Students conducting research in shallow water on a coast

Academics

The Concentration

The Coastal and Ocean Studies (CaOS) concentration involves an integrated interdisciplinary study of the world’s oceans, the coastal zones where land and sea collide, and the intersections with society and people’s livelihoods. Concentrators will take classes both on campus and at the Williams-Mystic Coastal and Ocean Studies Program in Mystic, Connecticut.

Why Study our Coasts and Oceans?

The oceans control the planet’s weather and supply about 20% of the world’s food. Ocean-going cargo ships carry 90% of international trade goods. More than a third of the global population lives within some tens of kilometers of the coast, and about 10% of the world’s people could be directly impacted by sea level rise in the coming decades. Understanding the oceans, the coasts, and our interactions with both is critical in this era of climate change, sea-level rise, fisheries crises, and the internationalization of the high seas.

Williams-Mystic is at the Core of CaOS

CaOS provides an on-campus structure for students to weave the Williams-Mystic curriculum into an interdisciplinary concentration. Concentrators take four core courses in the Williams-Mystic Coastal and Ocean Studies Program at our coastal campus in Mystic, CT and three classes in Williamstown. You can plan to attend Williams-Mystic in either your sophomore or junior year.

Required Courses

Coastal and Ocean Studies comprises seven courses, spanning all three divisions (languages and the arts; social studies; and and science and mathematics).

An introductory oceanography course, which can be either one of the two 100-level courses offered on campus or the 200-level Oceanographic Processes* course at Williams-Mystic.
Four courses at Williams-Mystic.
One or two electives from any division on campus.
One 400-level senior seminar from an approved list.

* Students who take Oceanographic Processes at Williams-Mystic will take an extra elective instead of a 100-level on-campus oceanography course.

Any questions?

Reach out to the CaOS Chair Rónadh Cox.

Featured Courses

Course Catalog

Oceanography

The oceans cover three quarters of Earth’s surface, yet oceanography as a modern science is relatively young: the first systematic explorations of the geology, biology, physics and chemistry of the oceans began in the late 19th century.

Marine Ecology

We have explored only a fraction of the ocean, with about 10% of marine species classified and 20% of the ocean mapped. Many discoveries remain to be made, and marine ecology is one technique to uncover new insights.

Marine Policy

Coastal communities are home to nearly 40% of the U.S. population, but occupy only a small percentage of our country’s total land area. Intense population density, critical transportation infrastructure, significant economic productivity, and rich cultural and historic value mark our coastal regions as nationally significant.

Thinking About Going Abroad?

Because it’s possible to do the Williams-Mystic program in your sophomore year, CaOS concentrators may take other study away programs in their junior year (in consultation with the Study Away office on campus). Students who have completed other study away programs that emphasize marine studies should consult with the program chair about the possibility of completing the Coastal and Ocean Studies concentration.