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Semester by the Sea

SPRING 2025

Spend a semester on the coast and dive into cutting-edge research with this comprehensive spring program for UT undergraduates. Semester by the Sea combines coursework and research at our field station in Port Aransas.

The Spring Semester by the Sea program offers four 3-credit hour organized courses plus a 3-credit field research course for an independent field- or lab-based research project. Courses count towards degree requirements for EVS, EEB, & MS.

The following courses will be taught in spring 2025.

  • MNS 352M Marine Community Ecology
  • MNS 355E Marine Fisheries Ecology
  • MNS 356 Ecosystem Oceanography
  • MNS 357 Marine Phytoplankton Diversity
  • MNS 370 (Writing & II Flag) Special Studies in Marine Science

* Students need MNS 152R in Fall 2024 to participate in the 2025 Semester by the Sea. *

  • MNS 152R** Research Methods and Reporting in Marine Science

Students accepted into the program are eligible for:
• Campus housing with week-day cafeteria services.
• Top students are eligible for a travel award to a national or regional science meeting based on their research.
• Access to marine instrumentation and diverse small boat fleet at UTMSI for field research.

Courses count towards degree requirements for EVS, EEB, & MFS. 

  • Each course satisfies a requirement in the Prescribed Work or Major Requirements for the EVS Biology degree (e.g. Climates and Oceans, Physiology, and Taxon-based).
  • All courses would count toward the 21-hr requirement for students in the MS degree option.
  • While taking our field courses, students accepted into the "Spring Semester by the Sea" program will also register for MNS 370 (Independent Research) and:
  • Identify a faculty research mentor.
  • Develop an independent field-based research project.
  • Work in a research lab.
  • Become familiar with the primary scientific literature for independent inquiry and research.

The following rates were for spring 2024. Spring 2025 rates to be determined.

On-campus housing in the MSI dormitory in Port Aransas is available. The dorm includes a student lounge with a table, seating area, refrigerators, microwaves, and hot plates. Room and board $600/mo. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be served in the MSI Cafeteria Monday through Friday only. The cafeteria will be closed on weekends and holidays.  Dinner needs to be picked up by 5:00 pm. If you will be picking dinner up after 5:00 pm, contact security to let you into the cafeteria. If you have special dietary needs, please let This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. know and they will try to accommodate you. However, please note, that we do not have a registered dietitian on campus so there are no guarantees. Each student is required to sign a rental agreement and pay a $600 deposit due along with the $600 rent by the first day of class (January 13, 2025). Check-in to dorms begins at 4:00 p.m. starting on January 10, 2025-January 12, 2025. Check-out is at noon on May 5, 2025.

To apply for Spring 2025:
SbtS-2025-Application.docx
SbtS-2025-Application.pdf

For more information email Jamey Pelfrey at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Graduate Program Administrator.

MARINE COMMUNITY ECOLOGY - MNS 352M taught by Dr. Jordan M. Casey (Port Aransas Section Unique TBD / Austin Section Unique TBD)
Taught at the Marine Science Institute with a video link to Austin. This course aims to provide students with a holistic understanding of the assembly and functioning of marine communities. Students will gain insight into both traditional and newly emerging techniques to study marine communities, from visual censuses to molecular approaches. The course includes practical components using the statistical software R. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester; additional lecture and field/laboratory hours may be required. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: The following with a grade of at least C- in each: Biology 311D or 315H, and Chemistry 302 or 302C.

MARINE FISHERIES ECOLOGY - MNS 355E taught by Dr. Sharon Z. Herzka (Port Aransas Section Unique TBD / Austin Section Unique TBD)
Taught at the Marine Science Institute with a video link to Austin. Explore a broad understanding of fish and fisheries science. Examine fundamental information on fish biology and ecology pertaining to diet, growth, and reproduction with fisheries' specific information that includes historical perspectives, methodology, and overall management strategies. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester; additional lecture and field/laboratory hours may be required. Prerequisite: The following with a grade of at least C- in each: Biology 311D or 315H, and Chemistry 302 or 302C.

ECOSYSTEM OCEANOGRAPHY - MNS 356 taught by Dr. Christopher Biggs  (Port Aransas Unique TBD)
Taught at the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas. NOT offered over video link. Students must reside in Port Aransas. An exploration of interconnections within and among marine ecosystems, as well as their linkages to climate, human activity, and adjacent freshwater and terrestrial environments. Emphasis will be placed on Gulf of Mexico ecosystems; which may include hands-on field and laboratory activities. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester; additional lecture and field/laboratory hours may be required.

MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON DIVERSITY - MNS 357 taught by Dr. Sabrina Heiser (Port Aransas Section Unique TBD)
Taught at the Marine Science Institute. The taxonomy of the major phytoplankton groups, their physiology, and their role in marine ecosystem; may include field and/or laboratory hours. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester, additional lecture and field/laboratory hours may be required. Prerequisite: The following with a grade of at least C- in each: Biology 311D or 315H, and Chemistry 302 or 302C.

 SPECIAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE - MNS 370 (Port Aransas Unique TBD) This course sequence is taught in Port Aransas and is NOT offered over the video link. Students must reside in Port Aransas. The primary goal of this course is for students to develop the range of skills necessary for success in marine science research including the design and execution of a coordinated field/lab project, critical evaluation of scientific data, and development of effective oral and written communication techniques. The course serves as the interface for the student research experience in UTMSI faculty labs during Semester by the Sea via a professional, scientific training curriculum. Specific course activities include some field/lab work in addition to proposal writing, peer review, report writing, and oral communication practice in preparation for the Semester by the Sea Research Symposium. Supervised individual instruction and research in marine science field and laboratory techniques. The equivalent of three class hours a week for one semester at the Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas. Six semester hours of upper-division coursework in science and a University grade point average of at least 2.50.


PREREQUISITE TO BE TAKEN IN FALL OF 2024

RESEARCH METHODS AND REPORTING IN MARINE SCIENCE - MNS 152R taught by Dr. Christopher Biggs
 (Unique 53030)  Reviews the planning, conduct, and communication of marine science research, including hypothesis generation, experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing and presentation. The equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. Marine Sciences 148, 348 (Topic 1), and 352R may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and concurrent enrollment in Marine Sciences 170, 270, or 370