Pre-College at Eckerd: Marine Science on Florida’s Gulf Coast

Modeled after our undergraduate curriculum, students will work with our internationally-recognized faculty on our prime waterfront location on the Gulf of Mexico.Our hands-on curriculum in the field, on the water and in the lab has activities designed to explore marine biology, marine geology, marine chemistry, and more. 

Students enrolled in the program may:

• Embark on a marine science research vessel to capture, identify and release sharks, rays and fish
• Net near shore marine fish and invertebrates, including shrimp, crabs and zooplankton
• Deploy hydrophones to hear underwater sounds, including dolphins, fish and snapping shrimp
• Photograph wild dolphins to better understand dolphin ecology and behavior in Florida’s coastal waters
• Observe foraging shorebirds and take sediment cores to find their prey on local beaches
• Encounter alligators, tortoises, snakes and birds of prey at a nature preserve
• Conduct a plankton tow and examine organisms under a microscopeInvestigate the interactions of corals, anemones and their symbionts using microscopy and microbiology

Students must be able to pass the swim test, three full laps for a total of 150 yards, without touching the bottom of the pool, using any style and with no time limit.