The Georgetown Summer Institute in Ecology & Policy of the Chesapeake Watershed is a 5-week, 6-credit, in-person undergraduate program. The Institute will take place from Monday, July 7 to Thursday, August 7, 2025. Institute courses will meet Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 10am–1:45pm, with two all-day (approx. 8:00am–5:00pm) field trips that will be scheduled prior to the final Institute registration deadline.
Courses in this institute do not have prerequisites and are open to any undergraduate student. Credits earned in this Summer Institute may be applied to diverse pathways of Georgetown undergraduates, including the B.S. in Environment and Sustainability.
Course Schedule
ERTH 2910: Ecology of the Chesapeake Watershed (3 credits)
Prof. Orissa Moulton
Mon. & Thu., 10:00 a.m.–1:45 p.m.
This 5-week course focuses on the Chesapeake Bay watershed as habitat for organisms, and the environmental challenges affecting this system. Students will gain a foundational understanding of the watershed’s ecosystems, focusing on biodiversity, species interactions, and ecological processes. In the field, students will develop proficiency in biodiversity sampling techniques, observational ecology, data collection, and basic analysis methods.
Anticipated experiential components of this course include immersive fieldwork at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, citizen science and conservation projects with local environmental advocacy groups, and walking/kayak/canoe excursions along riparian gradients.
ERTH 2920: Environmental Policy of the Chesapeake Watershed (3 credits)
Prof. Jeremy Mathis
Tue. & Wed., 10:00 a.m.–1:45 p.m.
This 5-week course delves into the environmental policies shaping the Chesapeake Bay watershed, focusing on the challenges of pollution, habitat loss, climate change, and environmental justice. Through case studies, guest lectures, and policy analysis, students will gain insight into how various stakeholders, including federal, state, and local governments, as well as NGOs, collaborate to protect and restore the bay’s ecosystems.
Anticipated experiential components of this course include hands-on visits/tours of local wetland restoration projects, local farms utilizing Best Management Practices (BMP), Chesapeake Bay Foundation headquarters, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Fisheries Science Center. Additional experiential opportunities will connect students with community leaders in an ongoing discussion of Environmental Justice.
Program Participation
Courses and discussions in this Institute will work in synchrony, and enrolled students are expected to participate fully in all scheduled programming. Any outside commitments you may have—including but not limited to summer internships—cannot conflict with class meetings or experiential components during this 5-week Institute.
Students who wish to take one of the courses à la carte may do so through the Georgetown School of Continuing Studies, space permitting.
Please reach out to Summer Institute in Ecology & Policy of the Chesapeake Watershed Director, Dr. Orissa Moulton at orissa.moulton@georgetown.edu with your specific questions regarding courses and participation.