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"Seas and ocean" Certification

Sciences Po Undergraduate College, in association with the Institute for environmental transformations, proposes a “Seas and ocean” Certification on the campuses of Le Havre, Poitiers and Menton.

Study objects and objectives of the Certification

The “Seas and Ocean” Certification gives students a multidisciplinary introduction to marine and coastal issues, with a particular focus on environmental and geostrategic concerns, and the governance of social-ecological systems. Delivered at the end of their bachelor’s degree at the Undergraduate College, the “Seas and ocean” Certification allows students to showcase their skills and expertise in these areas.

Thanks to partnerships established between the campuses and various local organisations, students applying to the Certification can complete their Civic Learning Experience fieldwork in organisations and associations working in areas relating to the management, administration and conservation of seas and coastlines. The “Seas and ocean” Certification is open to all students (regardless of regional specialisation, major and minor) on the Le Havre, Poitiers and Menton Campuses. This Certification is conceived as an addition to the bachelor’s degree. It is an asset to help students choose their master’s degree and plan their professional project.

Certification process

To be eligible to the Certification, students must:

Validate a labelled theoretical seminar course relating to the theme of seas and the ocean in year one of the undergraduate programme (second semester);
Validate two seminar courses relating to the theme of seas and the ocean in year two (third and/or fourth semester);
Validate a fieldwork placement in an area related to marine issues as part of the Civic Learning Programme (Civic Internship in year one or Civic engagement Project in year two from 2024-2025/ Civic Internship in year one or Independent Project in year two for previous cohorts) in organisations and associations working on the management, the administration or the conservation of seas and coastal areas;
Submit their Capstone Project on the Certification theme.

All courses eligible for inclusion in the Certification are listed in the course catalogue for the “Seas and Ocean” Certification.

The seminar courses and Civic Learning Programme specialism are not additional academic requirements. Students applying to the “Seas and Ocean” Certification choose to devote some of their elective course options and part of their Civic Learning Programme to the Certification theme.

Applications for the Certification are submitted at the beginning of the third year and subject to a qualitative assessment by an academic committee.

Frequently asked questions

There is no need to register for the “Seas and Ocean” Certification in your first year at the Undergraduate College, although you may wish to inform your academic advisor of your intention to do so. After validating your chosen courses and fieldwork placements during your first and second year of the undergraduate programme, you apply for the certification at the beginning of the third year. You will receive an email to inform you when applications are open.

Applications for the Certification will be subjected to a qualitative assessment by the scientific Council and by theacademic Committee. Particular attention will be paid to the grades students obtain in the specific Certification courses, as well as to their progress and development over the course of their undergraduate studies.

The application, in French or in English, includes the following documents:

The list of the labelled courses followed during the first two years of the Undergraduate College (title and grade).
The Capstone Project written in the framework of the Civic Learning Programme, following the usual writing instructions. The writings will be submitted to a referent for validation of the “Seas and ocean” orientation and the excellency of the work.
A two-page cover letter indicating:
- The role of the Certification in the realization of the student’s future projects (studies or professional)
- The specific theme of interest linked to the Certification on which the candidate would like to work and/or get involved in the future.
Any other element of the student’s curriculum or proof of involvement in a project linked to the topic of seas and the ocean, that the student wishes to bring to the attention of the academic committee (other courses followed, associative experiences, etc.)

The application form is to be transmitted, through a Google Form, at the beginning of November (a month after the opening of applications in October) to your academic advisor. Details will be communicated by your academic advisor.

If the application is validated, the Certification is delivered by the academic Committee following the opinion of the scientific Council, in September of the year following the obtention of the Bachelor’s.

The scientific Council, hosted by the Institute for environmental transformations, meets twice a year. The members of the scientific Council are Dr. Charlotte Halpern (FNSP senior researcher with tenure at Sciences Po Centre for European studies and comparative politics and Director of the Institute for environmental transformations), Dr. Frédéric Ramel (University professor of political science, researcher at Sciences Po Center for International Studies and in charge of coordinating the GRAM-CNRS (Groupe de recherche sur l'action multilatérale), Dr. Camille Mazé-Lambrechts (Research director HDR at Sciences Po Center for political research and IRN APOLIMER) and Dr. Julien Rochette (Director of the Ocean Programme at IDDRI). This Council is responsible for the labelling of courses and validating the students’ curriculum, as well as for suggesting evolutions for the scientific objectives of the Certification.

The academic Committee of the Certification is composed of the Dean of the Undergraduate College, or a person representing them, a representative of the scientific council, a representative of each involved campus and the TIERED representative at the Undergraduate College. It meets twice a year in the form of a jury presided by the Dean of the Undergraduate College, in charge of the validation or not of the Certification.

All courses eligible for inclusion in the Certification are listed in the Seas and Ocean course catalogue (to be updated soon), which is updated prior to every course registration period. To find out which options you can take, you just need to check the courses offered on your campus. If in doubt, contact your academic advisor.

Yes, if you meet all the eligibility criteria listed above, you can apply for the Seas and Ocean Certification, in the last year of your bachelor’s studies (year 4)For more information, contact your academic advisor at Sciences Po.

No. The “Seas and Ocean” Certification at the Undergraduate College is an entirely optional programme, with no compulsory element. It allows students hoping to go on to further study or a career in a field relating to marine and coastal issues to showcase their specific skills and expertise in this area.