Beam Reach courses

 In order to successfully attract students from a national audience of science, engineering, and non-science majors, the integrated curriculum is divided into a set of courses that will satisfy distribution or major requirements at many students' home institutions. We anticipate that the program will appeal most to upper level undergraduates (sophomores and juniors, as well as some seniors) who have interests in sustainability, science, and/or going to sea. Marketed as a study "away" program, we hope that all Beam Reach students will take home new knowledge, skills, confidence, and useful credits; we believe exceptional students with the proper background and initiative will also acquire sufficient data, experience, and results to constitute a senior thesis.

Credits

The undergraduate program involves intense interaction of faculty and students. Contact hours are approximately 7 hours/day on land (5 days/week) and at least 10 hours/day at sea (7 days/week). Thus, total contact involves about 525 hours at student:faculty ratios of 6:1 (land) and 3:1 (sea). Based on an analysis of contact hours and accreditation in comparable field science experiences, we propose the Beam Reach program provide students with a minimum of 18 quarter credits (12 semester credits) that may be transferred to their home institution.

Course outcome guides (syllabi)

Each course outcome guide (COG), or syllabus, presents the details of a proposed course in a format that will enable UW Educational Outreach staff to efficiently enter information in the relevant quarterly UW time schedule, as well as Educational Outreach marketing materials. Details provided by each COG include: UW course number, credits, title, and location; contact name and information; course description; specific outcomes, assessments, and learning activities.

Links to course outcome guides (syllabi): Ocean 360: Marine field research | Ocean 365: Practicing sustainability science

The distribution of contact hours and learning activities during a typical week on land is specified in the following table. Additional contact hours occur during mentor meetings, meals, and informal gatherings during evening and weekend hours.

SCHEDULE ON LAND
Day8:15-10 am10:15-1212-2 pm
lunch+exercise		2-3:45 pm4-5:45 pmEvening
Mon Sustainability Science Sustainable Technologies Mentor meetings Research Design Design/Communication:
journal club		 Mentor meetings
Tue Research Design Design/Communication:
feedback		 Mentor meetings Research Design
Wed Sustainability Science Sustainable Technology
Thu Research Design Design/Communication:
theory		 Research Design
Fri Sustainability Science Sustainable Technology Research Design Design/Communication:
practice
Sat Self-guided field experiments

On land, mornings and late afternoons generally involve students in group activities or field experiences, while the early afternoon is usually more structured and emphasizes scheduled presentations from faculty and visiting scientists. Students meet with their mentor for an hour during meal times early in the week. Lunch time is a 2 hour period during which students are encouraged to exercise or otherwise enjoy the peak daylight hours, especially during the short days that occur at Friday Harbor's latitude during winter land components. Sundays are relatively unstructured.

SCHEDULE AT SEA
At sea, students interact with instructors primarily during their watches and a 2 hour afternoon class. Watch duties are planned by instructors and students to accomplish scientific goals while safely operating and monitoring the vessel. The following list characterizes typical activities during the sea component.