Millersville University is a charter member of the Marine Science
Consortium at Wallops Island, Virginia. The Consortium
was established in 1968 to promote teaching and research
in marine and environmental sciences. These goals
are achieved by pooling faculty, students, and other
resources of the 15 member universities. The facilities
of the marine station have been recently upgraded
and include renovated classrooms and teaching laboratories,
workshops, remodeled dormitory rooms, a newly constructed
dining hall, and a new computer lab with internet
access. The Consortium owns and operates several
vessels and small boats which are used in courses
and student-oriented research. Sophisticated electronic
oceanographic equipment and the R.V. Philip N. Parker,
a teaching/research vessel capable of holding 24 persons,
make offshore oceanic work possible. During the summer,
students may enroll in one to four three-week immersion courses.
Each course carries three semester-hours credit and
involves intense, day-long study for the duration
of the three-week session. Students at MU register for all college-level
consortium courses directly through Millersville. Course
subjects include marine biology, marine
ecology, oceanography, marine invertebrates, marine
ichthyology, the behavior of marine organisms, ornithology,
tropical invertebrates, wetlands ecology, and others.
Most courses involve considerable time working on
board the vessels. Students are exposed to a variety
of marine and estuarine habitats, giving them an opportunity
to learn about the physical, chemical, and biological
factors that shape these ecosystems.
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