COASTAL HAZARDS AND SUSTAINABILITY - ESSC 115
DR. SEAN CORNELL - SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY
PLEASE NOTE:
- This is a hybrid course:
- Week 1,2, and 3 will be taught online May 10, 2026 - May 28, 2026
- Week 4 at Chincoteague Bay Field Station May 29, 2026 - June 6, 2026
- The CBFS deposit and invoice will be issued based on a one-week class duration, aligning with a one-week campus stay.
Course Description:
The course provides a global perspective of the geology and geography of coastal landscapes, the processes responsible for their formation, diversity, and change over time. Content includes a review of human impacts and responses (i.e. engineering, mitigation, adaptation, emergency response, land use planning, etc.) to coastal hazards affecting billions of people living in coastal zones. Historic and late-breaking case studies will be integrated, especially studies of the Eastern U.S. Students will collect and analyze real data to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to real-world issues affecting human populations today and in the future. Students will consider options to improve resiliency and sustainability in these dynamic environments.
Marketable Skills Gained from this Course:
General Description of Field Activities:
Students will visit sites including estuaries, saltmarshes, seagrass beds, tidal creeks, bays, coves, barrier islands, and intertidal zones to examine their geography, human impacts, and environmental responses using a variety of data collection techniques.
Approximate Amount of Course Time in Field:
50%
Prerequisites:
No prerequisites, this is a general education class (Science with lab).
Required Textbook or Supplies:
No Textbook Required: students will be utilizing web-based resources (D2L.ship.edu) and a course website that will contain all required readings and assignments.
STUDENTS MUST HAVE:
Number of Students:
10-14
2026 Chincoteague Bay Field Station Fee:
1 week course; housing and meals included
Hybrid Fee: $810
Fees are subject to change at the discretion of the board of directors
* Does not include university tuition or fees. For specific policy on CBFS fees, click HERE.
The course provides a global perspective of the geology and geography of coastal landscapes, the processes responsible for their formation, diversity, and change over time. Content includes a review of human impacts and responses (i.e. engineering, mitigation, adaptation, emergency response, land use planning, etc.) to coastal hazards affecting billions of people living in coastal zones. Historic and late-breaking case studies will be integrated, especially studies of the Eastern U.S. Students will collect and analyze real data to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to real-world issues affecting human populations today and in the future. Students will consider options to improve resiliency and sustainability in these dynamic environments.
Marketable Skills Gained from this Course:
- Environmental assessment
- Land use planning
- Data collection and analysis
- Best management practices
General Description of Field Activities:
Students will visit sites including estuaries, saltmarshes, seagrass beds, tidal creeks, bays, coves, barrier islands, and intertidal zones to examine their geography, human impacts, and environmental responses using a variety of data collection techniques.
Approximate Amount of Course Time in Field:
50%
Prerequisites:
No prerequisites, this is a general education class (Science with lab).
Required Textbook or Supplies:
No Textbook Required: students will be utilizing web-based resources (D2L.ship.edu) and a course website that will contain all required readings and assignments.
STUDENTS MUST HAVE:
- A field notebook (Rite in the Rain or similar) and writing utensils
- Bug spray and sun screen
- Laptop computer with Wi-Fi, Microsoft Office & Google Earth Pro installed
- Digital camera which will be exposed to wet/harsh conditions and that can be connected to their laptop for downloading and working with images.
- Cell phones with water-tight protective covers can suffice
- GoPro Camera or similar
Number of Students:
10-14
2026 Chincoteague Bay Field Station Fee:
1 week course; housing and meals included
Hybrid Fee: $810
Fees are subject to change at the discretion of the board of directors
* Does not include university tuition or fees. For specific policy on CBFS fees, click HERE.
