Spring 2026 Travel Courses

The Marine Lab is offering travel courses for the spring 2026 semester (updates coming soon) 

The is now active.

Undergrads: 

Graduate Students:  

Registration & Policies

COVID-19 Policies

  • Students must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to departure for their program. Please check the Duke website to ensure you are in compliance; . 
  •  You will be expected to comply with all country exit/entry requirements. If required, students may need to sequester while waiting for test results or as part of entry quarantine requirements.
  • If you are feeling ill, suspect you might be ill, or have any COVID-19 symptoms (see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html), you should isolate yourself and contact program administrators to inquire about getting tested for COVID-19 or treated for your illness.
  • Face coverings: You must wear appropriate face coverings at all times when required to do so by local health authorities and/or program staff, both inside and outside buildings. Appropriate use of face coverings is critical in minimizing risks to others. Wearing a face covering is not a substitute for physical distancing when required to do both.

     

Travel Requirements

  • All students are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
  • Students must have a valid passport with at least six months of validity when traveling internationally. Most countries will not permit a traveler to enter their country unless the passport is set to expire at least six months after the final day of travel.
  • All participants will be asked to complete a Participation Agreement, which includes a Travel Course Waiver & Release and a Medical Information Form, for each course. Participation agreements for undergraduates need to be signed by parents/guardians. 
  • Students may participate in up to two travel courses.
  • Review the for any recommended or required vaccinations. Duke has a on main campus (Durham, NC) to support student vaccination needs. Students from outside universities should check with their institution to determine the best way to get any needed vaccines. Carteret County does not carry all of the required vaccines, so we recommend students get the required vaccines before arriving to the Marine Lab.
  • Visit  for additional information including SOS International Travel Insurance, and the required Duke Travel Registry.

Costs

In addition to semester tuition, students will be responsible for a travel course fee, travel to and from the location, and some meals (depending on the course). Review the individual course descriptions for associated costs.  

How to Register

Space is limited. Duke Marine Lab staff work with students to ensure fair distribution of slots for undergraduates and graduates. Permission for travel courses is granted by individual instructors and in conjunction with Marine Lab administration after a Dean's check to verify good academic standing. Please contact Gwendy Womble with questions.  

If it is your intention to take more than one travel courses and you are interested in research independent study, please send an email to Gwendy Womble.

Please complete the to note your travel course preferences and to provide us with some information about you. This form will ask for your passport information. Read the expectations for each travel you are interested in prior to completing the survey. You will be asked to sign an acknowledgment that you have read and understand the course expectations in the form. 

**To request a permission number for a travel course, please complete the  survey.

Travel Course Refund Policy

Voluntary Withdrawal

In the case of withdrawal, any remaining paid tuition will be refunded in accordance with the 91ÉçÇø¸£Àû refund policy outlined in the 91ÉçÇø¸£Àû Bulletin of Undergraduate Instruction :

  • Withdrawal before classes begin: Full tuition refunded.
  • Withdrawal during first or second week: 80% of tuition refunded.
  • Withdrawal during third, fourth, or fifth week: 60% of tuition refunded.
  • Withdrawal during sixth week: 20% of tuition refunded.
  • Withdrawal after six weeks: No tuition refunded.

If a student elects to withdraw from a travel course before classes begin, the program fee will be removed from the student’s bursar account. Airfare is nonrefundable; students are responsible for these costs if they withdraw from the course after the purchase has been made.

Refunds for Involuntary Withdrawal

Duke students asked to withdraw due to academic or disciplinary probation, suspension, or violation of the Duke Community Standard once a program is underway will not receive a refund.

 

Spring 2026 Travel Courses (in progress)

To request a permission number for a travel course, please see the "How to register" section above.

MARINE ECOLOGY - 2026 LOCATION BELIZE,  2025 course fee- $3850 

MARSCI/ENVIRON BIOLOGY 273LA. Undergraduate Registration

ENVIRON 773LA. Graduate Registration  

Factors that influence the distribution, abundance, and diversity of marine organisms, including a survey of the major flora and fauna in the marine environment. Topics include physical characteristics of marine systems, adaptation to environment, species interactions, biogeography, larval recruitment, and biodiversity and conservation of communities found in rocky shores, tidal flats, beaches, marshes, mangrove, coral reefs, and subtidal areas.

  • Location: Belize,
  • Travel Dates: 2026 Dates are TBA  
  • Faculty: Dr. Brian Silliman
  • Course Fee: $3850 â€“ does not include airfare. (2025 course fee, updates coming)
  • Marine Ecology course expectations can be found here:
  • Marine Ecology packing list:

Spring 2026: Students interested in participating in this course will need to complete the course questionnaire via the  to receive a permission number to enroll. **Please note the Qualtrics is not updated for 2026** 

Block D: BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF SEA TURTLES - PUERTO RICO & ST. CRIOX, course fee- $1900

MARSCI/BIOLOGY/ENVIRON 375A.Undergraduate Registration
ENVIRON 777A.  Graduate Registration

Essential biology of sea turtles (evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavior, life history, population dynamics) and their conservation needs; emphasis on their role in marine ecosystem structure and function. Basic ecological concepts integrated with related topics including the conservation and management of endangered species, the contributions of technology to the management of migratory marine species, the role of research in national and international law and policy, and the veterinary aspects of conservation.

  • Travel dates: 2026 Dates are TBA, but will be in Block D. 
  • Faculty: Dr. Matthew Godfrey
  • Course fee: $1900 - does not include airfare ( 2025 course fee, updates coming)
  • Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles course expectations can be found here:
  • Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles packing list: COMING SOON

Students interested in participating in the Sea Turtles travel course are required to acknowledge and sign the statement of expectations for the course in the  to receive a permission to enroll.

NEW! Indigenous Resource Management & Social Impact Analysis 

MARSCI 5XX Graduate and Undergraduate Registration
This course will explore theoretical and methodological aspects of social impact analysis (SIA) and apply and deepen that learning through an immersive experience in an Indigenous context in British Columbia, Canada. By addressing the social and cultural impacts conservation and development initiatives SIAs can be a critical component in planning, implementing, and monitoring effective conservation actions. Accordingly, this course will first develop an understanding of some of the core concepts, methods and applicable sociological theory upon which the design of social impact analysis is built. 

In all cases good SIAs should involve all potentially affected groups, should consider impact equity and differences by location and socio-economic status, and should consider a holistic and contextually grounded range of impacts. As such, this course will include an intensive field experience on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The course will based at the within Tla-o-qui-aht Territory (Tofino, BC). The are a Nuu-chah-nulth speaking people that are leaders in the development and implementation of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs). 

During the time in Tla-o-qui-aht Ha’houlthee (traditional territory) the students will be hosted by, and meet, several Tla-o-qui-aht citizens and knowledge holders, including some who are former Chiefs or Council members. Students will be engaged in a variety of practical and applied learning and field experiences relating to indigenous conservation. Course themes and components covered during this time will include the application of SIA concepts and understanding in this particular Indigenous context, as well as the background and history of territories and areas conserved by Indigenous Peoples and local communities (ICCAs), Indigenous knowledge systems, Indigenous environmental stewardship, human-environmental relationships, and alternative approaches to planning. 

  • Travel dates: 2026 Dates are TBA, Block C. 
  • Faculty: Dr. Grant Murray
  • Course fee: TBA
  • Packing list: TBA 

 


*Course Fees: The course fee will be posted on students’ Duke bursar bill and usually includes in-country food, lodging, activity fees, and on-site course-related transportation. There are exceptions. Students should check with the instructor for details. Fees subject to change.