Oregon Abroad: Coastal Environments, Winter 2027

Applications are now open for Winter 2027. Study and immerse yourself in coastal & marine studies while living at the Oregon Coast! See below for FAQ, detailed info on courses, logistics, how to apply, and more.

For more on the first coastal quarter in Winter 2025, read this article written by a UO student!

Spend a winter term at the coast, immersing yourself in life along Oregon’s rocky shores, exploring tidepools or estuarine environments. The Oregon Abroad: Coastal Environments is a new, interdisciplinary program for undergraduates that uses UO’s marine station (Oregon Institute of Marine Biology) in Coos Bay, OR, as a base to learn about coastal environmental issues, receive hands-on instruction in data collection and analysis, improve your science communication skills, and more! This program is open to all majors and we encourage you to talk to your academic advisors about how the courses can satisfy specific requirements.

Courses: Winter Quarter 2027
All students will take the same courses that integrate coastal knowledge across disciplines. For winter 2027:

  • BI 457/557, Marine Environmental Issues (4 cr): A survey of the current issues that influence marine environments at local and global scales, including global climate change, conservation, fisheries, habitat alteration, introduced species, and pollution in the marine environment.

  • ERTH 410/510 Coastal Oceanography (4 cr): This course introduces students to the fundamental processes influencing our coastal oceans through lectures, local field trips, and analysis of real-world data from a range of scientific disciplines.

  • LAW 410/510 Water Policy and Law on the Oregon Coast (4 cr): The course will focus on place-based environmental issues that are unique to the Oregon coastal region with an emphasis on issues that involves water, water quality, river restoration, coastal ecosystems and dam removal.

  • ENVS 410: Coastal Change from Global to Local (4cr) - This course will explore the global change drivers that are impacting coasts through the lens of the ecosystems in Coos Bay. Students will engage with environmental monitoring methods and long-term datasets collected in the estuary to understand how shifting environmental conditions affect coastal ecology. 

  • BI 407, Seminar with Coastal Practitioners (1 cr)  A one-credit seminar class exploring careers of coastal practitioners through guest lectures. 

Application Process
Apply now: https://oregon.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cCRvwBdbPhMk0Zw
Application deadline: Applications are open now and until the program is full.
Website: https://blogs.uoregon.edu/oimb/courses/winter-term/

Costs & Logistics
The only additional costs to this program include room & board, which are estimated to be $409/week, which covers lodging and all meals during the quarter. Partial scholarships are available to help defray these costs.

More Information
Please contact Maya Watts (mwolf1@uoregon.edu) or Dave Sutherland (dsuth@uoregon.edu) with questions. A set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is below. The images below show the flyer for Winter 2027.

  1. Where is this new program happening again?

    • The Coastal Quarter will take place at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB) in Charleston, OR, next to the beautiful estuarine waters of Coos Bay and ocean beaches and bays of Cape Arago. Note that although the marine station’s name includes Marine Biology, this program is open to all majors and will be focused on coastal environmental themes.

  2. Are the classes able to be used towards my major?

    • Yes, most likely! This is a discussion to have with your advisor. For example, we do know that for ENVS or ESCI majors, the four core courses are able to satisfy certain group requirements. Note that all pre-reqs are waived for the courses. Email us and/or your academic advisor for more info.

  3. I am not a Marine Biology Major, can I still apply?

    • Yes, absolutely! In fact, we hope you do. This is chance for non-Marine Biology students to live and study at the Oregon Coast. Students from across UO’s many colleges and schools are welcome to apply. Of course, Marine Biology students are still welcome too! All years (freshmen through seniors) are welcome to apply.

  4. How many students do you think will attend?

    • We expect the cohort to be between 20-25 students, who will all be living, studying and experiencing the Oregon Coast together.

  5. Besides classes, what else is there to do during the quarter?

    • The possibilities are endless! You can explore the natural wonders of Cape Arago, Sunset Bay, or South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve through hiking, running, on kayaking. You can try surfing, beach-combing, or having a bonfire at the area’s many sandy beaches. Take the time to investigate Coos Bay, North Bend, or venture south to Bandon and Port Orford and the rest of the southern Oregon Coast.

  6. I’m concerned about the cost! What can I do?

    • We understand and realize that many ‘study abroad’ programs are out of reach for some students. The Coastal Quarter program does not incur any extra tuition than your normal UO quarter would. But, staying at the coast will cost roughly $409/week. This cost covers all meals cooked for you at the OIMB dining hall and lodging on the OIMB campus. So, in effect, you are really only paying for lodging extra (since you have to eat!) and that’s only if you cannot get out of your lease in Eugene. We will have a few small partial scholarships to help defray the cost and hope to be able to give out more scholarships in the future.

  7. I’m concerned about pre-reqs for the classes. Are there pre-reqs?

    • No, we have designed this coastal quarter for students from any major to take the courses listed. Professors will teach each class as a stand-alone course that leverages the unique opportunities of teaching it at the coast. The internship class might also satisfy any practicum requirements you have for your major!

  8. More questions not listed here?

    • Ask us! Please contact Maya Watts (mwolf1@uoregon.edu) or Dave Sutherland (dsuth@uoregon.edu) with questions, or fill out the interest form and ask us questions through it.

The 2027 Coastal Quarter flyer is shown below and also available as a pdf.