| Winter 2025: Florida MAST |
| January 03, 2025 - January 17, 2025 |
| This program is closed. Please contact the faculty director for more information. |
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| Meetings | |
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| Program Notes | |
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| This program's deadline has been changed to 09/04/2024. |
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Traveling studying at this time poses new challenges and requires accepting a higher level of uncertainty than in the past. Students who choose to study abroad must be prepared to adapt to evolving situations and must take responsibility to act in accordance with the rules, regulations, and recommendations of UD, their program leadership, and legal authorities of their home and host sites which are subject to change at any time.
The University will continue to monitor the ongoing situation with COVID-19 (coronavirus) as we approach the departure date for this program. Please reach out to your program coordinator or faculty director with questions and continue to monitor the UD coronavirus webpage for updates. If UD decides to cancel a study abroad program, we will communicate directly with affected students. |
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| Program Description | |
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The crystal clear, 72 degree waters of the Florida springs offer an ideal training environment for SCUBA diving classes in January. Students will enjoy SCUBA diving in this unique freshwater environment and have the opportunity to participate in a manatee encounter.
Based at the Blue Grotto in Williston, FL (about 90 minutes north of Tampa and 90 minutes NW of Orlando), students will have the opportunity to obtain their Advanced Open Water SCUBA certification (MAST 232) and American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) Scientific Diver Certification (MAST 410). Additionally, students will also have an opportunity to participate in a manatee encounter and observe ethical eco-tourism. Students will learn advanced buoyancy skills, night diving, deep diving, underwater navigation, search & recovery, data collection techniques, observe ethical eco-tourism, be introduced to rescue diving skills, and more.
Students will reside at the Blue Grotto in Willistion, FL. This is a gender-segregated cabin-style residence with meals available on-site.
Students completing MAST132 in the Fall need not wait until Spring Semester to take their Open Water Certification dives in PA or VA lakes. They can enroll, for an extra fee, complete their certification in the Florida springs, and continue into MAST232 for their Advanced Certification and MAST410 for their Scientific Diver rating. These two courses are essential for Marine Science & Environmental Science majors wishing to conduct research underwater. Non-majors will find these courses extremely useful in recreational diving, make them safer and more confident divers, and broaden their available experiences as they venture into the underwater world.
Requirements: Students who have not completed MAST132 must show proof of SCUBA certification from an internationally recognized certification agency.
The Program Fee includes residence accommodations, all program-related events and excursions, most meals, and all program-related transportation.
The Program Fee does not include transportation to or from the starting point in Newark, DE. |
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| ACCESSIBILITY: Participants with disabilities should know that accessibility and accommodation in some program locations may differ from the United States. Transit systems and legacy building construction practices may not meet U.S. accessibility standards, and alternative access to public transportation, buildings, or public sites cannot be guaranteed. But UD students with disabilities are welcome and encouraged to study abroad. Review these questions with the Office of Disability Support Services to determine whether this program can meet your accommodation needs. |
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| Program Courses | |
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| Students must enroll in all credit-bearing courses for a grade. Only the UNIV (zero credit) course may be taken pass/fail. Audit registration is not permitted on UD Travel Study. Please refer to the University Catalog to verify requirements and prerequisites |
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| All students must enroll in at least 6 credits, as well as the 0-credit UNIV course. |
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| Students will be enrolled in both courses for six credits. |
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| MAST 232-070: Advanced Open Water SCUBA (3 credits) |
Expands SCUBA skills learned in entry-level programs, focusing on neutral buoyancy, underwater navigation, search and recovery, deep diving and overhead environment diving skills. Upon completion of this program, plus completing certification dives, a diver will be certified to dive to 100 feet.
Students are encouraged to purchase mask, fins & snorkel however they may use these and any other SCUBA-specific equipment provided by UD. |
| Prerequisite: MAST 132 or proof of SCUBA certification from an internationally recognized certification agency. |
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| MAST 410-070: Scientific Diving (3 credits) |
| Introduction to scientific SCUBA diving techniques. Completion of will certify the student as an American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) Scientific Diver and allow eligibility to participate in UD diving projects with reciprocity with other universities and government agencies. This course prepares the student to conduct research underwater. |
| Prerequisite: Advanced Open Water Certification (MAST 232) is a prerequisite. |
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| UNIV 371-010: Domestic Travel Study - Florida SCUBA MAST (0 credits) pass/fail |
| Students are asked to reflect upon changes in their knowledge, skills, and attitudes that occur due to their domestic travel study experience. |
| Satisfies the following requirements: |
| | Discovery Learning |
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| Requirements | |
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Applicants should have a G.P.A. of at least 2.0 (on a 4.00 scale).
Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance, which is based on academic quality and demonstrated ability to contribute to the objectives of the program. Early application is encouraged. |
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For all participants, a formal application is necessary, including at least one recommendation. An interview may be conducted in person or by Zoom.
A transcript is required from Non-UD applicants only. Non-UD students, please email a copy of your official transcript to the Program Coordinator.
Study abroad at the University of Delaware is highly competitive. Please review the study abroad acceptance process. If you are not selected for your first choice program, we encourage you to apply to another program. |
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| Costs | |
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How much does it cost?.
- University of Delaware Tuition/Fees for one Winter Session
- Travel Study Program Fee
- Usually covers: housing, all program-related excursions and some meals (check with the program's faculty director for details).
- Does NOT cover: airfare to/from the program site and ground transportation to/from the U.S. departure airport. For planning purposes only, we estimate roundtrip airfare to be approximately $(TBD).
- Plan ahead for how to pay for travel study, and make sure you understand the costs associated with your program.
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When and how do I pay?
If you are offered acceptance to the program, you will have 3 days to withdraw without financial penalty. After the 3 days have passed, you will be officially accepted to the program, and CGPS will post the full Program Fee and Tuition/Fees to your UD student account.
- An initial payment of $0.00 will be due in mid-October.
- The balance of the Program Fee and Tuition/Fees will be due in early January.
- Payments are submitted through My Finances in UDSIS.
- All charges, once posted to your account, are considered non-refundable.
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Other important things to note:
- Program Fees are subject to change until the group's departure date. Final Program Fees may increase due to unforeseen local cost increases, fluctuations in exchange rates, or changes in the group size.
- CGPS reserves the right to cancel a program at any time due to under-enrollment, safety/health/security issues, staffing issues, or any other relevant reason. If your program is cancelled, you will receive a full refund of all Program Fees paid.
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| | Delaware Resident | Non-Delaware Resident | | Estimated Tuition based on current year | $3,510.00 | $9,420.00 | | Estimated Program Fee | $2,900.00 | $2,900.00 | | UD Registration & Activities Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | | Total to be charged to UD account (estimated) | $6,410.00 | $12,320.00 | | Plus Airfare Estimate (purchased separately) | $(TBD) | $(TBD) |
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| The rates above may not apply to you if you are a UD graduate student during the time you are studying abroad. Please refer to http://www1.udel.edu/finaid/rates.html for the appropriate rates. |
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| Scholarships | |
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| Financial need-based scholarships are available to UD undergraduates on a competitive basis. To be considered, students must have a current FAFSA on-file with Student Financial Services. For more details, please see our scholarships page. |
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| Deadlines | |
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| All charges, once posted to your account, are considered non-refundable. Payments are submitted through My Finances in UDSIS. |
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| Submit Program Application by 5pm on | September 04, 2024 | | Acceptance and Scholarship Announced | May 03, 2024 | | $0.00 Initial Payment Due * | mid-October | | Program Fee Balance, Tuition and Fees Due | early January |
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| *All students will receive an email when they are accepted to a program and will have 10 days from that notification to make their $0.00 Initial Payment. |
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| Contacts | |
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| Michael Birns |
| Faculty Director |
| Marine Studies |
| Robinson Hall 201 |
| 352-697-3137 |
| mbirns@udel.edu |
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| Program information is subject to change at any time. Please check this web site periodically for updates. |
