Search sarahlawrence.edu
Precollege Programs
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 each evening for commuters)
35 Alexander Street, Yonkers, NY
Apply online
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 have the option of taking this course for one transferable college credit.
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.
Tuition is $1,050 for commuting students and $1,550 for residential students. If you would like to earn one transferable college credit, the tuition is an additional $500. Tuition includes:
It is if you...
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.
If you choose to take the course for credit 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 our campus daily or you can choose to stay on 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 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.
Between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 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 $1.050 for commuting students and $1,550 for residential students. If you would like to earn one transferable college credit, the tuition is an additional $500.
Tuition includes:
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.
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, if they register for the college credit option, 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.