Typical activites are arranged in the port where the ship is docked, Watson said, but optional trips further into the country of port are also possible, such as a trip into Beijing, China to see the Great Wall, or into Agra, India to see the Taj Mahal. Students can also choose to travel independently in each city, working to fulfill the program's field requirement. We spend a great deal of time preparing students for the different cultural norms, going over what they need to know, explaining the kinds of precautions every traveler should take. Sometimes it's as simple as not wearing particular types of clothing. Other times staying safe means avoiding political protests and volatile situations.
Students attend classes daily while at sea.
The program originated in 1963 as the University of the Seven Seas and has completed 88 voyages. Spring and fall semesters at sea are 100 days and students must take a minimum of 12 units. Semester at Sea began offering a summer semester last year, which consists of a 65-day regional studies program beginning and ending in Greece and visting Spain, Norway, Russia, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Egypt and Israel. Students can often use their financial aid awards from their home schools, plus additional financial assistance is available.