CSU Marine Biology Semester:
Marine Biology Semester
Santa Catalina Island
FALL 2013
26 August 2013 - 10 December 2013
(Thanksgiving Break 28 November- 1st December)
If you are interested in attending the Fall 2013 Catalina Semester,
please fill out the following Application/Interest Form Fall 2013!
Quick Links:
| Overview - Facilities - Costs - Courses - Instructors - Forms - Photos |
Application and additional information can be obtained by contacting:
| Mr. Tom Chavez CSU Marine Biology Semester at Catalina Ocean Studies Institute 820 S. Seaside Ave Terminal Island, CA 90731-7330 310-519-3172 osi.catalina@gmail.com |
Applications will be taken until all open spaces are filled. Qualified students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For Fall 2013, after screening by the OSI faculty, registration will be through through the administrative campus of OSI, California State University Long Beach (CSULB). CSULB students will register directly through that campus. Other CSU students will need to fill out the Intrasystem Visitor Enrollment form, which will enable registration through CSULB. Units may then be transferred to the appropriate campus. Non-CSU students will need to register through CSULB’s Extended Education Program.
- Completed Application Form Fall 2013, available here or by mail
- Official college or university transcripts
- The e-mail address of a faculty member you have asked to provide a letter of recommendation
- $50 application fee payable to USC/SCMI. This fee is non-refundable.
This semester-long program provides an intensive undergraduate exposure to marine biology, and is designed for students with a serious commitment to environmental and marine science. The program is based at the Wrigley Marine Science Center (WMSC), situated on Santa Catalina Island, 26 miles from Los Angeles, CA. This location provides access to beautiful, pristine marine habitats, diverse marine life and breathtaking island views. WMSC is owned and operated by the University of Southern California (USC), and the program is being offered through the California State Universities, affiliated with the Ocean Studies Institute (OSI) and the Southern California Marine Institute (SCMI).
“My time in Catalina was invaluable to my development as a student and as a person. I learned much more than information from a book, I learned how to think for myself and solve problems. The Catalina semester played a crucial role in my decision to attend graduate school, something that I’d never thought I could do. The memories and friendships I’ve made will always hold a special place in my heart. I recommend this trip to anyone looking for an amazing educational experience that will shape the outcome of your future.”
Mari Rosales 2003
Students will spend 15 weeks on Santa Catalina Island and will be based in the newly-renovated dormitory and laboratory facilities. Residency at this marine laboratory provides ready access to an invigorating educational environment that provides both state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and ready access to a diversity of marine habitats. Throughout the semester, students are introduced to a sequence of courses (Fall 2013: Marine Ichthyology, Marine Phycology, and Ecology of Marine Communities ) that prepare them to complete a directed research study in a topic of their choice. All courses provide a strong element of hands-on field experience, which provides the comprehensive training that can help in career choices and graduate decisions. A research diving certification course is planned for a two-week period before the semester begins from July to August, at an additional cost for qualified students who wish to dive on SCUBA during the semester. However, only snorkeling skills are required for class participation. Please note: these courses will occupy daytime and in many cases, evening hours, including some weekends.
“Deciding to do the Catalina Semester was the best decision of my college career! It immerses you into the marine biology world - and it gave me research and field experience that helped me both get and do my job. It was an all-around amazing experience!”
Allysa Floyd 2005
Facilities
at the Wrigley Marine Science Center
Students live on a private and undeveloped portion of Santa Catalina Island, approximately 40-50 minutes’ walk from the Two Harbors settlement which provides access to the commercial ferry to Los Angeles. On-site accommodations are residential dormitory-style, and students receive three meals a day. The laboratory is a short walk from the dorms and includes teaching labs and a well-equipped lecture auditorium. Daily instruction consists of lectures, lab work, and field work in nearby marine habitats. SCUBA diving can be accommodated through the OSI Scientific Diving Program which operates within the framework of the AAUS diving program.
“I have never had a more challenging or rewarding experience. I really got a jump start on the knowledge I will need for my future career goals. The professors, classes, and facilities are all amazing and make learning all the difficult material much easier and more satisfying. Meeting people with similar passions and interests as yourself really starts a spark down deep inside of you to work harder for what you want to get out of this world.”
Dani Estes 2012
| A. Tuition (15 semester units)* | ||
| CSU Undergraduate student | $ | 3,120 |
| CSU Graduate Student | $ | 3,753 |
| Non-CSU Student | $ | 8,700 |
| B. Board and Lodging | ||
| (Same for all students) | $ | 4,597 |
| C. Lab and Facility Fees | ||
| CSU and students from other CA universities | $ | 946 |
| Students from out-of-state universities | $ | 5,129 |
*Notes:
- All Costs for Fall 13′ are subject to change.
- Two round-trip passages to the island are included (at the start and end of the semester, and over Thanksgiving).
- There will be additional costs for books, dissecting equipment, library privileges and personal field equipment.
OSI Courses - Fall 2013
(upper division)
Marine Phycology
(OSI 425/525, 4 units)
August 26th - September 20th
This course covers the taxonomy, morphology, physiology, and ecology of the major algal groups.
Instructors: Dr. Jayson Smith & Dr. Janet Kubler
Marine Ichthyology
(OSI 419/519, 4 units)
September 23rd - October 18th
This course provides a classical overview of marine fishes. Emphasis on ecological concepts and the use of field and laboratory techniques to assess the behavior, ecology, and population dynamics of marine fishes.
Instructor: Dr. Christopher Lowe
Ecology of Marine Communities
(OSI 455/555, 4 units)
October 21st - November 15th
Ecological emphasis on understanding the origin, maintenance, and consequences of variation in marine biological diversity. Collection, analysis, and interpretation of data using modern approaches and critical evaluation of published research papers. Extensive investigative field and lab work will take place in marine habitats at Santa Catalina Island.
Instructor: Dr. Bengt Allen
Directed Research
(OSI 496/OSI 697, 3 units)
November 18th - December 10th
Students develop their ideas during the first 12 weeks of the semester, prepare a research proposal, complete their studies, and present their findings in a mini-symposium and a report.
Directed Undergraduate Research
A student may request to take 4 units as a combination of 490 or 495, with the consent of the instructors, to replace one of the three 4-unit classes if the student has already taken that class.
Dr. Janet Kübler (Phycology) received her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Maine in 1992. She has researched the physiological ecology of seaweeds on both coasts of North America and in Western Europe, since 1984. She is currently investigating population biology of the dominant red algal genus on California shores and implications of climate change for seaweed populations. Dr. Kübler has been teaching at CSUN since 2000.
Dr. Jayson Smith (Phycology) received his PhD. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2005 and joined the Biological Sciences department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 2011. He is a marine conservation ecologist with particular interest in anthropogenic disturbances and their impacts on ecosystem functioning and community structure in coastal habitats.
Dr. Larry G. Allen received his Ph.D. in 1980 from the University of Southern California and has been on the faculty at CSUN since 1982. His research has focused on the biogeography and ecology of California coastal marine fishes.
Dr. Christopher Lowe received his Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Hawaii in 1998, and has been on the faculty at CSU Long Beach since 1998. His research focuses on the physiological and behavioral ecology of fishes, using acoustic telemetry to quantify the movement patterns of elasmobranchs and nearshore game fishes, particularly within marine reserves.
Dr. Bengt Allen received his Ph.D. in 2007 from Stony Brook University and started at CSULB that year. He studies the effects of climate change on the marine communities including rocky shores, salt marshes and seagrass beds.
CSU Marine Biology Semester Forms
