This course represents a capstone requirement and experiential learning opportunity; it offers a unique hands-on experience in field research of ecology and conservation of free-ranging cetaceans. Conducted in a remote field location in central Philippines, with many hours out at sea, this course provides students with a fundamental knowledge, skills, and the appreciation of what it takes to design, implement, and effectively run field studies of highly mobile and wide-ranging animals such as dolphins and whales. During numerous discussions and group debates, we explore the similarities and differences with similar studies of other large marine vertebrates, and studies of other large mammals.