Field Quarters
Field Quarters offer highly motivated students a total field immersion experience.
- These courses provide 15-20 units of credit and will fulfill elective requirements for the EEB majors.
- Students are not allowed to concurrently enroll in any other courses the quarter they undertake a Field Quarter (except for BIOE 153ABC).
- Entrance into field quarter courses is by application/interview typically two quarters in advance of the course.
BIOE 151ABCD Ecology and Conservation in Practice Supercourse (Only offered in Spring)
19 units
Prerequisites: BIOL 20A, BIOE 20B, BIOE 20C or ENVS 23, 24, 100; and STAT 7 and 7L. Enrollment by application and interview two quarters in advance.
Why California
California is a global biodiversity hotspot and known for its diversity of ecosystems including islands, coastal scrub and sage, lagoons, sub-alpine and alpine forests, tundra, and desert islands, subtropical scrublands, and deserts. Unfortunately, human development and its impacts have profoundly impacted many parts of this ecological landscape – from direct development to contamination to introduced species. This course utilizes University of California Natural Reserve System as natural laboratories to teach advanced ecological principles and innovative approaches to conservation.
What is the course content?
Dr. Don Croll of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Dr. Gage Dayton of the UC Natural Reserve System will jointly teach this 19-unit supercourse. It will focus on field methods, ecology, and conservation. The course will be equivalent to the content of four on-campus courses. A large component of the course will consist of written and oral presentations. Through class lecture, discussion, student projects, and field research projects, you will gain an understanding of: 1) fundamental concepts in ecology; 2) principles of conservation biology; 3) geomorphology and climate, 4)) field research techniques; and 6) field techniques for conservation.
Course Costs and Aid
This course will require a course fee of approximately $1,597 for food, local travel, and field research supplies. We have been successful in securing additional financial aid for students who qualify and that the financial aid department has identified as meeting the need requirements. We can provide more details in our pre-application meeting and or talk to you one on one.
Please do not let the finances discourage you from applying. We work hard to support eligible students to cover the course fees. If you have questions, please reach out.
What is the approach?
The course will begin with lectures and field research based at the UCSC Reserves (Año Nuevo, Younger Lagoon, Campus, and in the Santa Cruz Mountains). Using this background, we will embark on three overnight extended field trips to further hone our conservation research skills and address more specific questions. We will spend a long weekend at a local reserve, return to Santa Cruz to write up your results, then go to our Big Creek Reserve located in the Big Sur Coast for approximately one week, return to Santa Cruz to write your papers and analyze data, then head to Santa Cruz Island for approximately one week to conduct your final research project, and finally return to Santa Cruz where you will write up for your final paper and give a presentation on your research.
How it applies to your major:
EEB Majors:
- Students enroll in BIOE 151A,B,C, and D (19 credits) via permission number.
- Provides equivalency* of BIOE 150, BIOE 150L and one EEB General Elective.
- Senior Comprehensive Requirement (1 upper division field course).
- Successful completion of BIOE 151B fufills one DC Requirement course for students in EEB Department majors.
ENVS Majors:
Check with the ENVS undergraduate advisor for specific equivalencies for major/graduation requirements.
For more information contact Gage Dayton at ghdayton@ucsc.edu.
Upcoming Offerings: Spring 2025
Information Session (in person preferred):
Thursday, November 7th, 5pm
Ocean Health Building Room 201 (on the Coastal Science Campus)
The meeting Zoom link is here if you're unable to attend in person.
How to apply:
Use the Google form located here. Applications are due Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 11:59 pm.
*Course equivalency listed above is for the purposes of tracking number of major courses completed only.
BIOE 159 Marine Ecology Field Quarter
20 units
Prerequisites: Satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements. Admission by application and interview two quarters in advance.
The Marine Ecology Field Quarter is a course that combines 4 modules including a field component into a quarter-long lecture-field course that is split between UCSC campus and a field station. Currently the field locations are Corsica, France and Sitka, Alaska. This course provides total immersion in marine ecology for very motivated students. It is specifically designed for students that are anticipating a career in marine biology/ecology and/or those interested in pursuing a graduate degree in marine ecology or conservation. In addition the curriculum is designed to ensure students make accelerated progress to their degree. All students in the class develop a research project during first five weeks on campus and then spend five weeks of immersion in directed research in isolated locations off campus (Corsica, or Sitka; past locations include the Gulf of California in Mexico, South Africa, and Moorea in French Polynesia).
For students who intend to SCUBA dive, BIOE 75 (Scientific Diving) or the equivalent AAUS Scientific Diving certification is a prerequisite. Note that several SCUBA courses are prerequisites to BIOE 75. Visit http://www2.ucsc.edu/sci-diving/ to learn about the schedule of these courses and the physical exam options. For those who intend to snorkel/skin dive, UCSC Skin Diving certification is a prerequisite. Visit the Scientific Skin Diving website to learn about the schedule of these courses and the physical exam options.
BIOE 159ACDF Sitka, AK - Upcoming Offerings: Winter 2025
How it applies to your major:
- Students enroll in BIOE 159A,C,D, and F, which will appear in their transcript.
- Successful completion of Sitka program provides equivalency of four upper division courses comparable to: BIOE 108, BIOE 158L, BIOE 159F Global Change Ecology (Topical or EEB General Elective) and one Marine Biology Topical Elective.
- Students will receive credit for one of their two required DC Requirement courses with successful completion of BIOE 159A.
- How to apply: Applications no longer being taken. Course has begun for Winter 2025.
BIOE 159ABCE Corsica, FR - Upcoming Offerings: Fall 2025
How it applies to your major:
- Students enroll in BIOE 159A,B,C, and E, which will appear in their transcript.
- Successful completion of these courses provides students major requirement credit of four upper division courses comparable to: BIOE 108, BIOE 127/L, BIOE 158L, and BIOE 140.
- Students will receive credit for one of their two required DC Requirement courses with successful completion of BIOE 159A.
- How to apply: Applications not currently open. Check back soon!
Natural Reserve System California Ecology and Conservation
19 units
Prerequisites: All students must pass an introductory ecology or biology course prior to acceptance. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required.
California Ecology and Conservation is a UC wide course offered through the Natural Reserve System. It is an intensive program of study with a focus on field methods, ecology, and conservation. A total of 27 students will be accepted, ideally three from each of the nine general campuses.
- Students enroll via UCEAP in XBIO or XENV 188.
- Provides equivalency* of BIOE 150, BIOE 150L and one EEB General Elective.
- Students will receive credit for one of two DC Requirement courses in EEB majors upon successful completion if the course is taken Spring 2023 and following. The course is unavailable as a DC requirement if taken prior to Spring 2023.
Upcoming offerings:
Applications for Spring 2025 were due October 25, but rolling admissions continues.
Summer 2025 applications are due February 10th.
Offered annually Fall, Spring and Summer.
15 units
Natural History Field Quarter (NHFQ) focuses on studying natural history and land management issues all over California. NHFQ is taught every spring quarter. Applications for this course are due early fall quarter.
For more information about NHFQ, please visit the Natural History Field Quarter page on the Kenneth S. Norris Center for Natural History webpage. Information about the structure of the course, the current-year application, and upcoming informational meetings and due dates can be found there.
Questions regarding NHFQ can be directed to Chris Lay, the Administrative Director of the Norris Center and NHFQ instructor. He can be reached via email (cml@ucsc.edu), or phone: (831) 459-4763.
How it applies to your major:
- Students enroll in ENVS 107A, 107B, and 107C.
- Satisfies three general electives and one lab/field course requirement for Ecology and Evolution BS, Marine Biology BS, and Plant Sciences BS.
- The NHFQ is currently not applicable in the Biology BA.
This field quarter DOES NOT satisfy a DC requirement for the major.
Offered annually Spring quarter
Upcoming offerings: Applications for Spring 2025 Natural History Field Quarter (NHFQ) closed Sunday, November 3, 2024.
