University of Delaware Institute for Global Studies
Winter 2025: Florida MAST

Program Dates January 03, 2025 - January 17, 2025
This program is closed.

Program Overview This program's deadline has been changed to 09/04/2024.

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.

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.

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.

Courses: 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. All students must enroll in at least 6 credits, as well as the 0-credit UNIV course. Students will be enrolled in both courses for six credits.

Program Costs:

How much does it cost?.

	Delaware Resident	Non-Delaware Resident
Final Tuition based on current year	$3,648.00	$9,798.00
Final Program Fee	$3,035.00	$3,035.00
UD Registration & Activities Fee	$0.00	$0.00
Total to be charged to UD account	$6,683.00	$12,833.00
Plus Airfare Estimate (purchased separately)	$(TBD)	$(TBD)

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.


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 IGS 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.

*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.


Contact Information:


Deadlines:
Submit Program Application by 5pm on September 04, 2024
Recommendation also due by 5pm on September 04, 2024
Acceptance and Scholarship Announced: May 03, 2024



Interest Meetings:


Program information is subject to change at any time. Please check this web site periodically for updates.