Ocean Science Course

Student conducting seagrass experiment Ocean Literacy has been a focus of the Environmental Education Office at the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) for several years. MSDE has implemented an elective Ocean Science Course at the high school level in several Maryland school districts (Worcester and Somerset counties) through grant programs. MSDE is now partnering with COSEE Coastal Trends to enrich the Ocean Science Course curriculum by integrating the Ocean Literacy Essential Principles. In addition, the coastal trends modules developed by the scientist-educator teams will be field-tested in the ocean science courses by using the educational resources as hands-on lab and field activities. This partnership between MSDE, school districts, and COSEE Coastal Trends will serve as a national model for integrating ocean science into the classroom.