College of the Atlantic: A Pioneer in Human Ecology and Sustainable Education

Introduction

College of the Atlantic (COA), located in Bar Harbor, Maine, stands as a unique institution dedicated to the study of human ecology. Founded in 1969, COA has distinguished itself through its interdisciplinary approach to learning, focus on environmental stewardship, and commitment to empowering students to actively shape the future. Nestled between Acadia National Park and the Atlantic Ocean, the college offers an immersive educational environment where students explore the relationships between humans and their environments.

History and Founding Principles

College of the Atlantic was established in 1969 with the vision of creating an educational institution that goes beyond traditional academic disciplines to address the pressing issues facing the world. The founders, including Catholic priest and peace activist Father James Gower and local businessman Les Brewer, sought to create a learning environment that fostered a direct connection between students and the natural world. COA admitted its first class in 1972, starting with 32 students and four full-time faculty members.

The college's founding principles are rooted in human ecology, an interdisciplinary approach that explores the relationships between humans and their natural, built, and social environments. This perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things and the need for solutions that cross traditional academic boundaries.

Academics: Human Ecology at its Core

At the heart of College of the Atlantic's academic program is its commitment to human ecology. COA enriches the liberal arts tradition through this distinctive educational philosophy, integrating knowledge from all academic disciplines and personal experience to investigate and improve the relationships between human beings and our social and natural communities. The college offers a single degree: a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology. Eschewing conventional majors and departmental divisions to promote fluid, individualized inquiry.

Interdisciplinary Curriculum

COA's curriculum is designed to allow students to create an interdisciplinary course of study that integrates humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the arts. The college emphasizes self-directed learning, where students craft individualized plans integrating coursework across disciplines rather than adhering to predefined concentrations. There is no set path; students develop individual curricula, moving across disciplines, delving deeply into a chosen focus, and exploring the intersections and in-between spaces where fields converge.

Specific requirements for the degree encompass 36 credits-typically accrued via one-credit courses across three per 10-week term-plus a mandatory interdisciplinary core seminar for entering students, at least two courses each in arts & design (including one studio practice), environmental sciences, and human studies from distinct faculty members, one class in quantitative reasoning, one in history, a writing proficiency portfolio, an 11-week (450-hour) internship, a three-credit senior project, a human ecology essay, and 40 hours of community service prior to the final term.

Faculty and Research

College of the Atlantic maintains a faculty of approximately 35 full-time members, supplemented by adjunct instructors and lecturers, all oriented toward human ecology as the institution's unifying interdisciplinary framework. Faculty members represent a wide range of academic backgrounds, including anthropology, biology, environmental studies, philosophy, and sociology. They commonly engage in active research and community-based projects, providing students with opportunities to participate hands-on in fieldwork and study that spans ecological and social systems.

Faculty research emphasizes applied sustainability, with nearly all members actively publishing as scholars, creating artistic works, or advocating for environmental policy. The Center for Applied Human Ecology (CAHE) coordinates much of this work, drawing on faculty expertise in ecology, economics, law, psychology, anthropology, planning, history, and business to integrate scientific, aesthetic, and social dimensions into public decision-making.

Experiential Learning

Learning at COA transcends traditional classroom boundaries. Students conduct research and create works of art in class and out, often combining local fieldwork with national and international study. Many students collaborate with nearby institutions such as The Jackson Laboratory or the MDI Biological Laboratory to engage in research spanning genetics, biomedicine, and marine science.

All students complete at least one term-long internship and all students design and complete a senior capstone project, an opportunity to synthesize prior learning and push further in new directions. Expeditionary learning funds support these experiences as a core part of COA's educational approach. Semester-long programs include the Yucatán Program in Mexico, where students live with host families while exploring language, culture, and environmental systems, and a term in France combining language immersion with European art and policy studies. Shorter field courses explore tropical reef ecosystems in Central America, coastal communities in Newfoundland, or desert environments in the American Southwest.

Read also: Phoenix Suns' New Center

Campus Life: A Close-Knit Community

College of the Atlantic enrolls approximately 350 students, including roughly 20-23% international students, among them Davis UWC scholars. The student faculty ratio of about 10:1 ensures close mentorship and collaborative learning. The community values diversity, curiosity, and engagement.

Student Organizations and Activities

Students participate in more than 40 organizations, including environmental advocacy, arts collectives, outdoor recreation, and service initiatives. Campus life is enriched by shared meals, local internships, and student-led events, supporting both intellectual and social growth.

The college also maintains several distinctive programs and facilities that are animated and directed by students throughout the year. In addition to classrooms, labs, and library, COA operates The Osprey, a research vessel and floating classroom. The George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History, once the headquarters of the Acadia National Park is now curated by students who design and prepare every exhibit. Beech Hill Farm is a working, sustainable, organic farm, also operated students, faculty, and farm managers. The college also operates the Peggy Rockefeller Farm, more than one hundred acres of pasture on Mount Desert Island. All electricity used on the farm is generated by solar panels, and the entire property is in the Northeast Creek watershed.

Residential Life

Collaborative living is at the heart of the COA residential experience. The residences (NOT dorms) are wonderfully diverse and rich in character. While there are Residential Advisors in each facility, the expectation is that all residents will be mindful of the needs of others. The closest thing to conventional dormitory is Blair/Tyson, essentially a group of connected townhouses with group kitchens and cedar sided ski-lodge exterior. About twenty students live in Seafox, an authentic and authentically quirky New England seaside farmhouse. This is the largest of the residences with a porch that looks out on the sea; Seafox is also designated as a substance-free dorm. Six students live in Cottage, a converted gatehouse, which, in addition to comfy intimacy offers the residence closest to the Bus Stop. The first building constructed as part of the college, Peach House, holds eight students and is also designated as a substance-free residence. Also substance-free is David House, a small carriage house welcoming five students. The newest housing on campus is the Davis “Village”, a complex of biomass pellet heated, solar powered, toilet composting small houses, separate from but adjacent to Seafox and the Deering Commons.

Location and Environment

COA's 38-acre oceanfront campus is located in Bar Harbor, a year-round community of roughly 6,000 on Mount Desert Island, Maine. The campus is situated next to Acadia National Park, offering abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation, ecological research, and experiential learning. The town of Bar Harbor provides many nearby amenities within a mile of campus, including a bookstore, second-hand shop, coffee shops, cinemas, natural foods store, outdoor gear suppliers, and public library.

Read also: About Grossmont Community College

COA's campus features environmentally responsible facilities that support experiential learning and sustainability. Academic buildings, laboratories, greenhouses, and studios incorporate green building practices and renewable energy systems. Two organic farms provide hands-on agricultural learning, while two offshore research islands serve as field stations for marine, ecological, and ornithological studies. Student housing exemplifies eco-conscious design.

Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship

College of the Atlantic has consistently been recognized as a leader in sustainability and environmental stewardship. The Princeton Review has named COA the #1 Green College in the nation for 10 consecutive years. This distinction recognizes COA’s sustained leadership in environmental stewardship, academic integration of sustainability, and deep community commitment to climate justice.

Since becoming carbon-neutral in 2007, COA has consistently pushed further - investing in on-site renewables, increasing energy efficiency, managing waste and composting, embedding sustainability in curriculum and operations, promoting active student engagement, and collaborating with local partners in Bar Harbor and beyond.

Some highlights:

Percent of campus energy from Maine renewables: 100%
Food waste diverted from the landfill: 99%
Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction over past decade: 61% (40 metric tons of CO₂)
Students that engage is sustainability-focused learning outcomes: 100%

COA’s students are not observers but active participants: many take part in on-campus energy audits, renovation projects, local conservation partnerships, sustainable food systems initiatives, and data-driven monitoring of ecosystems.

Admissions and Financial Aid

COA seeks students with curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to take intellectual risks. Applicants submit a standard application (Common App), high school transcripts, two teacher recommendations, and an essay describing their interests and motivations. Standardized test scores are optional; interviews are encouraged but not required. COA practices holistic review, considering academic achievement, creative potential, and alignment with the college's human ecology focus.

It is always the goal to make COA affordable for all students, regardless of income. All applicants are considered for merit scholarships, and more than 80% of our students receive need-based aid. The undergraduate tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year at College of the Atlantic is $48,915, with additional fees of $549, bringing the billed instructional costs to approximately $49,464. Housing costs $6,786 and meal plans $3,930, resulting in a total billed amount of $60,180. More than 80% of students receive financial aid, primarily need-based grants and scholarships supplemented by merit awards and federal work-study opportunities.

Alumni and Career Services

COA has “strong connections to the surrounding community, [which is] extremely beneficial to our student body.” Faculty advisors start helping students shape their curriculum from the start and offer professional advice and connections. Career Services provides further guidance, development activities, labor market information, and access to the alumni mentorship program. The mandatory internship guarantees that students have experience under their belts by graduation (with typical completion during the summer, though opportunities are also available throughout the year), and the senior capstone project is also a nice addition to any portfolio or résumé.

tags: #College #of #the #Atlantic #history #academics