ucsd phd marine biology

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Current Programs

Application for Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 available now!

A limited number of spots are available in each course in order to maintain a low student-instructor ratio. Please apply as soon as possible to receive consideration for a spot in your desired program(s). For inquiries, please email UCSD Pre-College Programs ( [email protected] ) and [email protected] .

The following programs are designed to empower high school students to share learning, network with peers, and become environmental advocates. The goal of this program is to develop problem solving, organization, creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and leadership skills that will support future career goals and aspirations.

Tier 1 courses offer students a foundation in ocean sciences, specifically marine biology and related disciplines. Students will explore the diversity of life and how biological, chemical and physical processes drive ecosystem dynamics in a marine environment. Each course is designed to target relevant, contemporary environmental issues while providing a pathway for students to participate in our Tier 2 , research workshops. Tier 1 courses are also designed for students who are simply interested in learning more about the marine environment and associated marine science career pathways.

Tier 1 Courses are currently offered online and in-person . These 4 or 8 week courses are designed to acclimate students to a university summer and quarter systems, respectively. Each week, students will have 2 asynchronous, interactive and gamified lessons. Synchronous sessions are designed for student collaboration and discussion, guest speaker interactions, and guided virtual lab experiences. These courses are aimed to foster next generation critical thinkers, communicators, creators and stewards of the ocean environment.

Tier 2 courses offer students a multidisciplinary practical research experience in collaboration with Scripps Institution of Oceanography graduate students and other active marine science researchers in various industries. Students will partner with researchers and can participate in, design and run their own projects on California Coastal Ecology, Coral Reef Ecology and Restoration, Animal Physiology, Thermodynamics, Metabolics, and Fisheries Science to name a few. Field-based excursions to intertidal zones, salt marshes, and other marine ecosystems in San Diego are an integral part of this program; however, some projects are also adapted with an at-home lab component for non-local students.

Tier 3 courses offer students that have participated in one or more Tier 2 courses the opportunity to practice critical literacy skills specifically needed in scientific writing  and publish studies in our Marine Science Research Scholars Journal . The purpose of Tier 2 and 3 workshops is to participate in scientific studies that generate data needed to advocate for the environment and the communities that rely on a healthy system.

Tier 1 Courses

Introduction to marine science (fall 2024 - online).

Introduction to Marine Science - Apply for course here (opens new page)

Dates:  September 24, 2024 - November 14, 2024 (8 weeks)  

Tuition: $2000  

Grade Level: 9-12th grade  

Instructor : Nicole Yen  

Schedule:   

• Synchronous – Tuesday, Thursday (4-5:20 PM PST)  
• Asynchronous - 2 lessons / week (2-3 hours/week of additional work)    

The Introduction to Marine Science course offers a deep dive into the vast and complex world of our oceans. It provides students with an immersive experience into the dynamic processes that govern the marine environment, from the microscopic plankton that form the base of the food web to the majestic blue whales that traverse the ocean basins. Students will explore the intricate chemical cycles that sustain life in the oceans, the physical forces that shape marine habitats, and the diverse biological communities that inhabit them.   

The course covers a wide range of topics, including:   

Students will also have opportunities to engage with current research and learn about the latest technological advancements in marine science. It prepares students for diverse careers in marine research, policy development, environmental stewardship, and other related fields. By exploring the intricate web of life and the physical dynamics that shape the marine environment, students will learn to appreciate the ocean’s significance to global ecosystems and humanity’s role in safeguarding its future. This course is designed to inspire a new generation of marine scientists, equipped with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the understanding and preservation of our oceanic world.  

This course is available for 4 pre-college units and can act as a prerequisite for any Tier 2 courses offered.   

Topics Include  

• Fundamentals of Oceanography  
• Introduction to Organismal Biology  
• Marine Ecosystem Diversity and Services  
• Marine Conservation and Marine Science Careers   

Seafood Sustainability: Practices and Perspectives (Fall 2024 - Online)

Seafood Sustainability: Practices and Perspectives *Formally Seafood Fraud Detectives - Apply for course here (opens new page)

Dates: (4 weeks) September 24, 2024 – October 17, 2024  

Tuition: $1500  

Advisors: Sarah Mesnick, Mar Mancha-Cisneros  

• Synchronous  
• Session: Tuesday and Thursdays (5:30-6:30 PM PST)  
• Asynchronous – 1-2 hours of additional work/ week  

This course offers a comprehensive exploration of sustainable practices in the seafood industry. Students will delve into the environmental and socio-economic impacts of seafood production and consumption, learning about the challenges and opportunities in aquaculture management and wild fisheries, which are crucial sources of food and livelihood for many communities. The curriculum covers:   

This course is for individuals aiming to become informed consumers, aspiring marine biology students, and students seeking expertise in environmental and fishing policy. This course will also feature guest lectures from esteemed experts, including professionals from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and leading figures in seafood sustainability and management. This course is available for 2 pre-college units.  

  Topics Include  

• Marine Fish Systematics & Ecology  
• Fisheries and Management  
• Seafood Traceability  
• Sustainable seafood practices and consumer choices   

After this course it is highly recommended to participate in: 

• Tier 2, Advanced Seafood Fraud Detectives (Hybrid) where students will examine seafood mislabeling and traceability in San Diego using molecular tools (Offered WINTER 2025)  
• Tier 2, Advanced Sustainable Seafood Science (Online) where students will explore seafood sustainability and traceability in their own communities (Offered WINTER 2025)  

Tier 2 Courses

Advanced marine biodiversity: life on the edge (summer 2024 - residential).

Advanced Marine Biodiversity: Life on the Edge (Course is full, application available for waitlist only.)

Course Dates: July 8 - July 26, 2024 Check-In Date: July 7, 2024 - Students must check-in on July 7th. Check-Out Date:  July 27, 2024 - Students must check-out by 2pm.  Course Delivery: Residential Course Tuition: $4,100 Residential Fee:  $1,850 Grade Level: 9th - 12th grade  Schedule: 

Monday - Friday 9:00am - 11:30am (Class/Lecture/Lab) 11:30am - 1:30pm Lunch 1:30pm - 4:00pm (Class/Lecture/Lab)

The rocky intertidal is one of the most accessible marine coastal environments teeming with an incredibly diverse living community. Because of this unique quality it has immense commercial, recreational, and educational value to communities worldwide. However, this quality also makes these habitats highly susceptible to changing ocean conditions such as sea-level rise, invasive species, and pollution.

Thermal imaging cameras record infrared radiation (IR) and convert it to a visible image. The primary source of IR is heat or thermal radiation - the warmer something is, the more infrared radiation it emits. Infrared thermography (IRT) is being increasingly utilized by ecologists and physiologists to observe and investigate small-scale thermal variability and thermal stress on the distribution and abundance of marine species.

Monitoring intertidal ecosystems becomes increasingly important as we continue to see global climate changes. In this Tier 2 course, students will be part of ongoing research in partnership with the National Park Service at Cabrillo National Monument. Students will explore how heat transfers between organisms and their environment using a FLIR thermal camera. We will relate our data to organismal anatomy, physiology, thermoregulation, species adaptability, ecology, and/or climate change.

Archived project SU23:  https://researchscholars.ucsd.edu/project-archives/index.html#2023-Summer-Session  

Archived project SU22:  https://www.researchscholarsmarinescience.com/pre-college

Prerequisites

Option 1: Take our Tier 1 Heat Spies: Using Infrared Cameras in Marine Ecology 

Option 2: Have taken an advanced biology, environmental science, or marine science course prior to the start of our program.

*This course is strictly a residential program and is open to both domestic and international students. Students will not be able to check-in and out during the duration of the program. Students will be housed with Academic Connections students. More information will be available once we get closer to the program dates. 

The Molecular Basis for Bioluminescence and the Environment (Summer 2024 - Residential)

The Molecular Basis for Bioluminescence and the Environment (Course is full, application available for waitlist only.)

As climate change and pollution drive changes to the chemical properties of the ocean, the activity of enzymes responsible for the functioning of countless cellular processes are being affected. In this brand new research experience, students will generate their own research question to investigate the impact of environmental changes on bioluminescence. To accomplish this we will focus specifically on the chemical and molecular mechanisms that govern bioluminescence. We will be isolating the genes associated with bioluminescence from  Aliivibrio fischeri  and transforming them into a model organism, Escherichia coli , to specifically study the enzyme luciferase and the supporting genes needed to express a functional enzyme.  Students will then generate their own hypothesis on how changes to the environments where host organisms of A. fischeri live could change the catalytic ability of luciferin. Some host organisms that students can explore include the Hawaiian bobtail squid, pinecone fish, and opossum shrimp that all have light organs that are colonized by A. fischeri .

Prerequisites  

Option 1: Take our Tier 1 Molecular Biology of Marine Life

Advanced Seafood Fraud Detectives (Winter 2025 - Hybrid)

Advanced Seafood Fraud Detectives - Apply for course here (opens new page)

Dates: February 4 – March 29, 2025

Tuition: $3000

Instructors : Nicole Yen  

Advisors : Hayley Nuetzel, Zack Gold, Sarah Mesnick, Mar Mancha-Cisneros  

Synchronous Schedule: 8 weeks  

• Virtual Meetings (2 weeks)   
• Session: Tuesdays; Thursdays (4:00-5:00 PM PST)  
• Hybrid Meetings (6 weeks)   
• In Person Sessions: Saturdays (9AM-12PM PST)  

Asynchronous Schedule: 2-3 hours/week of additional work  

From lobster rolls and New England clam chowder to beer-battered fish tacos, seafood dishes are beloved worldwide. Yet, the seafood industry faces challenges with fraudulent practices, including widespread mislabeling. This issue persists across both domestic and international markets, proving to be a complex problem to address. In Southern California, DNA barcoding studies have uncovered high mislabeling rates in species like halibut, red snapper, yellowfin tuna, and yellowtail. Mislabeling may partly stem from the vast amounts of seafood imported into the U.S., prompting the FDA to continuously update industry guidelines. This course involves students in an ongoing effort to monitor seafood fraud in San Diego, imparting essential skills in molecular biology. By the end of the course, students will create a research poster that will be shared on Research Scholars, Marine Science Website and potentially at Birch Aquarium during an informal poster session. Moreover, the course will offer unique opportunities to engage with local culinary experts who will share their cooking wisdom, as well as interactions with local fishermen and connections with NOAA scientists, enriching the learning experience with practical insights and real-world applications. This course is available for 4 pre-college units.   

Students that have participated in this course can also apply to be a Sustainable Seafood Intern with Research Scholars, Marine Science that begin at the start of every quarter.  

• Scientific Method  
• DNA Extraction, PCR and gel electrophoresis   
• Phylogenetic Analyses Tools and Interpretation  
• Poster Presentation Pedagogy  
• Culinary Conservation  

Course Requirements:  

• Able to attend in-person meetings at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
• Take a Tier 1 course, Seafood Sustainability: Practices and Perspectives (Recommended)  
• Taken an advanced marine science, environmental science, or AP biology course.

Advanced Sustainable Seafood Science (Winter 2025 - Online)

Advanced Sustainable Seafood Science - Apply for course here (opens new page)

Dates: February 3 – March 26, 2023  

Tuition: $2000

Advisors : Sarah Mesnick, Mar Mancha-Cisneros  

• Virtual Meetings (8 weeks)   
• Session: Tuesday; Thursday (5:00-6:20 PM PST)  

From lobster rolls and New England clam chowder to beer-battered fish tacos, seafood dishes are beloved worldwide. This online course invites students to explore the global appreciation for seafood while addressing the critical issue of mislabeling and fraud in the industry. Participants will engage in independent research projects tailored to their local community, focusing on either molecular testing of seafood samples or investigating the social dimensions of seafood traceability.  

Example projects can include:   

Students will develop skills in marine science and social research, contributing to the integrity of the seafood industry and consumer awareness. By the end of the course, students will create a research poster that will be shared on Research Scholars, Marine Science Website. The course is designed to empower students to become active participants in combating seafood mislabeling and promoting sustainability within their communities. This course is available for 4 pre-college units.  

• Seafood Sustainability  
• Social Research vs. Research in Natural Sciences  
• Poster Presentation Pedagogy   
• A Tier 1 course, Seafood Sustainability: Practices and Perspectives (Recommended)
• Taken an advanced marine science, environmental science, or AP biology course

Tier 3 Courses

Introduction to scientific writing (fall 2024 - online).

Introduction to Scientific Writing - Apply for course here (opens new page)

Dates: September 23, 2024 - November 13, 2024

Instructor : Nicole Yen and Sonya Timko  

Schedule:  

• Synchronous – Monday, Wednesday (4:30-5:50 PM PST)
• Asynchronous – 3-5 hours of additional work/ week  

Introduction to Scientific Writing is a course tailored to students who have completed a Tier 2 course and are ready to transform their research into a manuscript. This course guides students through the process of writing and publishing their work, either as a preprint or as a manuscript, in esteemed Marine Science journals. It focuses on honing the students’ abilities to write with precision and clarity, making them adept technical writers and communicators. The curriculum includes practice in graduate-level science communication, particularly mastering the art of the 3-minute flash talk. This technique equips students to effectively distill and present their research findings to a broad audience, ensuring they can engage listeners from various backgrounds. This course will be available for 4 pre-college units.   

Any prior Tier 2 students are welcome to apply.   

• Principles of Effective Writing and Reading in Science  
• Organization and Formatting Manuscripts  
• Preparation of Figures and Citation Style  
• Communicating Science to a Diverse Audience   

Other Program Information

Marine science application, marine science acceptance, marine science cancellation/refund policies.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellation or withdrawal for any reason 2 weeks prior to the course start date .

Refunds for cancellation or withdrawal after the 2 weeks deadline  be issued for serious illness (doctor's certificate is required) or extenuating circumstances only. Tuition is not refunded for students who are dismissed from the program.

HOW TO REQUEST A REFUND

All refund requests must be made in writing to Maysoon Dong, Associate Director for the Education & Community Outreach Department  at: [email protected] . You will receive a confirmation of your request. Refunds will take approximately 4-6 weeks to process. Refunds are issued in the same method of payment (check or charge) of payment to UC San Diego Academic Connections.

COVID Policies - Hybrid Courses

• Masking on campus is optional. For latest updates on our policies, please follow this link to COVID policy page.
• If you are experiencing or have had COVID-19 symptoms within the past 14 days, please stay at home.
• If you believe that you have been in recent contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, please stay at home. 

COVID-19 Policies - Residential Programs

Updated COVID-19 Guidelines for Academic Connections  

The following replaces pp.11-12 of the Academic Connections Handbook  

• COVID-19 vaccination  
• Masking, UNLESS symptomatic OR a close contact  
• Pre-arrival or upon-arrival COVID-19 testing  

What is required :  

Weekly Testing  

Provider-observed weekly COVID-19 testing will be required for each attendee.    

The provider-observed verification form that is emailed to the student after a test is observed must be submitted by the student to the Academic Connections office via a secure, HIPAA-compliant form between 9A Monday and 9A Tuesday of each week.  A secure, HIPAA-compliant form will be e-mailed to the student each Sunday night from the Director of Residence Life and must be returned with the provider-observed verification form attached by 9A Tuesday of each week of the program.  

Failure to submit the weekly provider-observed verification form will result in parental notification and may result in expulsion from the program with no opportunity for refund.  

Symptomatic Testing  

Each student must independently monitor for COVID-19 symptoms throughout the program.  Symptoms include any of the following:  cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigued muscles or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea.  If any of these symptoms occur, the student must immediately test with a provider-observed COVID-19 testing kit.  The provider-observed verification form that is emailed to the student after a test is observed will need to be submitted by the student to the Academic Connections office via a secure, HIPAA-compliant form right away.  Failure to submit the  provider-observed verification form will result in parental notification and may result in expulsion from the program with no opportunity for refund.  

Exposure to COVID-19  

If a student becomes exposed to a close-contact who has tested positive for COVID-19, they must take the following steps: Close contact is defined as sharing the same airspace with an infected person for more than 15 minutes in a 24-hour period.   

  Test immediately, and again 3-5 days post-exposure via a provider-observed COVID-19 test kit.  The provider-observed verification form that is emailed to the student after a test is observed will need to be submitted by the student to the Academic Connections office via a secure, HIPAA-compliant form right away.  Failure to submit the provider-observed verification form will result in parental notification and may result in expulsion from the program with no opportunity for refund.  

Additionally, those exposed to a close-contact must:  

Mask when around others for the next 10 days.  

Self-monitor daily for symptoms for the next 10 days.  

If symptoms develop, test at that time via the provider-observed testing kit and submit results using the secure, HIPAA-compliant form right away.  Failure to submit the provider-observed verification form will result in parental notification and may result in expulsion from the program with no opportunity for refund.  

Supplies  

We recommend https://shop.emed.com/collections/all and the eMed Flu+Covid Telehealth Kit 6-pack that is $150 for the provider-observed test.  It is HSA/FSA approved and is the most affordable option that we have found.  

Parents or guardians must purchase or acquire at least 20 individually packaged KN95 or 10 N95 masks to send with their students to the program in case they become symptomatic during the program or if they come in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.  

Parents or guardians will be notified by Academic Connections staff as soon as we know that a student tests positive for COVID-19 or influenza.  Since there may be a gap in between your student’s test and submitting the results of that test to the Academic Connections staff, we strongly encourage parents/guardians to inquire frequently with their students about the results of any provider-observed test that they take, whether weekly, on a symptomatic basis, or as result of a close contact.    

Students who test positive for COVID-19 or influenza must immediately mask and will be isolated until their guardians arrive to pick them up from the program, preferably within 8 hours of a positive test.  However, a student must depart from the program with their guardian no more than 24 hours after testing positive for COVID-19 or influenza.  During isolation, meals will be provided to students by program staff and they will be monitored.  Should symptoms worsen before being picked up, students will be transported to UC San Diego Health for assessment and treatment.  

You can also learn more about the program by visiting our Research Scholars Marine Science website:

Research Scholars Community Website (opens new page)

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Doctoral Studies

The School of Biological Sciences offers 2 distinct graduate programs:

• Ph.D. program with the Salk Institute
• Joint Doctoral Program with SDSU

The UC San Diego Biological Sciences program is a partnership between the School of Biological Sciences and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies . This creates a powerful and closely linked intellectual community, unified by the broad discipline of biological sciences.

Our programs boast over 100 faculty who provide a supportive and stimulating environment to enable highly talented individuals to develop the skills and experience necessary to become world-class scientists.

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Five graduate students were recently inducted into the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society.

Five UC San Diego graduate students, including BioSci's Ugbad Farah, recently joined the ranks of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, a prestigious national organization committed to social justice, diversity, leadership and academic excellence.

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Marine Biodiversity and Conservation

[ courses | faculty ]

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Program Coordinator (858) 822-2886 Email: [email protected] https://mbc.ucsd.edu

All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice.

The master of advanced studies in marine biodiversity and conservation (MAS MBC) program trains the trailblazers of tomorrow to address the world’s most pressing ocean and coastal challenges. Students learn about marine ecosystems and conservation through an interdisciplinary, hands-on curriculum in marine biology, ecology, oceanography, social justice, communication, economics, law, and policy.

MAS MBC students enjoy access to world-class researchers, NOAA Fisheries scientists, and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. The program is also connected to valuable non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community partners who are at the forefront of marine conservation issues in California, the U.S., and globally.

Alumni spearhead research, lead agencies, work with tribes, create policy, craft effective communication strategies, direct NGOs, produce films, and impact marine conservation in meaningful ways. With demonstrated success, our alumni change the way the world understands and manages its ocean resources.

New students apply each fall and are admitted in early spring (February-March) each academic year. Prospective candidates should submit and complete the official UC San Diego online graduate application for admission, one set of unofficial transcripts from each institution attended after high school, three letters of recommendation, a current résumé or curriculum vitae, and the application fee. The GRE/GMAT is not required. The program is most appropriate for applicants with at least three years of experience in resource management, education, outreach, science, advocacy, journalism, law, or communications. International applicants must submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Program of Study

The full-time degree program is designed to be completed in one year. In the summer session, classes are scheduled five days a week, eight hours a day. In the fall, winter, and spring, students take courses that are held during regularly scheduled university class hours. Students are required to complete fifty units of courses, comprising thirty-four core units, including a six-unit capstone project, and sixteen elective units.

Core Courses (thirty-four units)

• SIO 295S. Introduction to Marine Biodiversity and Conservation—Seminar (eight units)
• SIO 295LS. Introduction to Marine Biodiversity and Conservation—Lab (eight units)
• MBC 258. Marine Conservation and Communication Practicum 1  (two units)
• MBC 259. Marine Conservation and Communication Practicum 2  (two units)
• SIO 218. Ocean and Coastal Law and Policy  (four units)
• Student may either take Econ 281, Special Topics in Economics, or another course approved by the MAS MBC leadership team. Please contact the program for a list of approved courses.
• MBC 296. Capstone Independent Study Projec t (six units)

Elective Course Requirements and Research Requirements (sixteen units)

Students enroll in sixteen elective units of course work related to marine biodiversity and conservation issues. Please contact the program for a list of approved elective courses.

Capstone, Thesis, and/or Comprehensive Examination Requirement (six units)

All students must complete an interdisciplinary capstone project and present at the annual MAS MBC Capstone Symposium in June. The MAS MBC capstone project allows students to design and structure an interdisciplinary, collaborative project that: applies the knowledge gained in the program; enhances student understanding of a marine or coastal issue; builds marketable skills; and has a theoretical grounding and real-world application. Students partner with university faculty and external organizations and agencies to execute projects that culminate in a written paper, film, educational curriculum, business plan, economic analysis, management plan, or anything substantial that will prepare students for future employment.

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About This Guide

This guide is designed to help you start your research in marine biology and related marine sciences.  Please use the tabs in this guide to discover and link to great resources that the UC San Diego Library is providing for your research.

You may want to start by looking at the basic information found under Encyclopedias & Handbooks tab.  Use the Books & E-Books tab for access to online catalogs and resources for finding books on your topics , then use the Journal Article Databases tab to find articles on your topics, and last, but not least, use the EndNote tab to help organize your references.

Accessing Electronic Resources?

If you are located on-campus, make sure that you are connected to the UCSD-Protected wifi.

If you are located off-campus, start by setting up VPN AnyConnect on your device.

The UC San Diego Health and Health Science VPN also provides off campus access to resources the Library provides. Instructions and assistance for UC San Diego Health and Health Science VPN users can be found in the Pulse intranet .

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• Last Updated: Jun 28, 2024 10:34 AM
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Apply now while space lasts! Check our Availability Page for open courses!

Marine Biology at UCSD

Dive deep into the content of this course in one of the most fitting physical environments - on the campus of ucsd, program highlights.

Residential Tuition: $5,498

Commuter Tuition: $3,198

+$250 Tuition Supplement

Session 1: June 30, 2024 July 12, 2024

Session 2: July 14, 2024 July 26, 2024

Session 3: July 28, 2024 August 9, 2024 Session Full - Waitlist only

UC San Diego San Diego, CA

Course Overview

There’s no better place to study Marine Biology this summer than with Summer Springboard on the campus of UC San Diego. All within minutes of campus, The Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Birch Aquarium, La Jolla Tide Pools and Underwater Park, San Diego-Scripps Coastal State Marine Conservation Area, and Scripps Coastal Reserve – to name just a few – make this the ideal location for practical exposure and hands-on learning possibilities for our students. Summer Springboard students will be able to dive deep into the content of this course in one of the most fitting physical environments – on the campus of UCSD, a university known for its ocean and earth science research and education.

Meet your instructor

Fernanda Urrutia

Marine Biology UC San Diego

Fernanda Urrutia is a highly motivated marine ecologist and environmentalist with a strong interest in marine mammal conservation issues. Currently, Fernanda is a Marine Biology PhD candidate at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, where she focuses her research on the molecular ecology of fin whales in the North Pacific.

Topics you'll explore

Hands-on learning.

At our UCSD campus, possible course excursions include whale watching, the Scripps Institute of Oceanography Birch Aquarium and tidepooling, Scripps Experimental Aquarium, Scripps Marine Biodiversity Center, SDSU's Coastal and Marine Institute, tidepooling along the La Jolla Shores, and more.

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Harness Novel and Diverse Marine Biological Resources for Innovation

UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography (Scripps) is one of the oldest, largest, and most important centers for global ocean and earth science research and education in the world. The scope of the institution has grown in recent years to include biological, physical, chemical, geological, geophysical, and atmospheric studies of the earth as a system. Scripps is a community of over 2,200 students, scientists, staff, and volunteers, conducting research in every ocean and continent, and an active research program generating over 700 publications and over $148 Million US in sponsored research each year.

As a relatively unexplored habitat teeming with life the oceans provide boundless opportunities to search for industry-relevant innovation. Scientists at Scripps have been exploring the oceans for over 100 years and are uniquely poised to access immense genetic diversity and biological inspiration from unexplored areas of the seas.

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Corporate members received facilitated access to student and postdoctoral fellows for talent recruitment needs, including access to the Scripps Talent Recruitment Portal to view these candidates professional information and opportunities to sponsor student capstone projects.

Marine Biology Education

• BS, MS and PhD in Marine Biology
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• MAS in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation

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Why work with Scripps?

• Access leading applied marine biology, biomedicine, and biotechnology experts
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Join Scripps Corporate Alliance to access these and other benefits

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Scripps Institution of Oceanography Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

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Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Nanoengineering, & Dept of Chemistry & Biochemistry Distinguished Chair of Physical Chemistry

Amro Hamdoun, Associate Professor

Dr. Chambers Hughes, Assistant Professor

Dr. Paul Jensen, Professor

Dr. Bradley Moore, Professor

Dr. B. Greg Mitchell, Research Biologist

Dr. Kimberly Prather, Professor

Scripps Institution of Oceanography Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry Distinguished Chair of Atmospheric Chemistry

Marine Biodiversity and Conservation

[ program | courses ]

All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice.

Program Directors

Samantha Murray, JD, Lecturer, SIO

Richard Norris, PhD, Professor, SIO

Jennifer Smith, PhD, Associate Professor, SIO

Associate Directors

Mark Jacobsen, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Economics

Octavio Aburto Oropeza, PhD, Assistant Professor, Marine Biology Research Division, SIO

Greg Rouse, PhD, Professor, Marine Biology, Marine Biology Research Division, SIO

Stuart Sandin, PhD, Associate Professor, Marine Ecology, Marine Biology Research Division, SIO

Dale Squires, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Department of Economics, Senior Scientist, NOAA SWFSC

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Marine Biology (bs) in University of California San Diego

• Duration : 4 Years
• Intake : September
• Level : Undergraduate
• Tuition & fees : $ 29,754 Per Year
• IELTS : 7.0
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About Marine Biology (bs) in University of California San Diego

Undergraduates in marine biology will develop an understanding of the biology of marine organisms and the biological and physical processes that affect these organisms, their populations, and their coastal and oceanic ecosystems. The major requires a foundation in the natural sciences, a rigorous core of marine biology courses, and a unifying laboratory/field course that engages students more directly in the discovery process and in analyzing and interpreting data.

Majors select electives from a growing set of upper division Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) courses in marine biology and related disciplines. The marine biology curriculum takes advantage of the UC San Diego's unique physical location along the Pacific Ocean. Laboratory work and field trips to intertidal zones, salt marshes, and other marine ecosystems are important components of the instructional program.

Ocean sciences are relevant to many contemporary environmental issues and problems and central to understanding earth-system evolution, dynamics, climate and sustainability. A major in marine biology is an appropriate start for students who are seeking a career or graduate studies in marine biology and related biological disciplines, a career in fields such as marine conservation, or simply interested in the major to broaden their base of knowledge and experience in the biological sciences.

Program advisors and faculty can provide additional information on career and graduate school opportunities. It is strongly recommended that all Marine Biology majors meet regularly with academic advising staff in the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Undergraduate Education Office in Galbraith Hall and with the marine biology faculty advisor to discuss and update curriculum choices.

For information on applying to UC San Diego and SIO Transfer Major Preparation see our How to Apply page. Exceptional students in the Marine Biology major with an interest in research are encouraged to consider the Scripps Undergraduate Honors Program. Please note that all academic advising questions (for current students) are handled via the Virtual Advisor.

MARINE BIOLOGY (BS) DEGREE REQUIREMENTS 

Students must receive a grade of C- or higher in any course to be counted toward fulfillment of the major requirements (with the exception of SIO90 and SIO139 which are only offered on a P/NP basis). SIO199 credit (4 units) may be used to satisfy one restricted elective requirement, but does not satisfy a laboratory course requirement.

GPA (Grade-Point Average) Requirement

To be eligible for admission to UC San Diego, you must earn the following minimum GPAs:

• California residents must earn a GPA of 3.0 (or better) with no grade lower than "C."
• Non-California residents & International applicants must earn a GPA of 3.4 (or better) with no grade lower than "C."

Your GPA is based on the above college preparatory (A-G) courses taken during 10th and 11th grades. Students admitted to UC San Diego have GPAs that exceed these minimums.

 UC San Diego will not consider SAT or ACT test scores as a factor in admissions decisions through Fall 2024. If you choose to submit test scores as part of your application, they may be used as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll.

International Students

If your native language is not English and your secondary/high school education was in a country where English is not the language of instruction, you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination (academic modules) and have your scores reported to the UC San Diego Office of Admissions. A minimum score of 83 is required for the TOEFL, or a minimum score of 7 is required for the IELTS. Learn more on the International Students page.

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The cost of attendance for graduate programs varies by program. However, the estimated cost is presented below:

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School of Marine Science

The School of Marine Science (SMS) confers a professional master's ( M.A. ) degree and two research ( M.S. and Ph.D. ) degrees in marine science. These programs prepare students to address societal and global challenges in estuarine, coastal, and marine systems. The SMS fosters academic excellence and provides a core graduate education program encompassing knowledge, scholarship, communication, and professional development.

The SMS has granted over 1,000 graduate degrees, making it one of the largest marine science graduate programs in the United States. SMS graduates have sought and achieved diverse career paths in colleges and universities, government agencies, consulting firms, marine education and outreach organizations, NGOs, and industry around the world. We have alumni in faculty positions at major universities and colleges in the U.S. and abroad. A significant percentage of our graduates seek and attain research, management, and policy positions in federal agencies such as NOAA, NMFS, EPA, and USGS. More than 90% of SMS graduates have a job in the field of marine science at the time of graduation.

The SMS is one of the five graduate and professional programs at William & Mary, a world-class university.  Founded in 1940, VIMS is one of the largest marine science centers in the U.S., with a focus on coastal and estuarine science. The SMS is a vibrant scholarly community that is characterized by a high level of collegiality and a commitment to student professional growth.

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We have several Ph.D. research assistantships available for 2024. Prospective students are welcome to reach out to any individual faculty member or the graduate program director to learn more. Applications for assistantship positions must be submitted directly to the Rosenstiel School Graduate Studies Office using the instructions available here: https://graduate.earth.miami.edu/admissions/application-information/

The majority of Ph.D. students are supported as Graduate Research Assistants during their tenure (typically 5 years). These assistantships provide an annual salary of $40,140, and tuition and health insurance is provided. The total of cost of attendance is available  here .

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University of California - San Diego BS in Marine Biology

How much does a bachelor’s in biological oceanography from ucsd cost, ucsd undergraduate tuition and fees.

Does UCSD Offer an Online BS in Biological Oceanography?

Ucsd bachelor’s student diversity for biological oceanography, male-to-female ratio.

Of the students who received their bachelor’s degree in biological oceanography in 2019-2020, 78.9% of them were women. This is higher than the nationwide number of 70.1%.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

Racial-ethnic minority graduates* made up 44.7% of the biological oceanography bachelor’s degrees at UCSD in 2019-2020. This is higher than the nationwide number of 25%.

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Announcing the Recipients of the UC Davis Bilinski Fellowship at Bodega Marine Laboratory for 2024-25

• by Jessica Mariah Pearl Lee
• July 02, 2024

The Coastal and Marine Science Institute is pleased to announce the ten recipients of the  UC Davis Bilinski fellowship at Bodega Marine Laboratory  for 2024-2025. Russell J. and Dorothy S. Bilinski’s life goal was to be “independent and challenged intellectually.” They strongly valued self-sufficiency, a sense of ambition, and above all, responsibility. Their legacy continues in their nonprofit corporate foundation that provides fellowship funds for post-secondary education for students who have demonstrated and will maintain both the highest academic achievement and good moral character.

Bilinski fellowships are awarded to outstanding doctoral students whose selected projects, based at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab, exhibit innovation, collaboration, and are a key component of the student’s final dissertation. The awardees below successfully bridged the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities in their project proposals. As a result, recipients were each awarded $25,000 to assist with tuition, stipend, and research expenses.

Meet the Recipients:

Christopher Mulligan

Seagrasses are facing many risks ranging from climate change to diseases, and traditional methods to evaluate their health can be timely, exhausting, and expensive to carry out for long term monitoring programs, especially frequently across many sites. 

The goal of Chris’ project is to show that lipid analyses of bird droppings can provide an easy and noninvasive way to assess the health of seagrass beds, by tracing the grass lipids up the food chain and ultimately onto nearby beaches. To Chris, an important part of this is designing the workflow to be streamlined for citizen scientists to carry out the field work elsewhere, such as bird watching groups. 

Chris will also create an art installation that uses the technique of data physicalization, where scientific concepts and raw data are abstracted and made into a physical artform, to show interactions within a healthy seagrass ecosystem compared to a collapsed ecosystem. Chris’ PhD thesis studies how lipids can be used to learn more about both modern and deep-time animal ecology, by combining many techniques like metagenomics and organic geochemistry.

Elisabeth Sellinger

Elisabeth studies carbon sequestration and storage in restored seagrass ecosystems along the California coast. She is working with Greater Farallones and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to co-create research questions and produce a video that explores seagrass habitats and their potential for climate change mitigation. 

By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, this project offers an inclusive platform for local communities and K-12 learners to explore the intricate relationships within marine ecosystems. This collaborative endeavor will foster a deeper understanding of the vital role of seagrass meadows in carbon storage, emphasizing the importance of equitable access to knowledge and resources. Through this interdisciplinary approach, the video will inspire collective action towards marine conservation and foster a sense of stewardship for coastal environments.

As environmental impacts become increasingly uncertain, understanding how science is applied to policy decisions is crucial to forming effective management strategies. 

Gabby’s project provides a unique insight into the role of science in restoration management by using social network data from a California kelp forest restoration survey to facilitate interviews at BML and surrounding communities. The interviews will determine how individuals navigate the intersection of multiple roles and how their responsibilities allow them to respond to rapid environmental challenges. This includes community members, policymakers, restoration managers, and scientists. She hopes her research will facilitate more effective responses to emerging environmental challenges.

Katie Erickson

Katie’s dissertation research is centered on understanding the ecological and evolutionary genomics of eelgrass. She is interested in when and how eelgrass plants and their genes have arrived at locations across the species’s range. 

For their Bilinski project, Katie is collaborating with artists Anna Goetter, Sitoë Thiam and Erica Goodwin to explore how and when natural and unnatural elements are introduced to the Bodega Bay local environment. Through the lens of fashion, the collaborators aim to chronicle and highlight arrivals to the Bodega environment by creating a collection of high-fashion looks made from and inspired by found materials. A showcase of their completed work will be presented at Bodega Marine Lab and a guide of the textile manipulation methods they use will be distributed in the form of a zine.

Maddie Armstrong

Maddie’s research focuses on the evolutionary implications of urban pollution and how these novel stressors can impact the development and evolution of marine invertebrates, specifically Pacific purple sea urchins. Purple urchins are a critically important native species in California kelp forest ecosystems as a dominant consumer of kelp. 

For her Bilinski Fellowship project, Maddie will host a interdisciplinary workshop for the Bodega Marine Lab and surrounding Bodega Bay community with natural dye artist Margaret Seelie, founder of Seelie Studio. Margaret uses natural dyes to inspire sustainable art practices and runs several natural dye workshops across California, including a workshop using purple sea urchin spines. Through this interdisciplinary workshop held at BML, Maddie will show the various ways people can interact with purple urchins, highlight the importance of this species in kelp forest ecosystems, and hopefully inspire an appreciation of purple sea urchins as a useful system for both scientific research and for sustainable art.

Mei Blundell

Mei Blundell will work with Max Gibson, a PhD student in the Department of Music, to create a musical composition inspired by the concept of temporal buffering in kelp population dynamics. She will then work with dancers to set choreography to the original music. 

Through this project, she hopes to visually and sonically represent results from her dissertation chapter exploring how kelp life stages contribute to population resilience to marine heatwaves. Folks who are interested can expect performances of this project in Spring 2025.

Mikhaila Redovian

Mikhaila Redovian will be working on a project that draws on her combined background in literary studies and geology. At Bodega Bay, she will be collating and studying the stories that scientists tell about their sample sites. 

Mikhaila’s primary interest is in the way that we think about, talk about, and live with places that resist observation and evade human control. How do we consider or reconsider our place in our world, especially when it is unruly, frustrating, or even hostile to us? This project will seek responses to these questions as a way of interrogating how humans use narrative to understand their relationships with the natural world.

Shreya Banerjee

Shreya Banerjee is a PhD student in Population Biology and she is studying differences in thermal tolerance between two cryptic species of ribbed limpets. The occurrence of cryptic speciation in marine organisms with pelagic larval dispersal poses a scientific puzzle. How can two apparently identical species occupy the same habitat without one outcompeting the other? 

She will utilize this exciting mystery as a learning opportunity for high school students by collaborating with Jasmine Daragahi, a biology teacher at Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep High School (NP3HS), to conduct a class research project with 85 ninth grade biology students. This experience-based learning opportunity will include exploring the natural history of tidepools at the Bodega Marine Reserve (BMR), hypothesis testing, molecular biology techniques, and data analysis and interpretation in the form of three classroom visits and a field trip to BML.

Tracie Hayes

Tracie has spent much of her dissertation researching the burying beetles out at the Bodega Marine Reserve, where she has been interested in how moisture, such as that from coastal summertime fog, affects survival and reproduction. Beyond her scientific research, she believes the burying beetle life cycle and the process of doing ecology lend themselves to creative endeavors, such as art-making and storytelling. 

For Tracie's Bilinski project, she is carrying out a field experiment that will involve: (1) scientific data collection on the effects of moisture on burying beetle reproductive timing and success, and (2) an ideal set-up for videographers from KQED’s Deep Look to film burying beetle parents and offspring at multiple stages of the reproductive process. The Deep Look team will use the footage they collect to produce a short-form video with public appeal.

Zeke Spooner

With microplastics pollution in the ocean continuously increasing, Zeke is concerned that these particles are infiltrating California's coastal benthic communities. He will investigate this by determining bioaccumulation of microplastics and microplastic leachates in California rockfish, which are important benthic predators. 

Knowing the importance of rockfish to California's coastal fishing communities, Zeke has developed a community engagement plan to spread awareness of the microplastics problem to locals. This plan includes beach waste assessments with the community and the facilitation of citizen science-fueled field projects on microplastics.

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Marine Science (Minor)

Scripps offers an undergraduate minor program in Marine Science. The minor curriculum is designed to complement the strong disciplinary training of UCSD basic science majors by providing a broad interdisciplinary perspective with an environmental focus.

Ocean-related science is relevant to many contemporary environmental issues and problems and central to understanding earth-system evolution, dynamics, climate and sustainability. The minor consists of courses and research opportunities offered primarily by faculty and researchers at Scripps. The mix of these components can be tailored to reflect students career interests through an all courses track or a research track.

The all courses track offers a very flexible curriculum that serves students with a broad range of educational and career interests including environmental management and regulation, teaching, environmental law, economics and policy and a wide variety of graduate programs. The research track is designed for students interested in an undergraduate research experience at Scripps and serves as excellent preparation for graduate research studies.

The Minor consists of twenty-eight units of course work, at least twenty of which must be upper-division. Up to 2 courses for the minor may be taken on a Pass/Not Pass basis (upper or lower division). Students must earn at least a letter grade of C- in the remaining 5 or more courses used for the minor.

The Marine Science minor places a strong emphasis on a rigorous natural science foundation; thus, several of the upper division courses related to the minor have significant prerequisites. Students planning the minor should check catalog course descriptions carefully and should meet with advising staff in the Marine Science Program office.

Please note that all academic advising questions (for current students) are handled via the  Virtual Advisor .

Marine Science Minor Requirements

Lower-Division Requirements

• SIO 30 The Oceans
• SIO 10 The Earth
• SIO 12 History of the Earth and Evolution
• SIO 20 The Atmosphere
• SIO 35 Water
• SIO 40 Life and Climate on Earth
• SIO 50 Introduction to Earth and Environmental Sciences
• Additionally: any math, chemistry, physics or biology course that is a prerequisites for an upper division elective for the Marine Science minor (ex. MATH 20 series; CHEM 6A, 6B, 6C, PHYS 2 series; BILD 1, 2, 3 ) may be applied, by petition, as a lower-division requirement for the minor if NOT already used as a lower-division requirement for the student's major.

Upper-Division Requirements

Option 1 - All Courses Track:

At least 5 courses from the list (below) of upper-division electives

Option 2 - Research Track:

At least 5 courses from the list (below) of upper division electives, at least 3 of which must be courses satisfying Option #1 and at least 2 of which must be Independent Study( SIO 199 ; 8 units total) Note: The Independent Study must be designed in mutual agreement and arrangement with an SIO faculty member. Students interested in the Marine Science Minor Research Track must meet with an SIO Undergraduate Program adviser for information and policies.

Upper-Division Electives

• SIO 101 California Coastal Oceanography
• SIO 102 Introduction to Geochemistry
• SIO 103 Introduction to Geophysics
• SIO 104 Paleobiology and History of Life
• SIO 105 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
• SIO 110 Introduction to GIS and GPS for Scientists
• SIO 111 Introduction to Ocean Waves and Tides
• SIO 115 Ice and the Climate System
• SIO 117 The Physical Climate System
• SIO 119 Physics and Chemistry of the Oceans
• SIO 126 Marine Microbiology 
• SIO 127 Marine Molecular Ecology
• SIO 128 Microbial Life in Extreme Environments
• SIO 132 Introduction to Marine Biology
• SIO 133 Marine Mammal Biology
• SIO 134 Introduction to Biological Oceanography
• SIO 135 / SIO 236   Satellite Remote Sensing
• SIO 138 The Coral Reef Environment 
• SIO 141 Chemical Principles of Marine Systems
• SIO 143 Ocean Acidification
• SIO 147 Applications of Phylogenetics
• SIO 160 Introduction to Tectonics
• SIO 172 Physics of the Atmosphere
• SIO 180 Communicating Science to Informal Audiences
• SIO 181 Marine Biochemistry
• SIO 183 Phycology: Biology of Marine Plants
• SIO 184 Marine Invertebrates
• SIO 185 : Marine Microbiology Lab (Lab)
• SIO 199 Independent Study  **Option 2 - Research Track ONLY*
• SIOC 238 Sensor Networks
• Other SIO courses may be submitted by petition.

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