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  4. Marine Science Tier 2 Courses

Marine Science Tier 2 Courses

Tier 2 courses provide students with an advanced, multidisciplinary research experience in collaboration with graduate students from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and professionals actively engaged in marine science across various sectors. These courses are designed to immerse students in the research process, allowing them to contribute to ongoing investigations or independently design and implement their own projects. Areas of study may include, but are not limited to, California coastal ecology, coral reef ecology and restoration, animal physiology, thermodynamics, metabolic processes, and fisheries science.

Field-based excursions to diverse marine ecosystems—such as intertidal zones, salt marshes, and coastal habitats throughout the San Diego region—are a core component of the program, offering students direct engagement with the environments they are studying. For students participating remotely, certain research projects have been thoughtfully adapted to include at-home laboratory components, ensuring accessibility and continuity of hands-on learning regardless of geographic location.

Tier 2 Course

We only have one Tier 2 course currently available. Please view below for additional information.

Summer 2026

Investigating Human and Climate Impacts on Oceans and Biodiversity

Questions?

Please email us at precollege@ucsd.edu

Quarter Dates, Schedules, and Deadlines

Investigating Human and Climate Impacts on Oceans and Biodiversity (Hybrid - Summer 2026)

Investigating Human and Climate Impacts on Oceans and Biodiversity

  • Dates: June 22, 2026 to July 24, 2026
  • Units: 7.50 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: June 5th, 2026
  • Payment Deadline: June 16th, 2026. For students accepted after June 5th, payment is due by June 16th, 2026.
    Applications are subject to closing earlier should the program meet its enrollment capacity.
  • Course Delivery: Hybrid
  • Tuition: $4,900
  • Prerequisite: Successful completion of a Tier 1 course; community college course in biology/environmental sciences/marine science; OR AP Level Biology/Environmental Science Course
  • Schedule: 
    • Students can expect 75 hours of work. 
    • Week 1 - June 22, 2026 to June 26, 2026 - asynchronous 
    • Week 2 to week 4 - July 6, 2026 to July 24, 2026 - in person, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., lunch is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Instructor: Nicole Yen, Sonya Timko, and Ariel Rabines

Have you ever envisioned designing your own research project, investigating novel scientific questions, and communicating your findings in a scholarly context? The Tier 2 Summer Commuter Course provides a unique opportunity for select students to engage in immersive, hands-on research at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Participants will be matched with research themes that reflect their academic and scientific interests, fostering meaningful engagement with topics at the forefront of marine science.

Each research theme is led by subject-matter experts who provide mentorship and professional insight, guiding students through the research process—from hypothesis generation and experimental design to data analysis and presentation. This experience offers aspiring marine scientists early exposure to the rigors and rewards of scientific inquiry, equipping them with practical skills, critical thinking abilities, and a deeper understanding of the research process within a real-world scientific setting.

Research Themes

Thermal Biology: Exploring Climate Change Impacts on Coastal Organisms (Lead: Sonya Timko)

Coastal ecosystems such as wetlands are highly accessible and ecologically rich environments, offering significant commercial, recreational, and educational value. However, they are increasingly vulnerable to climate-driven threats such as rising temperatures, sea-level rise, invasive species, and pollution. As global climate change intensifies, effective monitoring of these ecosystems becomes essential for understanding and mitigating its impacts.

Thermal imaging cameras, which detect infrared radiation emitted by warm objects, are now widely used in ecology to study temperature variability and identify heat stress in marine organisms. In addition to imaging, students can also assess heat stress by measuring changes in metabolic rate (e.g., oxygen consumption), respiration, behavior, and fluorescence —such as altered movement, feeding patterns, or habitat use. Together, these indicators help reveal how organisms respond to thermal extremes. Students will be working within our UC Reserves System and present their final posters at an informal poster session with our partners, at Birch Aquarium. See our 2025 projects here. 

Topics Include:

  1. Introduction to Thermal Biology/Ecology
  2. Scientific Methods of Research
  3. Thermal Imaging Techniques
  4. Fluorescence and UV Photography
  5. Metabolic Activities and Measurements
  6. Conventional Lab Methods (Materials, Protocols, Experimental Arena)
  7. Conventional Field Methods (Quadrat, Transect, or Ethogram)
  8. Question Development and Research Design
  9. Scientific Communication and Poster Creation

Field Genomics for Ocean Health: Exploring Marine Biodiversity with eDNA (Lead: Ariel Rabines, Nicole Yen)

Students in our field genomics for ocean health research pathway will play a pioneering role in biomonitoring efforts in San Diego through utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA) to understand ecosystem and human health. eDNA offers a non-invasive approach to detecting genetic material released by marine organisms. Students learn how to assess ecosystem health at the community level using both conventional techniques, such as water quality testing and quadrat sampling, and use cutting-edge molecular biomonitoring tools, such as shotgun and metabarcoding sequencing, leveraging portable nanopore technology for real-time analysis. As part of the program, students will work alongside leading researchers to develop their own research questions and explore how eDNA can be used to investigate key issues affecting both marine ecosystems and human health. These can include pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, and public health challenges, providing students with hands-on experience in applying molecular tools to real-world environmental problems. Students will be working within our UC Reserves System and will present their final posters at an informal poster session with our partners, at Birch Aquarium. See our 2025 projects here. 

Topics Include:

  1. Introduction to Environmental DNA
  2. Scientific Methods of Research
  3. Overview of Nanopore Sequencing Technology
  4. DNA Extraction Techniques
  5. Sequencing Library Preparation
  6. Bioinformatics and Data Analysis 
  7. Conventional Field Methods (Quadrat, Transect, or Plankton Tow)
  8. Question Development and Research Design
  9. Scientific Communication and Poster Creation

Other Program Information

Application

Application: Click here to apply!

Space is limited, and students will be accepted on a rolling basis. Applications are subject to closing earlier should the program meet its enrollment capacity.

  • Summer 2026 Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. PT on Friday, May 30, 2026
Payment Deadline: Within two weeks of acceptance, or sooner if the program begins earlier.

Acceptance

Students will be notified of acceptance within 10-14 days business days of submitting their application until the program is full.

FAQs

What are 90000 level pre-college units?
Are award of completion certificates available?
How do I request an official/unofficial transcript?
How do I access my grade report?

What are 90000 level pre-college units?
Courses numbered 90000-99999 are non-credit-bearing, pre-college-level courses designed to provide an opportunity for students to explore academic interests or prepare for college admission. Research Scholars pre-college units may be transferable for secondary school credit at the discretion of the receiving institution. Students should discuss the transferability of individual courses with the registrar of their secondary school prior to enrolling.

Are award of completion certificates available?
Award of completion certificates are not available for the courses. However, students are welcome to request a transcript or downloand and print their grade report by logging in your MyExtension here.

How do I request an official/unofficial transcript?
For instructions on how to order and pay for an official/unofficial transcript, please click here. If you’ve never ordered transcripts through Parchment before, you will need to register for a Parchment account. Details can be found from the link above.  All transcripts will be printed and delivered by one of the methods listed here. Transcript requests are processed by Student Services. Should you have any questions, please contact them at unex-reg@ucsd.edu.

Please note that when grades are not yet posted for the current term, you can still request an official transcript by selecting the "Hold for current quarter grades" option on the transcript request form, which instructs Student Services to wait to send the transcript until all current grades are officially posted to your academic record. This process ensures the transcript reflects your most up-to-date academic performance before it is sent to the requested recipient. 

You can also view/download your grade report by logging in your MyExtension here without needing to make a payment. 

How do I access my grade report?
Your final grade reports will be available in MyExtension within three weeks after the last day of class. For current blended, hybrid or online courses, you can access grades for individual assignments through Canvas or by contacting your instructor.

Cancellation/Refund Policies

Students will receive a full refund for a cancellation or withdrawl from a course if this is requested 15 business days in advance of a course start date. Refunds are not granted for students who are dismissed from the program.

You can drop courses online in a few easy steps:

  1. Log in to MyExtension.
  2. Navigate to "My Courses" and select the course you would like to drop.
  3. On the right side under "Tools" select "Drop Course."
  4. In the pop-up window that appears, select "Submit."

Or submit a written drop request:

You may file a petition for an exception to the refund policy if you are unable to continue enrollment for one of the following reasons:

  • Sudden serious personal illness, injury or hospitalization
  • The sudden serious illness, injury, hospitalization or death of a close member of your family
  • Compulsory military service
  • A documented administrative error that affected your enrollment
  • Extreme and unusual circumstances which were beyond your control

Refunds will take approximately four to six weeks to process. Refunds are issued in the same method of payment (check or charge) of payment to the program.

Learn More

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