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Ceiba Coral Reef Ecology in Belize

small rowboats line a dock with clean water and some lush greenery in the background.
Drone shot of the clean water hitting the edges of the land. The land is covered in trees
A group of students are hunched over, participating in an activity on the beach.
A hut sits at the end of the dock and the sun is setting behind the camera.
Students snorkeling on the surface of the water. The camera is positioned in a deep part of the ocean
Students are snorkeling in the ocean and measuring parts of the sandy bottom.

The FIG (2 credit) track of the program has an automatic scholarship for all participants. Amounts vary annually, but typically range from $500-$1000. The cost sheet does not include this guaranteed scholarship.

Please be advised that this program goes to a country under a current Level 3 Travel Advisory within specific locations. This program has been approval for travel following the policy outlined in UW-Madison's "International Travel Policy" (International Travel Resources, Guidelines and Policies).

Belize, Glover's Reef

Dive into your underwater classroom and snorkel the second largest barrier reef in the world on this 12-day field expedition. Study the ecology and conservation of fish, corals, sponges, reef ecosystems, and their relationships with mangroves, seagrasses, and the open ocean environment.  At the end of the course, put your knowledge into practice with a research project on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef where you will stay at the Glover’s Reef Research Station.

The Ceiba Coral Reef Ecology program provides an introduction to oceanography, marine biology, and marine conservation in a blended format:

Track 1: 3-week online course + 2-week field expedition in Belize (5 weeks, 4 credits). Students in Track 1 receive three weeks of intensive online learning to gain a solid background in principles of oceanography, coral reef ecology, and marine conservation prior to the expedition. You will collaboate with your peers before travel to develop a research proposal for a scientific study that you'll carry out once in Belize.

Track 2: 2-week field expedition in Belize + three 1.5-hour online preparatory meetings (2 credits). This track is only open to students enrolled in the Botany 265 FIG during the prior academic year.

The Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation is a non-profit organization offering field courses taught by highly knowledgeable staff with over 25 years of experience in education and research. Ceiba's field courses provide quality education while taking you to some of the most remote and pristine ecosystems left on earth.

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • As swimming and snorkeling are an integral part of the program, you must be able to swim.
  • Applicants with at least one prior college-level biological science class are given preference.

    The 2-credit track does not include the online portion and is only open to students who participated in the Rainforests & Coral Reefs FIG course (UW Botany 265) during the prior fall semester. All other students must take the 4-credit track.
  • 2.75 cumulative GPA
  • Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • At the time of participation, students must have completed one semester at a US college or university.
  • Open to UW-Madison degree seeking students and all degree-seeking undergraduate students at a US college or university. Preference is given to UW-Madison students
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

Program Structure

Provider

Subjects

Biological & physical science, environmental studies

Classroom Language

English

Housing

Field Research Station

Program Duration

Summer: Mid-May - Late June

Tentative Dates:
Online: May 18-June 25, 2026 (4-credit track only)
Belize: June 10-25, 2026 (2- and 4-credit tracks together)

Application Deadline(s)

Summer 2026 - [2 Credit FIG Track] 3/6/2026 Cost Details
Summer 2026 - [4 Credit Track] 3/6/2026 Cost Details

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

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Students on the 4-credit track of the program will earn four credits for Zoology 400.

Students on the 2-credit (FIG) track of the program will earn two credits of Botany 299.

The online content will be presented via video lectures, discussion forums, and collaboration tools (wikis) in a primarily asynchronous format. A series of synchronous virtual meetings is required and will be provided by Ceiba in the program syllabus. Online coursework includes fundamentals of oceanography and the ecology of mangroves, coral reefs, sea grasses and other marine ecosystems. You will read peer-reviewed marine science literature and collaborate online to develop a research proposal before traveling to Belize.

The field component in Belize will take place at the rustic Glover's Reef Marine Research Station owned by the Wildlife Conservation Society. The program's  hands-on instruction teaches common marine field and laboratory research methods such as transect and plot-based surveys of fish, algae, and benthic invertebrates, plankton tows, and measurement of physical characteristics of seawater.

During the first 3-4 days, you will visit the nearby seagrass, mangrove, and coral reef ecosystems and learn marine field research skills through structured field activities. You will also practice and refine your proposed research methods. Over the second week, you will carry out your proposed research projects, obtain guidance and feedback from the course instructors, and participate in nightly group reflections.

During the final 3-4 days, you will analyze your data, write up your results, and prepare an oral presentation that will be presented to the group in a final symposium. Daily field work will be complemented by group discussions and presentations on marine conservation.

Program Web Pages

Ceiba Marine Biology of Coral Reefs

Course Equivalents

Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents