Thirty years ago, the popularity of marine science and oceanography were exemplified by the TV show The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, which featured the explorations and discoveries of the oceanographer.

Though Lee Kump felt inspired by the show and others like Sea Hunt, the geosciences professor and chair of Penn State's Marine Science Minor Committee said the popularity of oceanography and the marine science minor at Penn State has decreased over the years.

"Oceanography isn't in your face the way it used to be," Kump said.

But a new study abroad program gives students the opportunity to complete 15 credits of a minor in marine science in the United Kingdom through Penn State's partnership with the University of Southampton.

The program is a part of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), a collaboration between British and American schools, as well as other European and Asian schools, Kump said.

The University of Southampton decided Penn State undergraduate students were a prime target to recruit for the new program, Kump said.

The university has worked to create a program specifically designed for undergraduates, with the hope of attracting students to the graduate program at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS), Kump said.

Active faculty involvement and active recruitment of Penn State students makes the Southampton program unique, he said.

Elizabeth McMichael (sophomore-meteorology) said she plans to participate in the program and research through scuba diving for a career as an oceanographer.

"It is the best oceanography program in Europe at the most prestigious center," McMichael said. "The program is really nursing back the popularity of oceanography at Penn State."

Mallory Phillipeck, president of the Marine Science Society, said it's a program students should take advantage of.

"It's a great opportunity and if I had known about it my freshman year, I definitely would have done it, since you can complete the minor in one semester," she said.

Although Penn State has several oceanographers on staff, there is no oceanography major. Students are encouraged to major in another science and to pursue oceanography at the graduate level.

However, the marine science minor, which has 15 students, allows students to sample oceanography, Kump added.

A summer program at Wallops Island Marine Science Consortium in Virginia gave students the opportunity to earn six credits toward the minor. The 12-week program, which could accommodate 50 students, had a waiting list of 150 students, but the program was dropped after interest declined, Kump said.

"Any collaboration of research, especially on an international scale, is positive for the university. There is nothing negative about this program," said Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig.

Penn State is a founding member of WUN, which is helping to overcome barriers of international research through programs such as the marine science program, he said.

The NOCS "is a top-notch facility with boats parked right outside and experiments going on inside. It's a great way to try out oceanography," Kump said.

The program is designed to be a spring program because of the specific fieldwork involved. Since time did not permit for advertising for the spring 2006 semester, the program will be offered for the first time in spring 2007, Kump said.

"We are trying to promote and boost student involvement in oceanography," Kump said.