Williams-Mystic, Maritime Studies Program

This is a one-semester interdisciplinary ocean and coastal studies program integrating marine science, maritime history, environmental policy and literature of the sea. Students go to Williams-Mystic to spend one-eighth of their college career exploring and seeing the oceans and America in a new way, traveling on three extended field seminars exploring the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.

In the Gulf of Mexico Williams-Mystic students explore several issues first hand during a journey along the Mississippi's banks and Louisiana's gulf coastline. They speak to shrimp fishermen and alligator wranglers; steam down the Mississippi River on the stern-wheeler Natchez, seeing Mark Twain's river of yesteryear and the overwhelming industry and commerce along its banks today; canoe deep into Louisiana marshes; and travel to oil rigs 20 miles offshore. By experiencing this region they come to understand its heritage and incredible resources.