COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC

“How do we help most? How do we best serve this broken world? … The holistic leap we need is within our grasp. And know that there is no better preparation for that grand project than your deeply interdisciplinary education in human ecology. You were made for this moment."

Naomi Klein

“Climate Change Is a Crisis We Can Only Solve Together.” College of the Atlantic Commencement Address, June 6, 2015.

350 STUDENTSONE MAJORENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC2016 VIEWBOOK

3 Welcome&Overview

11 Academics

48 Community

62 LifeAfterCOA

66 GettingIn(Admission)

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WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOU LOOK OUT ACROSS THE WATER?For College of the Atlantic students, a view like this is commonplace and yet never ordinary. Our campus sits on 38 acres on the coast of Maine, with views across the rocky islands of Frenchman Bay to Schoodic Mountain in the distance. When we look across the water we see ecosystems to study, economic enterprises to develop, policies to pass, lesson plans to teach, food systems to sustain, landscapes to paint, resources to steward, space to think, and beauty to inspire.

Students come to COA because they want to be part of creating a more sustainable and humane world. They want to be inspired and challenged by a close-knit community of faculty and peers, and they want to dig into complex questions in the classroom and laboratory, but also in the woods and waters of Acadia National Park, the conference halls of UN climate negotiations, and the corn fields of rural Mexico and Guatemala. Some students come here knowing exactly what they want to do and be; others are drawn in because our academic program allows and encourages the exploration of multiple subjects and interests. All COA students will study across different disciplines and learn to approach each topic from perspectives they previously hadn't considered.

View across Frenchman Bay from the Deering Common Community Center.

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College of the Atlantic enriches the liberal arts tradition through a distinctive educational philosophy—human ecology. A human ecological perspective integrates knowledge from all academic disciplines and from personal experience to investigate—and ultimately improve—the relationships between human beings and our social and natural communities. The human ecological perspective guides all aspects of education, research, activism, and interactions among the college's students, faculty, staff, and trustees. The College of the Atlantic community encourages, prepares, and expects students to gain the expertise, breadth, values, and practical experience necessary to achieve individual fulfillment and to help solve problems that challenge communities everywhere.

MISSION

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A History of College of the AtlanticCollege of the Atlantic was chartered in 1969 by a small group of local community members and educators who saw in Mount Desert Island a great year-round location for learning. COA admitted its first class in 1972. There were only four full-time faculty members that first year (selected from 1800 applicants), and 32 students. The educational philosophy was clear: COA would be the first college in the US to have the relationships between humans and the environment as its primary focus. Learning was going to be active. Together, faculty and students explored the oceans around Mount Desert Island as well as the woods and mountains of Acadia National Park. Together, they studied whales in the Gulf of Maine and discussed the texts of such passionate naturalists as Henry David Thoreau and Rene DuBois. They continued their discussions over coffee in town, and dinner at each other's homes.

Over forty years later, the college's focus on exploration and community has not changed. COA's 35 faculty members continually update and change courses to meet students' interests and adapt to a changing world. Our 350 students are encouraged to explore their passions and challenged to think in new ways.

As Nell Newman, co-founder of Newman's Own Organics, says of her COA years, "When Pop asked me 'What do you do with a human ecology degree?' I answered him, 'As my student advisor said, human ecologists make their own niche in the world.' To be honest, I wasn't quite sure what that meant at the time, but it is what I feel I have been able to do. My environmental interests go beyond organic food to an awareness of worldwide environmental issues. The foundation for this was laid at College of the Atlantic, where I was given the tools to continue to explore and contribute in my own way."

Construction of the Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Community Center.

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A marine mammal rescue from the 1980s.

A class discussion in COA's early days. 7

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Saren Peetz '15, pictured with the solar array at COA's Peggy Rockefeller Farms, is working to help local communities better meet their energy needs from renewable sources. Photo by Tristan Spinski.

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"College of the Atlantic is nudging its students to reach outside the school’s boundaries and start changing the real world.”

The New York Times“A College in Maine That Tackles Climate Change, One Class at a Time.” July 1, 2015.

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Every student at COA designs his or her own course of study in human ecology. There is no set path; you give shape to your studies based on your interests, goals, and talents.

Are you curious about the math and physics of sustainable energy? Or perhaps you'd like to study environmental law, animation, entrepreneurship, anthropology, botany, literature, or community planning? COA graduates all share a common degree in human ecology, but ask any one of them about the classes they took, their senior project, or how they're using their degree in the world, and you'll realize that this one major is uniquely f lexible and tailored by each student.

At COA we don't have academic departments; our faculty members come from a diverse range of fields and bring dynamic expertise, but you won't find the biologists just doing biology. Here faculty and students are encouraged to study and work across multiple disciplines because we believe that the solutions to the world's most pressing problems will be developed by people who are actively integrating perspectives and knowledge from the sciences, arts, social sciences, and humanities.

ACADEMICS

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There is a tendency, especially in the academic world, to carve life into ever smaller pieces in order to make sense of it. All too often, the people who do this come to believe that is how the world really is. The aim of human ecology is to remind us that we are part of a complex and interactive living world. Its broad mandate calls us to cross the boundaries of traditional disciplines and seek fresh combinations of ideas. The richness of specialized knowledge—and communication among people who have it—are essential to a livable future. But the kind of perspective that encourages interdisciplinary learning and application is difficult to acquire in most academic settings. This demands a different approach to education—one which invites imagination and caring for the future. I believe human ecology holds an increasingly important place in society, education, and everyday life. This is why COA was founded, and it is what we do best.

Rich Borden, PhDRachel Carson Chair in Human Ecology

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ACADEMIC RESOURCE AREASWhile there are no academic departments at COA, for organizational purposes the curriculum is divided into three resource areas: Arts and Design, Environmental Sciences, and Human Studies.

Arts & DesignThe arts provide a unique vehicle for addressing and expressing issues in society, culture, and the environment. Arts and design courses at COA—in music, painting, drawing, photography, video and film, theater, graphic arts, landscape architecture, movement, sculpture, museum studies, and ceramics—enable students to explore the realms of self-expression and cultural dialogue, and to learn to communicate through multiple media. The unique capacity of the arts to map uncharted cultural and moral values makes them an essential tool for human ecologists.

Environmental ScienceThe environmental sciences bring together the biological and the physical sciences in exploration of the earth's systems. Students learn to apply the scientific method to trace ecological and evolutionary patterns, study natural communities as ecological systems, and understand the interactions of people and nature. The environmental sciences include chemistry, botany, math, physics, ecology, oceanography, natural history, geology and earth sciences, zoology, animal behavior, marine biology, genetics, and more. At the same time, the college's interdisciplinary approach to the sciences enables students to apply historical, aesthetic, economic, and literary modes of thought to enhance the scientific method.

Human StudiesHuman studies combine the humanities with the social sciences to give students a broad and diversified perspective on human nature and culture. Faculty challenge students to blend contemporary social and ecological concerns with classical humanistic studies. Courses in anthropology, literature, economics, philosophy, business, psychology, history, education, law, languages, and political science relate the past to the present, deepen the awareness of one's place in time and provide both the knowledge and perspective to approach individual and cultural challenges.

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DEGREE REQUIREMENTSAt College of the Atlantic, you'll have the opportunity to take a broad range of classes toward your self-designed major. In order to develop a core of competencies and skills, each student also fulfills the following requirements:

Human Ecology Core CourseEvery fall, first-year students launch their studies at COA with the Human Ecology Core Course—an interdisciplinary course that explores concepts in human ecology through a particular theme such as food, health, or water.

InternshipA COA internship is a practical exercise in developing job skills and applying academics to the world of work. Each student, together with faculty and the office of internships and career services, develops a plan for a ten week (450 hour) off-campus internship at a business or organization of their choosing. Many students use their internship as an opportunity to gain experience in another state or country.

Human Ecology EssayBy the middle of their senior year, all students must write a ref lective essay exploring their own perspectives on human ecology. Contact the admission office to request the most recent collection of human ecology essays.

Community ServiceCOA believes in the importance of giving back to our communities. Our community service requirement also gives students valuable experiences that complement their studies in human ecology. The requirement can be satisfied through on-campus or off-campus service such as committee work or volunteering as a tutor at a local school. All students at COA complete at least 40 hours of community service.

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Senior ProjectFor the senior project, each student undertakes a significant intellectual endeavor such as a research project or other original work intended to advance understanding in a particular academic area and bring together the skills and knowledge acquired during the student's college career. Some students complete a capstone project that will propel them into graduate school. Others synthesize different areas of study or take academic and creative risks that may not be available to them in their professional work. For examples of student work, including senior projects, go to www.coa.edu/student-work.

Other Degree RequirementsEach COA student must take at least two classes from each of the college's three academic resource areas: Arts & Design, Environmental Science, and Human Studies. Students must also take at least one history course and one quantitative reasoning course, and fulfill a writing requirement. For more information on COA's degree requirements, request our full course catalog using the card at the back of this book, or online at www.coa.edu/learnmore.

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OFF-CAMPUS STUDYThrough internships, time spent abroad, or field-based experiences in the local, national, or international sphere, a portion of every student's academic experience will take place off-campus. Some students dive into our international language programs in France or Mexico, while others might have a more local experience conducting research at world renowned laboratories minutes away from COA's campus.

InternationalMore than 50% of students will have a significant international experience during their time at COA. The college runs regular international programs in Mexico and France that provide interdisciplinary and collaborative learning experiences in a variety of field settings. In addition, each year there are several courses offering shorter international experiences. These programs include opportunities ranging from language learning, ethnography, tropical ecology, and community development work, to real world immersion in international environmental diplomacy.

National & RegionalCOA is a founding member of the EcoLeague, a consortium of six environmental colleges dedicated to sustainability and environmental studies through a liberal arts framework. Students can participate in term-long exchanges at the other EcoLeague schools: Alaska Pacific University (Alaska), Dickinson College (Pennsylvania), Green Mountain College (Vermont), Northland College (Wisconsin), and Prescott College (Arizona). COA also has agreements for student exchanges with other institutions including The New School, University of Maine at Orono, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), and the Sea Education Association (SEA), among others. Closer to home, relationships with The Jackson Laboratory and the MDI Biological Laboratory allow students the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge biomedical and genetic research. COA also has a special relationship with Acadia National Park, where students and classes engage in research, education, and exhibit design.

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Student diving in the tropical marine ecology course taught in the Caribbean.

Travel SupportCOA provides each student with a learning enhancement fund to use for expeditionary courses, internships, course-related travel, senior projects, conference presentations, and more.

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Students in the South American Earth Systems class on a trip to the north-central coast of Peru near Supe Puerto.

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When your views on the world and your intellect are being challenged and you begin to feel uncomfortable because of a contradiction you've detected that is threatening your current model of the world or some aspect of it, pay attention. You are about to learn something.

William H. Drury, Jr. COA faculty member in ecology and natural history, 1976–1992

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“I definitely enjoy taking politics classes and learning more about human interactions. I am also really interested in climate change and how it presents itself to our generation as an opportunity to drastically change our energy, food, and transport systems to put people and the planet before profit and greed. Attending UN climate change talks was definitely among my best experiences here at COA.”

Over the past three years Klever has been very involved with the student collective, Earth In Brackets. When he is not devoting energy to social and environmental justice, he also likes to play water polo at the local YMCA. He spent last spring term in France doing an immersive language program and taking classes on food and water politics in the European context.

Klever Descarpontriez '16Santa Cruz, Bolivia

politics + humans + climate change = human ecology

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“I've been able to f lourish at COA due to a wonderfully supportive team and unique curriculum. Spurred by my interest in how capitalism, oppression, and the environmental crisis are all intricately interwoven, I constructed an independent study in Anarchist Economics. I was intrigued by the anarchist perspective on the eco-crisis and alternative economic systems, and used my independent study to delve into heterodox economics and radical philosophy.”

From volunteering in Bali, New Zealand, and India to honing her skills as a pianist, ceramicist, and gardener, Page is involved in many activities on and off campus. Last year she was awarded funding to start a beehive at COA’s Peggy Rockefeller Farms and harvested her first batch of honey this summer.

food systems + radicaleconomics + feminism = human ecology

Page Hill '17Rutledge, PA

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Jazmin Galdamez '18San Gabriel, CA“COA seemed liked the best place for me to be when I didn’t want my major to define the limitations of my life. I truly believe that my career will be a passion of mine, and whatever that is, I can find it here at COA. My entire first year has been so full of experiences that it’s very difficult to choose a favorite. Academically, I really enjoyed Philosophies of Liberation (p. 38) and Drawing Mineral and Botanical Matter (p.32). Both of these classes made me question my perception of life, one philosophically and the other visually.”

In her first year, Jazmin has stage-managed a play, acted as a stage “ninja” for the Community Show, and was a still-life model for a drawing class. On top of her involvement in the arts, she works with the Buildings and Grounds crew and helps maintain COA’s composting toilets.

philosophy + psychology + visual arts + linguistics = human ecology

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Matt Messina '16Avon, CT“I decided to come to COA because I wanted something more than a 'textbook' education. I wanted to be pushed mentally and physically, to learn things from professionals in the field, and to be involved in a community where my input and contribution made a real difference. I did not want to be made comfortable: I wanted my ideas and abilities challenged by my peers and professors in the name of becoming a well-rounded and open-minded individual.”

Matt is first mate and naturalist on COA’s research boat, M/V Osprey, and also does logistics coordination for the college’s islands program. He also volunteers with Allied Whale (COA’s marine mammal research program), responding to marine mammal strandings and assisting with necropsies, and has worked as a collections manager and exhibit preparer at the Dorr Museum of Natural History. Recent memorable classes include Winter Ecology (p. 39) and Marvelous Terrible Place: Human Ecology of Newfoundland (p.37).

science + art = human ecology

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“COA’s location really piqued my interest because it was so different from what I was used to. The course list was also very diverse and fascinating. But what really helped me make my final decision was the community. Through my entire admittance process, everyone was very helpful and friendly. Many people remembered my name although they had only talked to me once or twice. This was completely unique compared to all the other schools where I applied. Real people and real relationships.”

During his Outdoor Orientation Program (OOPs) trip, Austin went on his first hikes—including Maine’s tallest peak, Mt. Katahdin—and discovered a love for hiking. In his first year at COA he has also performed long-form improv comedy, attended a Shakespeare performance in New York, and taken several classes in the visual arts including Life Drawing and Problems in Painting: Techniques, Skills, and Vision.

art +observation + experiences =

human ecology

Austin O’Goffa '18Providence, RI

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"Before my time on Great Duck Island I had never approached wild birds so closely that I could feel their heartbeats. In the beginning I did not know much about North American birds and seven weeks later, it's absurd to say, but I feel like I know them personally."

While Porcia originally came to COA to study environmental science, she has since broadened her scope to include medicine, math, arts, and writing. The summer after her first year she spent time on Great Duck Island and Mount Desert Rock researching marine life and banding gulls. After COA she plans to go into biomedical research.

Porcia Manandhar '17Kathmandu, Nepal

public health +ecology + fine arts

= human ecology

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At COA, the average class size is twelve students, and courses are designed to foster discussion and engagement. Here you’ll find a handful of course descriptions to whet your appetite. For a more complete course listing, visit our website or use the card at the back of this book to request a course catalog.

COURSES

Practicing a stand-up routine in the Science of Comedy class.

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AGROECOLOGYThe global demand for food and fiber will continue to increase well into the next century. How will this food and fiber be produced? Will production be at the cost of soil loss, water contamination, pesticide poisoning, and increasing rural poverty? In this course, we examine the fundamental principles and practices of conventional and sustainable agriculture with a primary focus on crops. By examining farm case studies and current research on conventional and alternative agriculture we develop a set of economic, social, and ecological criteria for a critique of current agricultural practices in the United States and that will serve as the foundation for the development and analysis of new farming systems. Evaluations are based on two exams, class presentations, participation in a conference on potato production, and a final paper. Faculty: Suzanne Morse

ART OF THE PUPPETPuppetry is the art of designing, constructing, and operating puppets, usually for an audience. A puppet is an articulated figure controlled by external means. Puppets have been used for entertainment, education, therapy, spectacles, and social/political demonstration. This course will explore both the construction and use of puppets, investigate the theory, history and practice of puppetry, and seek out the role and potential of puppets. Various types of puppets will be made, including hand puppets, rod puppets, shadow puppets, and large scale puppets. Students, individually and in collaboration, will create both original and adapted scripts and scenarios for their puppets, exploring relationships between text, story, character, and movement of the puppet. In addition to live work, students may choose to develop puppets for use within film, video, or multimedia projects. The course will include readings on puppetry, screenings, presentations, demonstrations, and group discussions. Faculty: Nancy Andrews

BIOMECHANICSWhy do we get shorter and wrinklier with age? Were dinosaurs warm-blooded? How do grasshoppers hop? These diverse questions are all within the realm of biomechanics. A knowledge of biomechanics, or the ways in which plants and animals cope with the laws of physics, can promote an understanding of organisms at all levels of organization, from molecules to ecosystems. In this course we explore several areas of physical science, including mechanical engineering, materials science, and f luid dynamics, as a means of gaining insight into the biological world. Students attend two lecture sessions per week and one three-hour lab session for discussions of current research in biomechanics, review of homework assignments, and laboratory observations or demonstrations. Faculty: Helen Hess

BLOOD: SUBSTANCE AND SYMBOL Blood is a substance with profound imaginative and social power. It ties people together, even when it is spilled. And just as blood produces social bonds, it also divides people and groups according to notions of family, race, and nationhood. Blood both sacralizes and pollutes, entices and disgusts. Blood infects; it also makes people swoon. It also—these days—guarantees instant bestsellers. How can this f luid (mostly water, as we know) do such important social and symbolic work? This course takes blood as a thematic through which students can begin to explore topics that have long been (and continue to be) at the center of cultural and social theory: kinship and blood ties, race, nationhood, pollution, infection and contamination, and rituals of incorporation and transformation (including, perhaps, the current fascination with vampires). Due to the course’s theoretical focus, class will be structured around close readings of major contributions to these topics, as well as films. Readings will represent a range of disciplinary approaches, including anthropology, political

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philosophy, cultural studies, and even classics. Students will be asked to engage carefully with the material both through participation in class and through outside written assignments. Faculty: Heath Cabot

BREAD, LOVE, AND DREAMSThis course is an introduction to the unconscious. It begins with the problem of knowing something which by definition is unknown. It then proceeds to examine two classic approaches to the unconscious: dreams and love. Students are expected to keep dream notebooks and to recognize their own unconscious life in the light of readings. Readings start with the unconscious in its classical formulation according to Freud and Jung. We read The Interpretation of Dreams and Two Essays in Analytical Psychology. We consider these

themes in fiction using Henry James’ The Beast in the Jungle. We then move to more contemporary writers, particularly James Hillman’s The Dream and the Underworld, Michel Foucault’s History of Sexuality, and finally consider some of the negative implications of the material in Elaine Scarry’s The Body in Pain. The writing part of this course is done in pairs, with groups of two students cross-examining each other’s dream notebooks and self-analysis. Faculty: Bill Carpenter

COMMUNICATING SCIENCE This course is designed for science students developing their research skills working on research projects for a principal investigator; specifically this course will improve the students’ writing ability and introduce them to writing

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for the scientific community. The course involves not only learning to write an abstract and literature review but also understanding the protocols for writing a scientific paper based on lab or field data. In addition, students will prepare a powerpoint presentation on their research to present at a meeting or conference such as the Maine Biological Science Symposium or the annual INBRE meeting. Faculty: Anne Kozak

CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY: MIND, BODY, AND SOULThis course explores current theories, research, and ideas in psychology. The core themes of ‘body’, ‘mind,’ and ‘soul ’ all have a long history of psychological inquiry associated with them. Yet they are every bit as vital and important today. Some of the most inf luential authors in the field continue to struggle with these classical philosophical questions—and with ways to incorporate state-of-the-art research on them. In this class, we will read and discuss at least one major new book on each theme. Ideas from these perspectives will be compared, contrasted, and critiqued. In the final portion of the class, we will look especially at ways in which all three themes can be integrated—not only in academic psychology—but within our own experience. Faculty: Rich Borden

COSTA RICAN NATURAL HISTORY AND CONSERVATION This team-taught, intensive, field-based course examines the ecology and biotic diversity found at several sites within Costa Rica and the implications of this diversity on concepts of conservation biology. Whereas primary emphasis will be placed on Central American herpetofauna and avifauna, we will also discuss and examine issues of botanical, mammalian, etc. diversity and abundance, and the significance of the full array of species in more general studies of land-use and protective strategies. Students will meet during the winter term to discuss a range of articles and book-chapters dealing

with aspects of conservation biology and Costa Rican natural history and culture during the winter term but the major emphasis of the course will be a two-week immersion in key habitats within Costa Rica itself during the March break. Non-travel days will consist of early to late-morning fieldwork, afternoon lectures/presentations followed by early evening to late night fieldwork. The course is based out of three field sites: lowland Caribbean slope rainforest at Tirimbina ecological reserve in north central Costa Rica, montane forest of the Arenal and Tenorio volcanic region, and Pacific slope dry forest of the Nicoya Peninsula. Faculty: John Anderson and Steve Ressel

CURIOSITY AND WONDER: DESIGN & INTERPRETATION IN THE MUSEUMFrom “cabinet of curiosity” to “exploratorium,” this studio course surveys contemporary museum activities and methods of communication through visual display, space, and interaction. Students will engage in a project development process to refine “big ideas,” determine educational goals, and learn techniques to design and build their projects. Class participants will gain an understanding of factors that inf luence learning, media, and modes that may be utilized to communicate complex content, and how meaning is constructed by the selection, organization, and layering of intellectual material through the use of object, text, image, and experiential devices. Projects and hands-on workshops will provide an opportunity to gain skills and techniques in visualizing ideas by developing concepts in the form of plans, sketches, models, and narrative description. Students will have an opportunity to evaluate and create interpretive material for the George B. Dorr Natural History Museum at the College of the Atlantic. Faculty: Dru Colbert

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DEMOCRACY: MODELS, THEORIES, QUESTIONSDemocracy is a word you hear constantly in contemporary political discourse. Most people seem to think it’s a good thing, but they might not always agree on what the “ it” is. Perhaps we should take a moment to unpack the idea of democratic governance in our world. What do we mean when we call something a democracy? Why do we naturally assume that democracy is a good thing? Is it? Should we promote it? How is democratic governance conceptualized across various societies and publics, today and in the past? How are these various models of democracy encoded with certain assumptions about the relationship of the individual subject to the world around them? What does the discourse of the democratic mean in contemporary society? This seminar will cover all of these questions and more. We start with some basic definitional questions and from there springboard into a host of challenging topics pertaining to how governance is conceptualized. We will cover theoretical conceptions of governance and power, empirical observations of the functioning of democratic forms, and grounded questions of practice when applied to contemporary problems. Along the way we will draw on concrete examples from the international, national, local, and (not surprisingly) the COA level. Faculty: Jamie McKown

DRAWING MINERAL AND BOTANICAL MATTER IN THE FOREST OF MAINEViewed as a regular practice, the descriptive power of drawing can intensify the experience of observational fieldwork, provide the draughtsperson with a richer understanding of the cycles within a landscape, and deepen our relationship with the natural world. The primary setting for this studio course is Mount Desert Island. The subject matter of our visual attention includes trees, rock features, and other indigenous plant life of the island. Students will learn a

variety of drawing methods in order to document the natural history of a specific place. Coursework includes: maintaining a field sketchbook, graphically recording the development of a singular botanical life-form over the course of the term, and producing visual notations in the sketchbook during a bi-weekly slide lecture on the history of artistic representations of the natural world. Faculty: Catherine Clinger

ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN AQUATIC SYSTEMS This course is an intensive field course that focuses on research design, collaborative fieldwork, and data analysis and interpretation for ecological studies done in local aquatic ecosystems. Within the broad category of aquatic habitats the course focuses on intertidal mudf lats and streams. Both of these habitats have ongoing field research and restoration work where faculty and students can make substantial contributions to local applied research while learning methodologies and rationale for various types of research. Potential project partners and collaborators include Acadia National Park, Maine Department of Marine Resources, Maine Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife, Somes-Meynell Sanctuary, Town of Bar Harbor Marine Resources Committee, Frenchman Bay Regional Shellfish Committee, Frenchman Bay Partners, the George Mitchell Center at the University of Maine, and Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Faculty: Chris Petersen

ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY: AIRLiving things are exposed to air more than any other material, and yet many people seldom give a second thought to what’s in air, why it's there, how it behaves or what it may do them and to other living things. This class will examine such questions. We'll start by looking at how the molecular structures of materials determine how much they vaporize and what consumes them when vaporized,

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and how their atmospheric levels ref lect those competing processes. We'll then apply such knowledge to understanding phenomena such as the pressure and temperature structures of the atmosphere, global weather patterns, the earth’s ozone layer, urban smog, acid deposition, the earth’s greenhouse effect, and indoor air pollution. For each topic, we will discuss: Why is it important? Why is there as much of it as there is? What can increase it or decrease its amount? How have people tried to control it? What do we still not understand about it? Readings will be from both a text and from papers from the scientific literature. Faculty: Don Cass

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND POLICYThis course provides an overview of environmental law and the role of law in shaping environmental policy. We examine, as background, the nature

and scope of environmental, energy, and resource problems and evaluate the various legal mechanisms available to address those problems. The course attempts to have students critically analyze the role of law in setting and implementing environmental policy. We explore traditional common law remedies, procedural statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act, intricate regulatory schemes, and market-based strategies that have been adopted to control pollution and protect natural resources. Students are exposed to a wide range of environmental law problems in order to appreciate both the advantages and limitations of law in this context. Special attention is given to policy debates currently underway and the use of the legal process to foster the development of a sustainable society in the United States. Faculty: Ken Cline

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ETHNOBOTANYFrom the dawn of human history, plants have played an integral role in human societies across the world. The course is aimed at generating an appreciation for the myriad uses of plants by human societies, both past and present. We will explore the use of plants as food and beverages, raw materials, fuel, medicine and psychoactive drugs, spices and perfumes, genetic resources, and for religious and spiritual needs. The future ecological, economic, and social implications of our dependency on plants will also be discussed in light of current threats to plants and their native habitats, including threats to plant-human relations in traditional societies. The important roles played by human societies in maintaining f loristic and associated cultural diversity will be a primary focus of readings and discussions. Evaluations will be based on class participation, involvement in class discussion, and a term project involving a half-hour oral presentation. Faculty: Nishi Rajakaruna

FEMININITY AND MASCULINITY GO TO SCHOOL: GENDER, POWER & ED This course pivots around two central questions: How does gender inf luence students learning and experiences of school, curriculum and instruction, teacher-student relationships, school culture and administration? And how do schools perpetuate, resist, and construct gendered identities and gender roles? In this course we will investigate research on gender differences and school achievement, the feminization of the teaching profession, and the effects of gender on school culture, considering evidence from and questions posed by biologists, psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, historians, and educators. The major objective of the course is to examine how notions of femininity, masculinity, and androgyny have inf luenced and are inf luenced by schooling historically and globally. Activities include a historical case

study, media critique, fieldwork in an educational setting, a literature review, and curriculum development. Students will conduct research on self-chosen topics such as gender identity development, gender differences in learning styles, sexual harassment in schools, or school sports programs, among others. Faculty: Bonnie Tai

FROM NATIVE EMPIRES TO NATION STATES This course is a history of Latin America from Native American contact cultures through the contemporary period covering socio-political processes. An emphasis is placed on the fusion of pre-contact societies into a new socio-cultural formation in the colonial period, and then the shared yet divergent history of the region after the collapse of colonial rule. In the second half the class emphasizes the rise of the nation state in Latin America with particular emphasis on dictatorship and rebellions. The course uses traditional texts, novels, and film to explore this huge geographical and chronological expanse. Faculty: Todd Little-Siebold

GEOLOGY OF MT. DESERT ISLANDThis course is designed to introduce students to geological concepts, tools of the trade, and to the geological history of Mount Desert Island. Throughout the course, students will learn skillsets (topographic and geologic map reading, orienteering, field observation, note taking, field measurements) and geologic principles (rock types, stratigraphy, plate tectonics, earth systems, geologic time, surface processes) both in the classroom and in the field. We will conduct multiple short field excursions on MDI and one extended weekend field trip to explore the regional geology. Students will submit a term project complete with their own field data, maps, photos, and analysis of the local and regional geology. Faculty: Sarah Hall

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GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS: THEORY AND PRACTICEThis course will cover the politics and policy of regional and global environmental issues, including many of the major environmental treaties that have been negotiated to date (Montreal Protocol, Framework Convention on Climate Change, Convention on Biological Diversity). Students will gain both practical and theoretical understandings of how treaties are negotiated and implemented, through case studies of the climate change convention and the Cartagena protocol on biosafety. We will draw on both mainstream and critical theories of international relations when analyzing these negotiations. Students will become familiar with the range of political stances on different treaties of various nations and blocs, and the political, economic, cultural, and scientific reasons for diverging and converging views. We will pay special attention to the growing role played by non-governmental

organizations in global environmental politics. We will conclude the course with discussions of some current controversial areas in international environmental politics. Faculty: Doreen Stabinsky

IMPACT INVESTINGImpact Investing focuses on the emerging field of impact investing, which seeks to generate returns for society, the environment, and financial investors. Impact investing seeks to create avenues for private investment to work alongside existing efforts of NGOs and others to help solve global and local problems. Impact investing can be used to fund solutions in areas as diverse as food systems, climate change, poverty, affordable housing, and clean technology among other issues. This course will examine the strategy of various impact investing mechanisms from crowdfunding to “ localvesting.” In addition, students will examine case studies to understand the benefits and pitfalls of different

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strategies and their potential to create social and environmental change. During the course students will learn how to create financial projections and evaluate the financial returns of enterprises. For their final project, students will have to structure an investment platform that generates returns financially, socially, and/or environmentally. Faculty: Jay Friedlander

INTRODUCTION TO OCEANOGRAPHYPlanet Earth is misnamed. Seawater covers approximately 70% of the planet’s surface, in one giant all-connected ocean. This ocean has a profound effect on the planet’s climate, chemistry, ecosystem, and energy resources. Billions of years ago life began there, in what now we regard as the last unexplored frontier of this planet. In this course we examine the various disciplines within oceanography, including aspects of geology and sedimentology, chemical, dynamic, and biological oceanography. The course concludes with an introduction to marine ecosystems examined at various trophic levels, including phyto/

zooplankton, fish and other macrofauna. Fieldwork (weather dependent) includes trips on M/V Osprey, trips to intertidal and estuarine ecosystems, and possible visits to the college’s islands, Mount Desert Rock and Great Duck Island. Faculty: Sean Todd

JAZZ, ROCK, AND BLUES: FROM THEIR ORIGINS TO PRESENTThis course is a survey of the particular styles of music that have had such a profound effect on America, as well as the world, in the twentieth century. Students inquire of the social, cultural, and aesthetic elements that led to the creation of each style. The use of recorded examples provides a chronological examination of the principle musicians and composers as well as an analysis of the more inf luential soloists and groups. The course includes technical background into the various common musical “bonds of union” between Jazz, Rock, and Blues, as well as discussion concerning the permeation of these characteristics into secular and non-secular music of

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the 1900s. There is considerable study of the social significance of the music, exploration of the broad cultural and artistic aspects of the music, how these styles changed and evolved, and how their growth related to parallel changes in fine art music. Faculty: John Cooper

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIOThis studio course introduces students to the profession of Landscape Architecture, the design process and skills. Aspects to be covered include site analysis, program development, design concept, final site design and graphic representation. Faculty: Isabel Mancinelli

LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND SPIRITUALITYA survey of Anglo-American literature from the Scientific Revolution to the present. Focuses on the ongoing debate about the role of science in Western culture, the potential benefits and dangers of scientific experimentation, the spiritual, religious, social and political issues that come about with the Ages of Discovery and Reason, and their treatment in literature. Specific debates include concerns over what is “natural,” whether knowledge is dangerous, the perils of objectivity, and the mind/body dichotomy; works include Shelley’s Frankenstein, Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People, Brecht’s Galileo, Lightman’s Einstein’s Dreams, and Naylor’s Mama Day as well as short stories and poems. Faculty: Karen Waldron

MARVELOUS TERRIBLE PLACE: HUMAN ECOLOGY OF NEWFOUNDLANDWhere is the largest population of humpback whales in the world, the largest caribou herd in North America, the only confirmed Viking settlement in North America, and Paleozoic water bottled for consumption? The remote Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador presents a stunning landscape, an astoundingly rich ecological setting,

and a tragic history of poverty amidst an incredible natural resource, the northern cod fishery, that was ultimately destroyed. The province has been alternately invaded or occupied by different groups of Native Americans along with Norsemen, Basques, French, British, and the U.S. military, because of its strategic location and rich fishing and hunting grounds. One of the first and one of the last British colonies, this richest of fisheries produced a very class based society, composed of a wealthy few urban merchants and a highly exploited population of fishing families often living on the edge of survival. But within the past 50 years, Newfoundland society has been forced to evolve. The provincial government looks towards oil and mineral exploitation to turn around the economy, while ex-fishermen consider eco- and cultural tourism with growing ambivalence. This then is our setting, and background, for an intense examination of the human ecology of this province; the relationship between humans and their environment, sometimes successful, sometimes otherwise, the struggle between the tenuous grasp of civilization and this marvelous, terrible place. To do this we will discuss various readings, examine case studies and review the natural and human history of this unique province. Our learning will culminate with a two-week trip to Newfoundland to examine its issues firsthand. Faculty: Sean Todd

MICROECONOMICS FOR BUSINESS AND POLICYWhat is the best way to insure that communities can provide dependable, well-paying jobs to their citizens? Why does Coca Cola spend millions of dollars to advertise a product with which most people are already very familiar? What can the game of blackjack tell us about how industries are structured? How can we get coal-burning power utilities to reduce their carbon emissions while they save millions of dollars in the process? How can we provide much better health care to all Americans, at

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much less cost, while making it easier for small businesses to grow? All of these questions, and many more like them, are answered by microeconomic theory. This intermediate-level course exposes students to basic microeconomic theories, models, and concepts that shed insight on the economic behavior of businesses, individuals, governments and politicians, and international organizations. We will emphasize approaches that have numerous overlapping applications to both business and policy evaluation: markets, pricing, firm structure and decision-making, strategic behavior (using game theory), consumer behavior, externalities (such as greenhouse gas emissions), and the provision of public goods (such as military, education, and environmental conservation). We will pay special attention to the economics of asymmetrical information (adverse selection, moral hazard, and principal-agent situations) that have a wide range of applications, including issues such as the ineffectiveness of the American health care system, the structuring of business finance, and the hiring and paying of employees. This will be a non-calculus course, but will give students exposure to technical economic modeling, with heavy emphasis on graphical modeling of complex social phenomena. We will use a lab period to conduct extensive experiments and games that illustrate or test economic concepts and hypotheses. Faculty: Davis Taylor

PHILOSOPHIES OF LIBERATIONWhat is freedom, why might it be of value, how might it be obtained, and what consequences might liberation have for individuals, classes, genders, ethnic groups, races, nationalities, or species? In a wide variety of political, social, religious, and cultural movements, the notion of freedom as achieved by some kind of liberation is a central theme, and an essentially contested concept which means quite different things to different people. This course focuses on the philosophical tasks of sorting out

those different meanings and critically analyzing the frameworks of ideas people use to make sense of their notions of freedom and projects of liberation. It will adopt an intellectual history approach that will include placing the texts in their social and historical as well as philosophical contexts. Readings will include works from Gandhi, Paulo Freire, and writers from the open source and creative commons movements as well as selections from feminist, Buddhist, neo-liberal, Marxist, existentialist, and other traditions. Goals of the course are: 1) to develop students’ philosophical skills in the interpretation of texts in their historical context and the critical analysis of frameworks of ideas, 2) to develop their critical understanding of alternative visions of freedom and liberation, and 3) to develop their abilities to communicate sophisticated philosophical analysis in written and oral forms. Faculty: Gray Cox

PHYSICS AND MATHEMATICS OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY The aim of this course is to help students learn some basic physics and quantitative and analytical skills so that they can participate intelligently and responsibly in policy discussions, personal and community decisions, and ventures in the area of sustainable energy. We will begin with some basic physics, including: the definition of energy, the difference between energy and power, different forms of energy, and the first and second laws of thermodynamics. We will also provide students with a basic scientific and economic introduction to various alternative energy technologies. Along the way, students will gain mathematical skills in estimation and dimensional analysis, and will learn to use spreadsheets to assist in physical and financial calculations. There will also be a weekly lab to help students understand the physical principles behind different energy technologies and gain experience gathering and analyzing data. Faculty: Anna Demeo and Dave Feldman

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POSTCOLONIAL AFRICAN CINEMAAfrica was the last continent to develop a culture of filmmaking controlled by its indigenous peoples; 1966 saw the first African film to be produced independent of Colonial control (although still largely in an oppressor’s language, in this case French). The fact that African film was nascent at a time of worldwide revolution, at a time in which most other filmmaking regions were entering second or third waves of creative renewal, combined with a historical lack of financial support for the filmmaking enterprise—a symptom of ubiquitous financial and political instability—has resulted in some of the most unique, diverse cinema of the past fifty years. Ranging from the established, artistic, state-regulated cinema of Burkina Faso to the populist, truly independent movies coming out of Nigeria (home of the second-largest film-producing industry in the world), the African continent has given birth to new voices and new models of production and distribution that challenge established norms. These models may offer a new paradigm for a worldwide industry which is struggling in the face of fragmented audiences and new, potentially more egalitarian, technologies. Although African films have been receiving worldwide acclaim for decades, it is only recently that many of these ground-breaking films have received attention or been available for viewing in the United States. Faculty: Colin Capers

PUZZLES, PARADOXES, AND WEIRD THINGSThis course is an introduction to philosophy and critical thinking by considering traditional conceptual and philosophical problems such as free will, problems of perception, determinism, and Zeno’s paradoxes. After an examination of the canons of scientific proof and techniques of critical analysis various beliefs in ghosts, alien abduction, telepathy, crop-circles, special creation, astrology, ‘psychic science,’ and other popular beliefs are examined in detail. Faculty: John Visvader

THE SCIENCE OF COMEDYThis course explores the nature and history of modern comedy and investigates the tools and techniques of great comic performers. We’ll cover the evolution of comedy aesthetics from vaudeville and silent film to contemporary stand up and television and we’ll explore what, if any sort of ‘ funny,’ is timeless. The course uses film, video, live performance, and readings. Students gain practical experience through work on classic routines, physical comedy skills, and sketch development as well as experimenting with the peculiar mathematics of comic timing. Together, we will try to pinpoint what actually makes something funny and as importantly, why people crave laughter so much in the first place. Faculty: Jodi Baker

WINTER ECOLOGYIn higher latitudes and higher altitudes of the world, up to nine months of each year can be spent locked in winter. Although migratory species appear to have a selective advantage over non-migratory species during the winter season, year-round resident animals have evolved a remarkable array of physiological, morphological, and behavioral adaptations that allow them to cope with potentially lethal environmental conditions. In this course, we focus on the special challenges of animals wintering in northern latitudes. Some of the topics that we address are: the physical properties of snow and ice, general strategies of animals for coping with sub-freezing temperatures, life in the subnivean environment, animal energetics and nutrition, physiological acclimatization, and humans and cold. There are two discussions/lectures and one field exercise every week, as well as two weekend field trips. Students should be prepared to spend a significant amount of time outdoors in winter conditions. Faculty: Steve Ressel

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John AndersonBA, University of California, BerkeleyMA, San Francisco State UniversityPhD, University of Rhode Island

Zoology, Behavioral Ecology, Anatomy, Physiology

Nancy Evelyn AndrewsBFA, Maryland Institute College of ArtMFA, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Performance Art, Video Production

Jodi BakerBA, California State University, FresnoMFA, National Theatre Conservatory

Performing Arts, Theatre

Rich BordenBA, University of TexasPhD, Kent State University

Psychology, Philosophy of Human Ecology

Heath CabotBA, University of ChicagoMA, PhD, University of California, Santa CruzAnthropology

Colin CapersBA, MPhil, College of the Atlantic

Writing and Composition, Film Studies

William CarpenterBA, Dartmouth CollegePhD, University of Minnesota

Literature, Creative Writing, Comparative Mythology

Don CassBA, Carleton CollegePhD, University of California, Berkeley

Chemistry, Physics

Ken ClineBA, Hiram CollegeJD, Case Western Reserve University

Public Policy, Environmental Law

Catherine ClingerBFA, University of KansasMA, University of New MexicoMPhil, University College LondonPhD, University of London

Art History, Studio Art

Dru ColbertBFA, Auburn UniversityMFA, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Graphic Design, Three Dimensional Art and Design, Museum Studies

John Cooper BA, MA, Trenton State

Music Fundamentals, Aesthetics of Music, Improvisation

FACULTY MEMBERS

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J. Gray Cox BA, Wesleyan UniversityPhD, Vanderbilt University

Social Theory, Political Economics

Anna DemeoBS, University of ColoradoMS, PhD, University of Maine

Sustainable Energy, Physics, Mathematics

Dave FeldmanBA, Carleton CollegePhD, University of California, Davis

Mathematics, Physics

Sean FoleyBFA, Herron School of ArtMFA, Ohio State University

Painting, Drawing

Jay FriedlanderBA, Colgate UniversityMBA, Olin Graduate School of Business

Socially Responsible and Sustainable Business, Entrepreneurship

Sarah HallBA, Hamilton CollegePhD, University of California, Santa Cruz

Earth Science, Geology

Helen Hess BS, University of California, Los AngelesPhD, University of Washington

Invertebrate Zoology, Biomechanics, Genetics

Ken Hill BA, University of MichiganEdM, Harvard UniversityMS, PhD, Cornell University

Education, Psychology

Anne KozakBA, Salve Regina CollegeMA, St. Louis University

Writing

Todd Little-Siebold BA, MA, University of Massachusetts, AmherstPhD, Tulane University

History, Latin American Studies

Isabel MancinelliBS, Catholic University of AmericaMLA, Harvard University

Community and Regional Planning, Landscape Architecture

Jamie McKownBA, Emory UniversityMA, Georgia State UniversityPhD, Northwestern University

Government, Polity

Suzanne R. Morse BA, PhD, University of California, Berkeley

Applied Botany, Plant Ecology, Sustainable Agriculture

Karla PeñaBA, Autonomous University of YucatanMA, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Madrid

Spanish Language, Yucatecan Culture

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Chris PetersenBA, University of California, Santa BarbaraPhD, University of Arizona

Marine Biology, Evolution, Field Ecology

Nishi RajakarunaBA, College of the AtlanticMSc, PhD, University of British Columbia

Botany, Evolutionary Ecology

Stephen ResselBS, Millersville UniversityMS, University of VermontPhD, University of Connecticut

Vertebrate Biology, Comparative Animal Physiology, Herpetology

Doreen StabinskyBA, Lehigh UniversityPhD, University of California, Davis

International Studies, Global Environmental Politics

Scott SwannBA, MPhil, College of the Atlantic

Ecology, Natural History, Ornithology

Bonnie TaiBA, Johns Hopkins UniversityEdM, EdD, Harvard University

Education

Davis F. TaylorBS, United States Military AcademyMS, PhD, University of Oregon

Neoclassical and Ecological Economics

Sean ToddBSc, University College of North Wales, UKMSc, PhD, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland

Marine Mammalogy, Biology, Oceanography

Katharine TurokBA, Wheaton CollegeMA, Rutgers University

Writing and Composition, World Literature

John VisvaderBA, CUNYPhD, University of Minnesota

Philosophy, Cosmology, History of Ideas, Chinese Philosophy

Karen WaldronBA, Hampshire CollegeMA, University of Massachusetts, BostonMA, PhD, Brandeis University

19th and 20th Century American Literature, Minority, Cultural and Feminist Theory

In addition to the permanent faculty members included here, COA also hosts a range of adjunct and visiting faculty on a regular basis.

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ADVISING

The freedom to design your own major carries with it the responsibility to develop a coherent and thoughtful course of study. During your time at COA you'll work closely with an academic advisor, typically a faculty member in one of your areas of interest, to plan a program of study that will best fit your evolving goals and needs. In addition to working with a formal advisor, many students also build their own informal advising team and draw on other faculty, staff, and students as mentors.

EVALUATION

COA offers students the option of taking each class either for a traditional letter grade, or pass/fail. In both instances students receive a written evaluation from faculty, which provides a detailed assessment of their performance throughout the class and identifies strengths and areas for improvement. This system is designed to recognize the value of both quantitative and qualitative assessment, and give students evaluation options. Sometimes students find that the freedom from letter grades inspires them to explore new subject areas, push themselves, or take more intellectual risks. An optional self-evaluation is written by the student to assess the value of the course in relation to his or her own intellectual development.

OTHER ACADEMIC OPTIONS

With a student to faculty ratio of 10:1, individualized attention and seminar-style discussions are the classroom norm. For students who might be looking to delve into subjects not represented in the regular curriculum, the college also offers the opportunity for independent studies, tutorials, residencies, group studies, and various off-campus study options.

THE PRINCETON REVIEW SAYS…Top 10

• Best Food

• Professors Get High Marks

• LGBTQ-Friendly

• Their Students Love These Colleges

Top 20

• Best Quality of Life

• Great Financial Aid

• Most Beautiful Campus

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Jay FriedlanderSharpe-McNally Chair of Green & Socially Responsible BusinessBA, Colgate University; MBA, Olin Graduate School of Business

"At COA your only limit is yourself. I have seen few places in my lifetime that will both encourage your dreams and help you achieve them. For example, if you are interested in creating a sustainable enterprise, we go beyond giving you the skills in a classroom. By your senior year you could enter the Hatchery (COA's sustainable venture incubator) and launch your enterprise. The enterprise could be a for-profit venture that produces social and environmental benefits—alternative energy, organic foods or creating new products or services. Or perhaps you'd rather focus on tackling a persistent problem like hunger, poverty, or global warming. Ask yourself what would you like to create and where you'd like to go. We'll help you get there."

Courses Taught at COA• Business and Non-Profit Basics• Creative Destruction: Understanding 21st

Century Economies• Financials• Hatchery• Human Relations: Principles and Practice

• Impact Investing• Islands: Energy, Economy, and Community• Launching a New Venture• Solutions• Sustainable Strategies

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Nancy AndrewsBFA, Maryland Institute College of Art; MFA, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

"COA is not just a small school; it is a tiny school. It is a college with top-notch faculty who care a great deal about teaching and mentoring. This school is a community, and people—students, faculty, and staff—find niches here, but are also always finding new roles. They find work that they love, and people that care about their work. We are continually trying to push the envelope of interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity in order to forge and understand connections between areas of knowledge and areas of life. For me, this kind of constant growth and change parallels the process of being an artist, and it keeps my work as a teacher challenging and fresh."

Courses Taught at COA• Advanced Projects: Art Practice and

Concepts

• Animation I & II• Art of the Puppet• Documentary Video Studio• Film Sound and Image

• Four-Dimensional Studio• Intermediate Video: Studio and

Strategies• Journeys in French Film• Soundscape

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Bonnie TaiBA, Johns Hopkins University; EdM, EdD, Harvard University

"Human ecology: this somewhat clunky, notoriously difficult-to-explain focus is an intrinsic element of COA. Because none of us define it exactly the same way, we start from the assumption that our words do not mean the same to everyone. COA's best qualities rest in our rejection of monocultures, dualisms, and trifectas—and our embrace of ambiguity, complexity, paradox, and impermanence."

Courses Taught at COA• Changing Schools, Changing Society• Curriculum Design and Assessment• Experiential Education• Femininity and Masculinity go to School:

Gender, Power & Education• Integrated Methods II: Science, Math,

and Social Studies

• Intercultural Education• Tutorial: Research and Program

Development for Ecological Education• Tutorial: Social Power and Identity

Politics• Understanding and Managing Group

Dynamics

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Sean ToddSteven K. Katona Chair in Marine SciencesBSc, University College of North Wales, UK; MSc, PhD, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland

"Part of what makes me excited to teach at COA is that as a biologist I get to go out in the field with my students. In my Oceanography class we are out every week getting cold and wet, but understanding and being part of the ocean. For my Marine Mammal Biology class we spent two weeks out at one of the college's marine field stations on Mount Desert Rock. Not only did students learn field biology, but they also learned the logistics of helping to run a field station. They drove boats, serviced diesel generators and photovoltaic solar panels, and learned to cook, all at the same time."

Courses Taught at COA• Biology I • Biology II: Form and Function • Fisheries and Their Management• Introduction to Oceanography

• Introduction to Statistics and Research Design

• Marine Mammal Biology I• Marine Mammals and Sound

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COMMUNITYCOA is a close-knit intellectual and social community. With 350 students, 35 faculty members, and 70 staff, everyone is on a first-name basis and you'll likely find that your academic work percolates into all aspects of your life. These close ties unite people during their years at COA and long afterward.

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GovernanceResponsible citizenship requires collaborative attitudes and skills. This is a primary rationale for COA's commitment to participatory governance and consensus building. In keeping with the central ideas of community and responsibility, students play a large role in the college's governance structure. Students, together with faculty and staff, are invited to participate on college committees, from Academic Affairs to Personnel, with full voting rights.

The All College Meeting (ACM), held every Wednesday and moderated by a student, provides a regular forum for students, faculty, and staff to consider issues facing the college and the world. ACM serves numerous functions: it is a policy-making body; it provides consultation on pressing issues; it builds community; it acts as an educational forum; and it provides a venue for communication between various constituencies on campus.

The governance system is an important way that COA students make significant contributions to the college, both in terms of day-to-day management and helping to determine our long-term direction.

Student LifeLife at COA is informal, friendly, supportive, and always busy. COA's mission attracts students who are comfortable with alternative viewpoints and a certain degree of uncertainty. This is ref lected in a campus atmosphere that balances consistency and spontaneity in and out of the classroom. On any one day you might participate in a pick-up game of soccer, a meeting of a student-run organization dedicated to environmental activism, a lunchtime foreign language group, a theatrical or musical performance, a design meeting for a student literary publication, or a kayak trip around the islands of Frenchman Bay.

Acadia National Park, located a short walk from campus, offers hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. The park's lakes, ponds, ocean shores, and mountains keep swimmers, ice skaters, rock climbers, and kayakers happy. COA's outdoor program organizes regular expeditions and camping trips in the park and surrounding areas.

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Housing & FoodCOA's on-campus residences are a mix of old homes from former seaside estates

and newer houses built by the college to encourage community living and meet high

environmental standards. All first-year students live on campus. Transfer and returning

students may opt to live on campus, or to rent houses or apartments with friends in

the village of Bar Harbor—a short walk or bike ride away. Bar Harbor's popularity as

a summer tourist destination means that there is a great deal of affordable housing

available to rent during the school year.

As a member of a house on campus, each student is expected to play a vital role in making

the house a home. All residences are equipped with full kitchens, and community dinners

are typical on Sunday evenings. Resident advisors work with students to generate evening

programs for the house and help to facilitate house chores and responsibilities.

Blair Dining Hall, affectionately known as Take-A-Break (or TAB), has won repeated

praise for providing among the best college food in the US. All meals are made from

scratch, and more than 30% of the ingredients are sourced locally and sustainably. Meals

are served Monday through Friday, and there are always vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-

free options. And if today's TAB menu doesn't suit your fancy, you can always grab a

sandwich, salad, soup, or smoothie (and quite a few things that don't start with s) at the

Sea Urchin Café in the Deering Common Community Center.

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CARBON NEUTRALITY & DIVESTMENTIn 2007 COA became the first carbon-neutral college in the country. In 2013, we divested from fossil fuels. And there’s still so much more to do.

Students manage COA's extensive composting system.

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SustainabilitySustainability at COA isn't just something we do; it's a core part of who we are and how we

live. We boast solar arrays and wind energy, local farms that provide food for the dining

hall and process the compost created there, dorms with composting toilets and a wood

pellet boiler, and of course, a curriculum in which sustainability is a central theme.

The Campus Committee for Sustainability, comprised of faculty, staff, and students, is

integral to exploring and implementing policies and actions that continue to green COA

and help the priorities of all community members be heard.

And there is always a conversation happening—in classrooms, over coffee, on nature

walks—about what we can do to improve our relationship with the world.

Solar panels on student housing. A wood pellet boiler heats several campus buildings.

Wind energy helps power COA's Beech Hill Farm.

The college's electric van fills up at the solar-powered car charging station.

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Facilities & ResourcesCOA has two organic farms—Beech Hill Farm centers on five acres of intensive organic

vegetable production, and the Peggy Rockefeller Farms raise sheep, poultry, and other

livestock. Both farms produce food for the college's dining services and give students the

opportunity to gain real farming experience.

The college's offshore island research stations on Great Duck Island and Mount Desert

Rock are sites where students engage in hands-on marine mammal and ornithological

research. Allied Whale, COA's marine mammal research group, has been using

photographic identification techniques to study humpback and finback whales for more

than 30 years.

On-campus facilities include the George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History, Amos Eno

Greenhouse, COA/Acadia National Park Herbarium, and numerous gardens including

a large community garden. Thorndike Library provides access to a wealth of academic

resources both near and far, and its reading room and stacks are popular spots for

quiet study. Gates Community Center hosts regular speakers, concerts, and theatrical

performances, and the Blum Gallery features art exhibitions by students, faculty, and

outside artists. The Deering Common Community Center includes a meditation room,

meeting spaces, a student lounge, and the Sea Urchin Café. It is also home to health,

wellness, and counseling resources.

Edward McC. Blair Marine Research Station on Mount Desert Rock. Opposite top: Alice Eno Field Research Station on Great Duck Island.

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Beech Hill Farm George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History

COA's M/V Osprey Peggy Rockefeller Farms

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Our students are extraordinary in their ability to take lessons learned in one context and apply those things: the skills, experience and understanding, much more broadly. Understanding the evolution of mating systems in hermaphroditic fish is fascinating to know but it may be information that is directly relevant in only a narrow range of circumstances. The critical thinking, analytical skills, and pleasure in working hard to understand a complex phenomenon are habits of mind that are broadly transferable, and our students understand that.

Helen Hess, PhDFaculty in invertebrate zoology, genetics, and biomechanics

Student researcher banding gull chicks on Great Duck Island.

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Outdoor ProgramStudents are encouraged to arrive at COA with a sense of adventure. With Acadia National Park in your backyard, you'll have easy access to countless outdoor activities both on your own and through the college's outdoor programs. Organized trips range from a day hike or an afternoon of rock climbing to a weekend of backpacking or winter camping. For those who want to head off at a moment's notice, COA's recreational equipment is accessible to all college community members for free. This includes a f leet of ocean kayaks and lake canoes, cross-country skis, tents, snowshoes, and much more. Some classes, such as Whitewater/White Paper and Ecology: Natural History, also incorporate trips that place students in whitewater canoes or the school's marine vessel, the 46' Osprey. Aspiring scuba divers are invited to take an annual course offered through the local YMCA.

Each fall, new students are introduced to Maine's numerous wilderness adventure opportunities through the optional Outdoor Orientation Program (OOPs). Returning students lead the six-day trips; participants choose from sea kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and backpacking.

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For a preview of some of our favorite things to do on Mount Desert Island (MDI), download our College of the Atlantic MDI Adventure App. Just search "MDI Adventure Passport" on your phone's App Store and hit " install"—it's free.

WELCOME TO YOUR NEW

HOME

Mount Desert Island

Acadia National

Park

Great Duck Island

Mount Desert Rock

COAThe Cox Protectorate

Beech Hill Farm

The Peggy Rockefeller Farms

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Life on Mount Desert IslandMount Desert Island (MDI) is truly a remarkable place to live and study. Its pink granite mountains, rugged shores, woods, and waters are a much-loved year-round home to 10,000 hardy and dynamic locals. In the summer more than a million visitors f lock to visit Acadia National Park and the hotels, restaurants, campgrounds, and shops across the four towns of the island.

During the fall, winter, and spring, the island is quieter, but many local businesses stay open to serve the year-round community. The book store, natural food store, second-hand shop, movie house, outdoor gear supplier, yoga studio, and public library (all within a mile of campus) will likely be stops at some point during a student's years at COA. Every student receives a membership to the local YMCA, which provides access to volleyball, basketball, swimming, a weight room, indoor soccer, and fitness classes.

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Natalie Bloomfield '14Internship: College Confident, Brooklyn, NYSenior Project: A Dreamer's RealityCurrent Job: Program Manager, College Confident

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FIELD RESEARCHER

AERODYNAMICIST

FILMMAKER

PARALEGAL

ENGINEER

DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE

AQUATIC ECOLOGYTEACHER

ANIMAL BEHAVIORIST

URBAN GARDENER

ANIMATOR

DANCER

GENEALOGIST

ACQUISITIONSMANAGER

CONSERVATION COORDINATOR

BIOLOGIST

GAME WARDEN

RESTAURATEUR

FOSTER CAREADMINISTRATOR

JEWELRY DESIGNER

FALCONER

NATIONAL PARKRANGER

REFUGE BIOLOGIST

SOCIAL WORKER

BREWMASTER

BAKER

BLACKSMITH

FAMILY PRACTICE RESIDENT

DEPUTY CHIEF OF INTERPRETATION

CINEMATOGRAPHER

PARENT

ACOUSTIC RESEARCHER

ARCHIVIST

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

BIOSTATISTIAN

INSTRUCTOR

FARM MANAGER

PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE

FARMER

CARPENTER

ANIMAL RIGHTS ADVOCATE

CASE MANAGER

RESTORATIONECOLOGIST

CETACEAN ANDWILDLIFE ARTIST

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

PARAMEDIC

GREENHOUSE MANAGER

WILDLIFE TECHNICIAN

CURATOR

DOULA

PSYCHOLOGIST

DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER

DESIGNER

RESEARCH TECHNICIAN

ELEPHANT TRAINER

PRESIDENT

EIGHTH GRADETEACHER

MIDWIFE

DIVER

PARK PLANNER

ANIMATOR

WOMEN'S HEALTH ADVOCATE

WOOD SCULPTOR

ATTORNEY

DESIGN ANDLANDSCAPE PLANNER

ENGLISH TEACHER

ACTOR

GRASSROOTSORGANIZER

NAVY DIVER

REGIONAL PLANNER

FARM EDUCATOR

COUNSELOR

MECHANICAL ENGINEER

LIBRARIAN

FLORIST

PROFESSOR

MASON

EDUCATION CONSULTANT

PASTOR

ENVIRONMENTALPLANNER

HEALTH COACH

ARTICULATION SUPERVISOR

DOG TRAINER

GRANT WRITER

MARINE BIOLOGIST

SCULPTOR

SPANISH TEACHER

INFANT MASSAGEINSTRUCTOR

AMERICORPS MEMBER

FIBER ARTIST

COMMUNITY HERITAGE COORDINATOR

ECONOMIST

PARK SPECIALIST

ORGANIC ORCHARDIST

FOURTH GRADE TEACHER

ILLUSTRATOR

HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER

URGENT CARE PHYSICIAN

NATURALIST

PLAYWRIGHT

MOVEMENT THERAPIST

CEO

GALLERY MANAGER

FISHERMAN

RABBI

GRADUATE TEACHING FELLOW

SCHOOL COUNSELOR

THEATER COMPANY MANAGER

NEUROLOGIST

PRINCIPAL

CHIROPRACTOR

PROGRAM MANAGER

PAINTER

REGISTERED NURSE

MUSEUM EDUCATOR

HORTICULTURALIST

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

WEAVER

STATISTICALCONSULTANT

ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

SINGER/SONGWRITER

CHEESEMAKER

DIGITAL IMAGINGTECHNICIAN

SCIENCE TEACHER

INTERPRETER

GUIDE

STONE MASON

ETHNOBOTANIST

LAW STUDENT

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER

FRENCH TEACHER

DIRECTOR

ECONOMIC PLANNER

WALDORF TEACHER

PUPPETEER

NURSE PRACTITIONER

TRIAL ATTORNEY

PILOT

EXPEDITION LEADER

BILINGUAL TEACHER

ORGANIC LANDSCAPER GARDENER

MINISTER

PHOTOGRAPHER

FURNITURE MAKER

COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGER

DIALYSIS DIETITIAN

COORDINATOR

EDUCATOR

AUTHOR

NOVELIST

CERAMICS TEACHER

BOAT CARPENTER

CLINICAL CASEMANAGER

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

THERAPIST

ADMINISTRATOR

WRITER

ARBORIST

SALAMANDERECOLOGIST

ADMISSION COUNSELOR

PLANT ECOLOGIST

PRESCHOOL TEACHER

BUSINESS OWNER

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR

RESEARCHER

HEALTH EDUCATOR

ECOLOGIST

LANDSCAPE DESIGNER

SUMMER CAMP DIRECTOR

EQUINE VETERINARIAN

ORNITHOLOGIST

SAIL MAKER

FISH CULTURIST

GIS SPECIALIST

FISHERIES BIOLOGIST

ELL SPECIALIST

FUNDRAISINGCONSULTANT

RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR

PHYSICAL THERAPIST

MARINE RESEARCHER

MUSICIAN

CAD OPERATOR

FOUNDER

EDITOR

CONSERVATION SCIENTIST

NETWORK ENGINEER

US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DEPUTY CITYATTORNEY

VETERINARIAN

COMMUNITY EDUCATOR

ENTREPRENEUR

PLANNER

CHILDREN'S MAGAZINE EDITOR

BOTANIST

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

ARTIST

ELECTRICIAN

CONSULTANT

ACUPUNCTURIST

PHD CANDIDATE

ADVOCATE

MICROBIOLOGIST

CHEF

FIREFIGHTER

JOURNALIST

CHILDREN'S BOOKAUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR

FUNDRAISER

INTERNSHIPCOORDINATOR

PHOTOJOURNALIST

COMMUNITY OUTREACH EDUCATOR

GALLERY OWNER

LEGAL ADVOCATE

CHILD PROTECTIVE CASEWORKER

BAND MEMBER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DEAN OF STUDENTS

REALTOR

WEBSITE DEVELOPER

MASSAGE THERAPIST

ADULT CASE MANAGER

FOOD PANTRY MANAGER

HYDROLOGIST

TOWN MANAGER

COMEDIAN

FORESTER

RADIOLOGIST

COMPUTER CONSULTANT

ARCHITECT

ADJUNCT FACULTY6363

MEDICAL STUDENT

LIFE AFTER COA

COA's emphasis on field research, independent study, interdisciplinary thinking, and internships translates directly to the world of work.

Alumni often report that their close connections with COA faculty help facilitate important professional connections that launch them into their careers or graduate school. Among them: the Executive Vice President of Conservation International, one of Maine's two Congressional Representatives, and the co-founder and president of Newman's Own Organics. Other graduates have become marine biologists, composers, restaurateurs, attorneys, entrepreneurs, teachers, organic farmers, artists, writers, social workers, doctors, veterinarians, molecular geneticists, and public policy experts.

COA alumni are tied together not just by their connections with the college, but also by their concern for the world around them and their desire to make a positive impact in their communities.

COA alumni go on to careers in a wide range of fields: 22% natural science; 17% arts and design; 17% education; 16% administration, business, and computer technology; 14% social services, government, and law; 10% health; 4% other areas.

Approximately 67% of COA graduates pursue advanced degrees at a wide range of universities including: Antioch University New England, Boston University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Lesley University, London School of Economics, New York University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Tufts University, University of British Columbia, University of Maine, Vermont Law School, and Yale University.

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After graduation, Meg worked as an exhibit development intern at the EcoTarium in Worcester, MA. Now a curatorial assistant at the Museum of Science in Boston, Meg curates the Natural Mysteries exhibit, works on exhibit installations, and cares for the museum's collection of natural history and technology objects.

"I was looking for a college community that shared my values, that really cared about learning, and was engaged with the world. That is precisely what I found and what kept me at COA.

"The process of putting together a senior project is a wonderful opportunity that many college students do not have in their undergrad years. It allows for the synthesis of ideas and the practical application of skills that are valuable bridges from college to the 'real world.' For me, working on a long-term project that had a concrete result—an exhibit in the Dorr Museum of Natural History—was challenging and fulfilling, and having created all of the components of my very own exhibit was a unique experience to have when entering into the museum world. And the skills I gained from my senior project are still relevant in my work today!"

Meg Trau '12Curatorial Assistant, Museum of Science, BostonInternships: Spruce Knob Mountain Center, Circleville, WV; Delaware Museum of Natural History, Wilmington, DE

Senior project: The Human Ecology of Weeds: A Museum Exhibit

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Now back in Mexico on his family's farm, Juan is working to build a business he began while in the COA sustainable enterprise hatchery. As the legal representative of Agro-Productores del Rincón, he is raising funds to begin commercially transforming the farm's agave and goat milk into syrup and cheese.

"COA taught me to think out of the box. I considered myself a technician and the college turned me into a human ecologist, seeing the complexities beyond technical issues. Now I cannot see anything without seeing the big picture.

"My favorite COA class was "Our Daily Bread: Following Grains through the Food System." In this class we explored the food chain from wheat fields to grocery stores and kitchens, passing through mills, bakeries, and shops. The class started in Maine, and then took us to the UK and Germany where we gained insight into how to deal with issues in the Maine food system."

Juan Olmedo de la Sota-Riva '12 Company Representative, Agro-Productores del Rincón, MexicoInternship: Domaine de la Croix Fees, Auvergne, France

Senior project: Deep Roots, Dry Soil: Perennials in Semi-Arid Agroecosystems

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GETTING IN

AdmissionCOA approaches the admission process much as we approach learning: with a focus on the individual strengths of each student, encouraging creativity, and with the hope that you will both ask lots of questions and share your ideas with us. Students may choose to apply either Regular Decision or Early Decision. Early Decision applications are binding, meaning that the applicant is committing to enroll at COA if admitted.

COA accepts the Common Application. To start your application visit www.commonapp.org. College of the Atlantic's CEEB code is 3305.

A Complete Application Includes:

1. Completed Common Application

2. $50 application fee

3. At least two teacher recommendations

4. Official transcripts of all academic work from high school and college

5. A personal interview, though not required, is strongly encouraged

6. Standardized test scores are not required, but you are welcome to submit SAT or ACT scores if you choose

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WHAT WE LOOK FORAll applications are reviewed by the Admission Committee, which is comprised of current students, faculty, and staff. The committee looks for:

• Academic preparation

• Intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning

• A tendency to seek out intellectual and personal challenges

• A desire to be a part of a small college with a focus on environmental sustainability and social justice

Transfer or Visiting StudentsApproximately 20% of COA students start at COA as transfer students from other institutions.

A student may transfer a maximum of 18 credits to COA (the equivalent of two years of study, or 60 semester hours/90 quarter hours). Although an evaluation of credit is not final until after enrollment, students may receive preliminary evaluations by contacting the registrar. Students who wish to spend one or more terms at COA and transfer college credit to another institution should apply as a visiting student.

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Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate

COA credit will be granted for scores of '4' or higher

on Advanced Placement (AP) exams. For International

Baccalaureate (IB) work, two COA credits will be given

for scores of '5' or higher on HL exams. A full year's

credit may be awarded for a score of '34' or higher on

the comprehensive exam. The credits are officially

recorded following successful completion of the

student's first year at COA.

International StudentsInternational students from a wide array of geographic regions comprise about 18% of COA's student body. In addition to the regular application requirements, international students are required to submit one of the following: TOEFL score, SAT critical reading and writing scores, SAT II writing test score, or predicted IB score for English.

International students are also required to submit a declaration of finances form. We are proud to offer the Davis United World College Scholarship to students who graduate from the United World Colleges and are admitted to COA.

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Dates & DeadlinesEarly Decision IDecember 1 Application DueDecember 10 Estimated Financial Aid Form DueDecember 15 Response to ApplicantsJanuary 10 Enrollment Deposit Due

Early Decision IIJanuary 15 Application DueJanuary 20 Estimated Financial Aid Form DueJanuary 30 Response to ApplicantsFebruary 15 Enrollment Deposit Due

Regular DecisionFebruary 15 Application & FAFSA DueApril 1 Response to ApplicantsMay 1 Enrollment Deposit Due

Transfer AdmissionApril 1 Application & FAFSA DueApril 25 Response to ApplicantsMay 15 Enrollment Deposit Due

Students may also apply to start at COA in the winter or spring trimesters. For more information, visit www.coa.edu/apply.

Admission & Financial Aid StaffPhone: 1-800-528-0025 Email: inquiry@coa.edu

Heather Albert-Knopp Dean of AdmissionDonna McFarland Associate Director of Admission

& Student ServicesNina Emlen Admission CounselorKhristian Mendez Admission CounselorLinda Black Admission & Financial Aid AssistantBruce Hazam Director of Financial AidDominika DelMastro Assistant Director of Financial Aid

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Costs & Financial AidCOA offers both merit-based and need-based financial aid. Approximately 85% of our students receive need-based aid, and the average aid package meets 95% of the student's demonstrated need. Each year we also award several merit-based Presidential and Dean scholarships to those students exhibiting exceptional academic achievements and citizenship qualities. The college also offers a number of special scholarships, which can be found online atwww.coa.edu/coa-scholarships. All applicants are considered for COA's merit scholarships—there is no need to submit a separate scholarship application.

2015–2016 costs: Tuition: $41,535Basic Fees: $549Room: $6,000Board: $3,432

Total: $51,516

Estimates for expenses that are not billed: $1,680(including books, supplies, transportation)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) usually becomes available in December and must be submitted between January 1 and February 15. Applicants should also submit COA's institutional aid application no later than February 15. The college's Title IV code is 011385.

Our financial aid staff has years of experience helping students and families navigate the intricacies of applying for financial aid. Please don't hesitate to contact them with your questions, or look for more information on our website: www.coa.edu/costs-financial-aid.

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Visiting is a wonderful way to get to know the College of the Atlantic community. While you're here you can sit in on classes, meet with students and professors, check out campus activities, have an admission interview, and sample our award-winning food at the Blair Dining Hall or Sea Urchin Café.

It's best to visit on weekdays when term is in session. You can either come for the day and take a campus tour at 10 am or 2 pm, or stay overnight. During the school year, a guest room is available for prospective students who would like to stay overnight in a campus residence. For those wishing to stay on campus, please schedule your stay at least two weeks in advance to confirm that space is available. To schedule a tour and interview, please contact the Admission Office. If you are unable to travel to Maine for a visit, we are also happy to connect you with a faculty member, current student, or admission counselor by phone or email.

Contact the admission office to set up your visit: inquiry@coa.edu, 1-800-528-0025.

VISITING COA

105 Eden Street · Bar Harbor ME 04609800-528-0025 · inquiry@coa.eduwww.coa.edu

COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC