Marine Biology in the Bahamas: What better way to end your school year than by putting on your swimsuit, snorkel and fins in order to learn about marine life around the small, secluded island of San Salvador, Bahamas. The objective of the trip is to provide students with an overview of tropical marine ecosystems and their biological communities with a special focus on coral reefs and coral reef organisms. There will be a strong emphasis on systematics, taxonomy, and ecology of dominant species. The trip consists primarily of field trips and lectures. A large portion of the time in the field will be spent snorkeling on near-shore patch reefs and surveying coastal and inland environments. The field-intensive course is based out of the Gerace Research Centre where students will be housed in dormitory-style accomodations.
Participants in this Travelearn are required to register for the undergraduate course listed above;
the 
prerequisite for BIO 4914 is 4 credits of Biology or permission of the instructor.
prerequisite for BIO 4914 is 4 credits of Biology or permission of the instructor. Led by Dr. Brian Teasdale, Department of Biology, the purpose of the program is to introduce students to tropical coral reef system. Although the primary mission of the program is learning about the aquatic ecosystem, additional highlights will include: the Columbus Monument commemorating San Salvador as the first land sighted by Christopher Columbus; Dixon Lighthouse, one of the last remaining kerosene-run lighthouses in the Bahamas; and the township of Cockburn Town.
For additional information about the course, contact Dr. Teasdale: 908-737-3671 • bteasdal@kean.edu. Note: Participants must meet with the faculty coordinator prior to registering. The course includes one-week of lectures at Kean University prior to traveling. A basic swim test with mask and snorkel instruction is administered before departure. Passports are now required for travel to the Bahamas.
Program cost:
Program fee of $2,000** includes: Round-trip airfare • Dormitory housing at the Gerace Research Center • Meals • Ground transportation on the island.
Schedule of payments and financial aid:
February 1, 2009 - Nonrefundable administrative fee of $100 due to CIS
March 1, 2009 - Full payment of program fee due to CIS
Matriculated students seeking financial aid to cover program cost must contact the Center for International Studies by February 1, 2009.
To sign up:
1. Submit the Travelearn Participant Form, Travel Waiver, copy of your passport and $100 administrative fee by the deadlines above.
• Participants must obtain the faculty coordinator’s signature on the Travelearn Participant Form.
• Matriculated Kean students seeking financial aid to apply towards program fees must complete and
2. Submit subsequent payments by the deadlines above.
3. Submit proof of purchase of travel insurance.
4. If seeking academic credit, register for the Summer I semester by obtaining the permission code from the academic department and registering in KeanWISE.
