequisites: freshman level course in biology, ecology and/or environmental sciences

Research Independent Study
(8 credit hours)
A research topic will be selected, researched and pursued. During the first 10 weeks of the semester in Bermuda, you will learn about many aspects of Marine Invertebrate Zoology and Coral Reef Ecology and start to develop areas of specific interest. A written proposal will be submitted prior to the end of that period outlining your research ideas. The instructors will then guide you and work with you on your idea to develop a project. The end 5 weeks of the semester will be devoted to conducting the research project. The results will be submitted in a format for publication in the appropriate journal. More...
Prerequisites: at least one regular course at BIOS.