California State University, Northridge
AC-5: Immersive Experience

CSUN marine biology majors have the opportunity to participate in a semester-long immersive experience based at the Wrigley Marine Science Center (WMSC), situated on Santa Catalina Island, CA. The 15 week program provides an intensive undergraduate exposure to marine biology, and is designed for students with a serious commitment to environmental and marine science. Through course work and hands-on study, students learn about ocean health, effects of CO2 on marine systems, over-fishing, the efficacy of Marine Protected Areas and many more sustainability focused topics. This program is a strategic alliance of 22 major universities, colleges, and foundations in Southern California committed to providing marine expertise and hands-on experience to students at all levels, to achieve the highest and most efficacious level of research, to monitor the marine environment and to increase public awareness. CSUN biology students can participate in a Tropical Biology Semester which consists of concurrent coursework totaling 16 units, appropriate for upper-division undergraduate or graduate credit. The purpose of the courses is to expose students to the biology of the Neotropics by visiting the major ecosystems/plant communities of Ecuador. Three courses and a seminar address biodiversity, zoology, ecology, and conservation by integrating a strong field component with lectures, labs, and discussions of relevant literature. Students will conduct field projects that will incorporate experimental design, field techniques, data analysis, and the presentation of information as a scientific paper and as a poster.