FALL 2017 OUTER BANKS FIELD SITE (OBXFS), NC
Who: Open to all UNC students of any year and any major.
What: This Institute for the Environment field site lasts the entire Fall semester and includes 17 UNC credit hours of coursework, individual community internships, and group effort towards completion of a Capstone project. The focus of this program is on environmental decision-making, public policy, law, natural resource management, and city and regional planning.
Where: The program takes place on the Outer Banks of NC. Students are housed in the town of Manteo, NC. Manteo is a few miles away from the UNC Coastal Studies Institute, in Wanchese NC, where the academic programs are hosted. Both facilities are located on Roanoke Island, which lies in between mainland NC and the barrier peninsula and islands of NC. Roanoke Island is 5 miles from inviting ocean beaches. Other nearby areas of interest include Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Ocracoke Island, and the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge.
When: The program follows UNC’s Fall semester calendar and the submission deadline for 2017 program is in March.
How: Sign up through UNC’s Study Abroad Program. Contact Lindsay Dubbs (dubbs@email.unc.edu) for further information.
Courses Include:
- ENEC 204 : Seminar on Coastal Issues (1 credit)
- ENEC 395 : Research in Environmental Science and Studies (3 credits)
- ENEC 474: Sustainable Coastal Management (3 credits)
- ENEC 485: Coastal Resource Economics and Policy (3 credits)
- ENEC 489: Ecological Processes in Environmental Systems (4 credits)
- ENEC 698: Capstone (3 credits)
Students complete an internship with a local organization or an independent student with a program faculty member. These internships are arranged through the program and each student’s interest is taken into account when selecting an internship.
Outer Banks Field Site students benefit from advise by and interaction with a group of residents known as the Community Advisory Board throughout the semester (and beyond). The Community Advisory Board enhances the link between the students and the local community and is instrumental in guiding the Capstone project.
There are also ample opportunities for surfing, scuba diving, fishing, and other recreational activities on and near the coast.
This program is perfect for those who are interested in exploring the NC coast and learning about the relationships between people and coastal systems and resources in a field-based and multidisciplinary setting.
Hey I’m an undergrad at ECU getting a Political Science degree. I’m from Buxton and want to focus on Coastal Public Policy. Is there any way classes at CSI would work? Thanks!
Hi Drew,
Thanks for your interest! Right now, the Outer Banks Field Site classes are the only undergraduate classes being offered at CSI. They are offered as part of a 17 credit hour program each fall. We have had UNC Chapel Hill public policy students participate in the program, with it counting towards their major, in the past. See more info about the program at https://ie.unc.edu/education/field-sites/obx/ and be in touch if you have any questions.
There will be additional classes taught at CSI through ECU in the near future, so also keep an eye out for offerings, hopefully starting next year.