Sarah Lawrence College

Precollege Programs

Hudson River Ecology Course

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Hudson River Ecology Course
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Precollege Programs

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914.395.2524

July 12 - 16, 2027
9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Commuter)
9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Residential)
In-person (Additional asynchronous work to be completed independently)
Location: Center for the Urban River at Beczak, 35 Alexander Street, Yonkers, NY
Earn 1 college credit

Register Now

The Hudson River Ecology Course at the Sarah Lawrence College's Center for the Urban River at Beczak (CURB) is a one-week, early undergraduate college-level course for rising high school juniors and seniors, recent high school graduates, and undergraduate students who are interested in learning more about the river ecology, as experienced in the Hudson River. Students receive one transferable college credit for successfully taking this course.

Students will explore concepts such as local geography, water quality, organism relationships, populations, aquatic habitats, and human impacts. In conjunction with the concepts, students will engage in outdoor and laboratory data collection, such as sediment surveying, plankton collection, fish identification, and bacteria monitoring.

Students are also introduced to various environmental-oriented careers to give them more insight into the realm of green careers.

Morning portions of the course will happen at CURB and entail a mixture of lectures, group work, and individual data collection. The evening portion of the course students do remotely on our course page.

I was looking to learn more about the scientific processes and dynamics behind local environmental issues. As a result, I’m encouraged to continue writing and highlighting some of these important environmental issues I learned about.

Mia Barghout Summer 2026 HREC Participant

Tuition and Fees

Tuition is $1,550 for commuting students and $2,050 for residential students. Tuition includes:

  • 1 transferrable college credit upon successful completion
  • 3.5 hours of in-person instruction per day with expert faculty who are experienced river ecologists
  • One hour per day or less of asynchronous work
  • Use of college-level ecology research facility
  • All supplies
  • Light breakfast/snacks
  • For residential students only: shuttle bus to/from Sarah Lawrence main campus to CURB (the course location), lunch, afternoon hours at CURB for additional research and education activities.  

Residential Cost: $1,195 ($250 non-refundable deposit due at registration); includes accommodation in an air-conditioned single room, 3 meals/ day, 24-hour supervision, shuttle to and from the main campus to CURB, and evening activities.

Housing applications open November 

Register Now

Is the Hudson River Ecology Course Right for Me?

It is if you...

  • Are a rising high school junior or senior age 15-18; an undergraduate student; or just interested in learning more about the Hudson River
  • Have an interest in science, the environment, ecology, geography, and all things aquatic
  • Are motivated, curious, and love hands-on learning
  • Are interested in earning one transferable college credit
Register Now

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The classes in the Hudson River Ecology Course are taught by experienced scientists and researchers at Sarah Lawrence’s Center for Urban River at Beczak (CURB). The main faculty for the course is the Center’s Director of Education.

  • The Hudson River Ecology Course is capped at 20 students.

  • This is an introductory ecology course suitable for beginners or anyone interested in learning more about the ecology of the Hudson River.

  • Classes are a mixture of lectures and group work, and take place at the Center for the Urban River at Beczak. There is also a self-guided component to be completed at home each day.

    The course has a large practical element. In addition to learning about local geography, water quality, ecosystem relationships, populations, aquatic habitats, and human impacts, you will engage in outdoor and laboratory data collection, such as sediment surveying, plankton collection, fish identification, and bacteria monitoring.

    There is also a final project requirement that you will work on in your own time, due two weeks after the course ends.

  • Yes, there are residential and commuter options available.

    You can choose to commute to class or you can choose to stay on the Sarah Lawrence College campus and truly experience what college life is like. Students who stay on campus must be 16 years of age at the start of the program. 

    Learn more about residential options and costs on our student life page. 

  • Coffee, a light breakfast, and snacks are provided for all students. Lunch is provided for residential students.

  • Families can drop students off at the Center for Urban River at Beczak (CURB), located at 35 Alexander Street, Yonkers, NY. Please note that this is not the same address as the Sarah Lawrence College main campus.

    A free shuttle is provided between the main campus and CURB for residential students. 

    The nearest train station is Metro North Yonkers station, which is a block from the Center. The station is on the Hudson line.

  • The Hudson River Ecology Course takes place Monday – Friday from 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. for commuting students with asynchronous work assigned to be completed at home.

    For residential students, class is held from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm with a break for lunch. In the afternoon, students will complete their asynchronous assignments and partake in additional educational and research opportunities.

    Between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., residential students are not permitted to leave the Center for the Urban River at Beczak.

  • We seek motivated, curious, and engaged students. Admission is also limited by class size. We encourage any student who is interested in river ecology or environmental science to apply.

  • Tuition is $1,550 for commuting students and $2,050 for residential students. Tuition includes:

    • 1 transferable college credit upon successful completion
    • Three-and-a-half hours of in-person instruction per day (Monday – Friday) with expert faculty who are experienced river ecologists
    • One hour per day or less (Monday – Friday) of asynchronous work
    • 2.5 hours/ day supervised self-study and additional activities (residential students) 
    • Use of college-level ecology research facility
    • All supplies
    • Light breakfast/snacks (commuter students) and lunch (residential students)

    A deposit of $250 is required upon acceptance into the program to hold your spot. The balance is payable by the payment deadline June 21, 2027.

    Refunds are available within a defined window before the program start date; details are provided at registration.

    Residential Cost: $1,195 ($250 non-refundable deposit due at registration); includes accommodation in an air-conditioned single room, 3 meals/ day, 24-hour supervision, shuttle to and from the main campus to CURB, and evening activities.

    Housing applications open November 

  • The core class is 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. daily. The tuition for commuter students includes the core material plus additional asynchronous work completed at home. 

    Residential students are required to have supervised study through the full day. To accommodate this, additional supervised work is provided in the afternoons. The additional tuition includes this additional supplementary work.

  • Scholarships may be available for Yonkers Public Schools students only.

  • Yes. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be granted one credit by Sarah Lawrence College. This can be used towards a bachelor's degree at Sarah Lawrence, or it can be transferred to another institution at the discretion of that institution. If you have a particular institution in mind, please check with them beforehand to confirm that they will accept transfer credits.

  • Yes. Students have access to their phones during free time, and urgent messages can be relayed through program staff.

  • You’ll receive a dedicated contact list for key program staff, including the program director.

  • The residential cost (includes accommodation in an air-conditioned single room, 3 meals/ day, 24-hour supervision, shuttle to and from the main campus to CURB,  and evening activities) is $1,195 for the week.

    A $250 non-refundable deposit is due upon registration.

    Students must be aged 16 years or older to stay on campus.

    Housing applications open November 

  • Applicants for whom English is not their first language and who have not studied in an English language curriculum for the past four years should take one of the following tests:

    Applicants should have a TOEFL score of 100 (for exams taken before January 21, 2026) or 5-5.5 (for exams taken on or after January 21, 2026), an IELTS score of 7 or higher, or a Duolingo score of at least 130.

    You can submit this via email to precollege@sarahlawrence.edu after submitting your registration/ application form.

  • Because students in our precollege programs are eligible to earn college credits, you should come on an F1 student visa.

Request More Information About the Hudson River Ecology Course

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Do you have questions about our precollege programs?

Contact us:
precollege@sarahlawrence.edu
914-395-2524