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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where Is Catalina? Where is the USC Wrigley Marine Science Center? Where will I live? Santa Catalina Island is located about 20 miles off the coast of Los Angeles. The Wrigley Marine Science Center (WMSC) is located near the small town of Two Harbors. You will live in nicely renovated dormitories located at the WMSC. The dining hall is in the same building as the dorms, and classes will be held in the laboratory building. Your morning commute will take about 1 minute... 
2. Who is eligible to participate in the USC Catalina Semester? All undergraduate juniors and seniors from any institution who meet the prerequisites for our courses are welcome in the USC Catalina Semester. 3. How much will this cost? What exactly is included in that cost? What about financial aid? Tuition for USC is approximately $17,606/semester (2007-2008 academic year) (Tuition subject to change by the University). Room and board for the Catalina Semester is $3,800. Your $250 deposit will be applied to this fee. The room/board price includes transportation for you (and your belongings) between the Southern California Marine Institute (SCMI) on Terminal Island, CA and the WMSC. Please check with your financial aid advisor to see exactly how your financial aid package can be applied to the USC Catalina Semester. We're sorry, but there are no work-study positions available during the semester. In addition to the costs for room and board, the university also charges a $200 lab fee for each laboratory course, designated by an "L" in the course number. 4. What courses are offered? Can I do real research? You'll take four courses, each 4 weeks long. Because courses are offered serially rather than simultaneously (which is what you're probably used to), you'll be able to focus on just one at a time. Each course is 4 units. All students in the Spring Marine Population Dynamics Semester are introduced to the island and its fascinating creatures and ecological/evolutionary processes with Island Biogeography and Field Ecology (BISC 447L). Students then take Conservation Biology and Population Genetics (BISC 373L), and Comparative Physiology of Animals (BISC 437L). The students enrolled in the Fall Microbial Earth Semester will take Aquatic Microbiology (BISC 431L), Molecular Approaches to Microbial Diversity (BISC 455L), and last, they will take Ecosystem Function and Earth Systems, (BISC 474L).
5. How big are classes? Who teaches the courses? The class size ranges from 8 to 20 so apply and register early. Professors are USC faculty. Teaching assistants are USC graduate students. The ratio of teachers to students is awesome! The USC Catalina Semester is challenging. Let's be honest...you'll work VERY hard. This is an opportunity to merge your life with your studies - completely absorbing, extremely exciting. Trust us...you'll surprise (and impress) yourself! All admissions information can be accessed on-line at http://wrigley.usc.edu/spotlight/semester_admission.html. You'll need to complete an application, provide a transcript (unofficial is fine) and give us one letter of recommendation. It's easy! We encourage students from institutions other than USC to apply to be a visiting student for the semester. Please see the Admissions page for additional information. 8. Can I get credit at my home institution? Usually, yes. Please check with your advisor. USC Housing requires you to fill out a "Semester Away" form. There are no penalties associated with this process However, Housing does ask that you submit the form by the beginning of November. If you have a person you'd like to room with, please let us know and we will attempt to accommodate your request (no promises!). Sorry, no pets are allowed at the WMSC. The Dining Hall is located right next to the dormitories, and vegetarian options are served with all meals. Please notify us of any other special dining considerations. Small refrigerators are available for your rooms, and a microwave is always available. 10. How can my family get in touch with me? Can I get mail? Email? There are public phones in the lab and dorms where you can make collect or credit card calls. Your family/friends can leave messages for you at the lab from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (310) 510-0811. An emergency after-hours number is also available. Mail is available at the lab and you may have your mail forwarded to you at:
You will be able to access your campus email account. If you can't live without a phone, most cellular phones do work from some locations on the island. We encourage you to purchase all of your textbooks and supplies before leaving the mainland. Exceptions can be made in special circumstances. We will explain how to get library books delivered to the Island. It's easy! We have both Mac computers and PCs, but if you have a portable, bring it along! 12. How do I get supplies such as personal care items? Munchies? Laundry? Snack and drink vending machines are available to you at the WMSC. A small gift shop at the WMSC also carries a few personal items. Your other option is the store in the nearby town of Two Harbors (half-hour walk). Laundry facilities (washer/dryers/soap) are available at the WMSC. 13. What about SCUBA diving? Semester Dive Page
Certified research divers may dive from the lab or from our small boats for pleasure or for research-related activities. You MUST be research certified and have a recent physical, so PLAN AHEAD. We offer a Research Diving class for university certification each June at a special price for semester students. For those with no diving 14. What clothes should I bring? What's the weather like? Bring long pants and sturdy shoes for interior exploring, sweatshirts for boat rides, and some kind of rainwear. Closed-toe shoes are required for the laboratories and for boat trips. It is also recommended by the instructors to have good boots for playing in the intertidal or mudflat zones (wellies are great). Pack shorts and t-shirts for warmer days. You should also bring along a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, swimsuit(s) and beach towels, diving/snorkeling gear, etc. 15. What if there is a medical emergency? In the event of an emergency, the Baywatch (the real one!) response time is 5 minutes. Also, we are only 15 minutes away from the mainland by helicopter (there's a helicopter pad at the lab). For more mundane medical and dental care, there are general practitioners and dentists in Avalon. 16. May my friends and family come visit? Absolutely! Your friends and family are all welcome at the lab. In fact, we encourage you to show the place off! Your visitors may either stay in your room (please check with your roommate first) or book their own room at the lab (space permitting). Rates are very reasonable. Please check with Katie Chvostal (310-510-4015, boutilli@usc.edu) for details. 17. What if I have more questions? For details about the Semester, contact Linda Duguay at the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies at duguay@usc.edu. If your questions are island-specific, you may call or e-mail Maureen Oudin at (310) 510-4017 or maureen@usc.edu.
3616 Trousdale Parkway, AHF 410 Los Angeles, California 90089-0371 E-mail: catsem@usc.edu Phone: (213) 740-6780 Fax: (213) 740-6720 |
Research? Definitely! During their first 12 weeks, students develop research proposals, step-by-step. The final 3 weeks of the semester are devoted to guided, independent research 
