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Marine Ecology

A shark cruises by in deep blue waters.

Applications for the spring 2026 course are closed. To inquire about the waitlist, Email Hilary Wind.

Marine Ecology is an upper-level undergraduate course open to students currently enrolled in an ACCA school. This course will introduce general ecological concepts pertaining to marine ecosystems including our relationship to these systems. Conservation management as it relates to marine ecosystems will also be covered. 

The course will build on resources within Shedd Aquarium — including its collection and expert staff — along with guest speakers working in the field of marine conservation. Field research methods are introduced and applied during a week-long field research excursion to the Florida Keys aboard Shedd's research vessel, the R/V Coral Reef II.

Dates

Classes will be held at Shedd Aquarium March 14, 21, 28 and April 11, 18, 25, 2026.

The field component on Shedd's research vessel in the Florida Keys will take place May 9-15 OR May 15-21, 2026.

Price

Tuition is paid to your university at the current rate. An additional laboratory fee of $1,700 is due to Shedd Aquarium upon acceptance.

Coral grows wild off the coast of the Bahamas, in large bulbous mounds and stumpy, upwards-reaching branches.
Fish in all shapes, sizes and colors swim among the blue waters of the Caribbean.

Program description

Classes are held at Shedd Aquarium on six Saturdays in March and April. Classes consist of a combination of lectures and hands-on activities at the aquarium, utilizing the collections and expertise of Shedd. Lectures cover the major communities of subtropical marine and island ecosystems and the interactions among these communities. Following the classroom component, students travel to the Florida Keys aboard the R/V Coral Reef II. The boat is our home and classroom as we travel, snorkel, and gain hands-on field research experience.

Program outcomes

After taking this class, students will

  • Learn about subtropical marine and terrestrial ecosystems and conservation through lecture and hands‐on learning.
  • Incorporate system thinking and problem-solving involving subtropical marine and terrestrial habitats and issues.
  • Understand and apply ecological dynamics of various tropical marine systems to past, current, and future issues.
  • Apply scientific knowledge in an authentic environment.
  • Comprehend and utilize the scientific literature, through graphical interpretation and summaries.
  • Gain awareness for individual and societal role in marine ecosystems and gain global perspectives.