How will you make a difference?
Offered during Session 4, our hands-on Marine Biology and Oceanography course integrates biology, chemistry, physics and math to study the changing marine environment. The core of the program will take place on the shores of the Long Island Sound, at UConn’s marine sciences department. Students will combine field work and laboratory analyses with the college classroom experience. Lectures will be interspersed to provide the necessary background knowledge.
Students will learn the tools used to assess the health of the marine environment. This includes:
- Using instrumentation that collects water samples as well as measures oxygen and temperature
- The collection and examination of marine specimens
- The design and process of mesocosm experiments, evaluation of eelgrass beds and the study of bivalve filtration rates
- Physical properties of the ocean such as sound and currents will be studied using student-constructed hydrophones and mini-drifters. Measurements will be made and recorded. This data will be graphed and interpreted
The week will start out in Storrs, on the main campus. Students will be introduced to basic marine science concepts in an informal lecture. Laboratory exercises to demonstrate ocean properties, the introduction to instrumentation and the construction of a sensor will take place in Storrs. The week will then continue with daily trips to the coast (~1hr bus ride). Students will conduct measurements at the Long Island Sound and at the Marine Sciences Department facilities. A visit to the Mystic Marinelife Aquarium with focus on marine conservation will take place. Students will have the opportunity to visit the research laboratories of UConn oceanographers. Short boat trips will be used to evaluate eel grass beds as well as make measurements at the rocky intertidal at Pine Island. At the end of the week students will meet in Storrs to compile their information and design an Eastern Long Island Sound healthy environment report card. During the week, light reading homework will be assigned.
Students will need to be prepared with the proper attire to work in the rain and with closed toed shoes for the laboratories.
Transportation: This course involves frequent off-site visits to the UConn Avery Point Campus, as well as the Mystic Marinelife Aquarium. Supervised transportation is provided by the program and is included in the course cost.
Pre-Requisites: To be eligible to enroll in Marine Biology and Oceanography, students need two years of high school science and math through Algebra I.
Note: Includes $100 supplemental lab fee.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: After careful consideration and comprehensive discussions with many who are deeply invested in the health and education of our students, we have decided that the most responsible course of action is to cancel all Pre-College Summer 2020 sessions. Unfortunately, the Program's focus on providing a residential experience with hands-on courses does not make online learning a realistic or feasible option. For more information please visit this webpage. For any questions or concerns please email pcs@uconn.edu.
Cost and Session Information
Costs and fees are determined by the number of sessions a student enrolls in (one, two, three, or four sessions). Enrolling in a weekly session, includes the selected academic course* taught by UConn faculty or experts in their industry, exploratory workshops, social programming activities, as well as administrative costs, all meals, and housing in an air-conditioned residence hall. Laundry machines located inside of the residence halls are available to participants at no cost. Participants must arrange their own travel to and from the Program, at their own expense.
*Additional Course Fees: Additional fees to select academic courses may apply. These fees help to cover the added cost of supply kits, studio fees, travel, entrance fees, etc. For specific course fee information, visit the course's information page. If applicable, this course fee will be applied at time of course enrollment.
Program Cost and Fees:
Application: A non-refundable application processing fee of $45.00 must be paid in order to have your application reviewed. The application fee can be paid at the last step of the application process and is separate from enrollment costs. Our application fee is waived for students who apply before January 6th. After this date our standard application fee will be applied.
Enrollment: A $300.00 non-refundable deposit per session that will be collected at the time of enrollment is required to enroll in Pre-College Summer courses. This deposit will be credited to your program fee’s account balance.
Discounts
Early Bird: Take advantage of a $150 early bird discount when you submit your application by April 1st, 2020
Multiple Sessions: Receive a discount for enrolling in more than one session, as indicated in the pricing table above. Check out our Course Academies for bundling options!
Sibling Discount: If two or more siblings enroll in the Program during the same summer, the subsequent sibling(s) will receive a $100.00 discount off of their total Program fee.
