Marine Science Tier 1 Courses

Introduction to Marine Science 

• Dates: September 22, 2025 to November 14, 2025 
• Units: 4.00 Pre-College units, 90000 level 
• Open to: 9th-12th grade students. Additionally, students must be at least 14 years of age by the commencement of the program.  
• Application: CLOSED
• Application Deadline: September 10, 2025 
• Payment Deadline: Payment is due within two weeks of acceptance. For students accepted after August 29, payment is due by September 12, 2025.  
• Course Delivery: Online 
• Tuition: $2,000 
• Schedule:   
  • Tuesday and Thuesday - 4:30 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. PT, live online sessions. 
  • Asynchronous - two to three hours of additional work per week. 
  • Instructor: Nicole Yen 

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:    

Chemical Oceanography: Examining the chemical properties of seawater, biogeochemical cycles, and the role of the oceans in global chemical processes.   

Physical Oceanography: Studying ocean currents, waves, tides, and the physical structure of the oceanic environment.    

Biological Oceanography: Investigating the diversity of marine life, their ecosystems, and the biological processes that sustain them.   

Marine Ecology: Investigating the relationships between marine organisms and their environments, including food webs, symbiotic relationships, and ecosystem dynamics.   

Human Impact: Assessing the effects of human activities on marine ecosystems, including pollution, overfishing, and climate change.     

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 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    

Marine Biodiversity: Coral Reef Ecology and Conservation

• Dates: February 10, 2026 - March 5, 2026
• Units: 2.00 Pre-College units, 90000 level
• Open to: 9th-12th grade students. Additionally, students must be at least 14 years of age by the commencement of the program. 
• Application: Click here to apply!
• Application Deadline: January 23, 2026
• Payment Deadline: Payment is due within two weeks of acceptance. For students accepted after January 23rd, payment is due by January 30, 2026.
• Course Delivery: Live Online
• Tuition: $1,500
• Schedule:  
  • Tuesday and Thursday - 4:30 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. PT, live online sessions.
  • Instructor: Nicole Yen

 This course can act as a prerequisite for any Tier 2 courses offered.   

By the end of the course, students will:

• Understand the ecology, biodiversity, and environmental processes that shape coral reef ecosystems.
• Examine natural and human-driven stressors affecting coral reefs and their ecological impacts.
• Learn reef monitoring and survey techniques, including participation in coral reef citizen science projects.
• Apply coral reef knowledge through reef tank setup and maintenance, emphasizing coral health and sustainable aquarium practices.

Navigating Research: Laying the Foundation for Exploration

• Dates: March 30, 2026 - May 20, 2026
• Units: 2.00 Pre-College units, 90000 level
• Open to: 9th-12th grade students. Additionally, students must be at least 14 years of age by the commencement of the program. 
• Application: Click here to apply!
• Application Deadline: March 13, 2026
• Payment Deadline: Payment is due within two weeks of acceptance. For students accepted after March 13th, payment is due by March 27, 2026.
• Course Delivery: Live Online
• Tuition: $2,000
• Schedule:  
  • Monday and Wednesday- 4:30 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. PT, live online sessions.
  • Instructor: Nicole Yen and Sonya Timko

Human activities, including pollution and climate change, are having profound and diverse impacts on our oceans. As environmental challenges continue to escalate, it becomes increasingly important to understand how these changes will affect marine ecosystems and the organisms that rely on them. Students will explore two key research themes that are crucial for understanding the diverse impacts of environmental changes on the oceans: 1) the effects of thermal stress on the physiology and ecology of marine organisms and/or understanding thermal exchange in a changing climate; and 2) using innovative tools like environmental DNA (eDNA) to enhance ecosystem and biodiversity monitoring and how these tools allow for more comprehensive assessments of ecosystem biodiversity helping to better inform conservation efforts. 

This course will also introduce students to the scientific method, focusing on designing and conducting a capstone research project, culminating in a research proposal that students can utilize for future projects. Through lectures, discussions, and case studies from topic experts, students will gain a deeper understanding of how human activities and climate change are transforming the marine environment.

This course is strongly recommended as a prerequisite for our summer research program. Students who complete this course will receive priority in selecting their research project themes. For more details on the available research themes, please refer to our summer research experience “Investigating Human and Climate Impacts on Oceans and Biodiversity”.

Theme 1: Thermal Biology

• Coastal Ecosystems
  • Exploring the biodiversity of coastal habitats
• Thermal Processes 
  • Emphasizing heat transfer via Conduction, Convection and Radiation 
• Metabolism
  • Measuring changes in biological processes over 10℃ difference
• Behavioral Thermoregulation
  • Detecting behavioral changes related to temperature differences
• Thermal Ecology
  • Observing thermal processes of organisms through interactions with their environment
• Fluorescence and Heat Patterns
  • Discovering how temperature affects fluorescence in organisms

Theme 2: eDNA & Biomonitoring

• Functional Roles of Bacteria 
  • Understanding bacteria as ecosystem drivers and indicators of ocean health
• eDNA Shotgun Metagenomics vs Metabarcoding
  • Detecting genetic material shed by organisms into the environment using two techniques. Shotgun is a technique that sequences all DNA in a sample, and metabarcoding uses specific DNA barcodes to identify species. 
• YSI Water Quality
  • Using electronic sensors to measure key water quality parameters
• Quadrat and Transect Monitoring
  • Using field methods to measure and compare biodiversity, abundance, and environmental patterns 
• Plankton Sampling and Monitoring
  • Using field and lab methods used to collect, identify, and quantify plankton communities