Marine Science Program

The Leading California Community College for
Marine Biology and Oceanography

We offer a very wide variety of courses in marine biology, oceanography, and field courses exploring local habitats as well as sites in Baja California, the Gulf of California and Catalina Island. Photo Gallery

For information and Dr. Wells's homepage use the link with his name immediately below:

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 Pierce College is the leading community college for marine biology and oceanography  in California with the most course offerings of any 2-year college in California - and more than most universities.  Pierce's curriculum emphasizes hands-on field work with most courses devoted to field study.  Students work on research vessels, study local marine environments including the kelp forests of Catalina Island, rocky and wetlands shores, and have the opportunity for study in Baja and the Sea of Cortez.  Classes are open to all students, and those who choose to major in marine biology regularly transfer to the top university programs.

COURSES TO CHOOSE FROM

Take regular semester or special weekend* and summer study** courses.  All classes are UC/CSU transferable .

Click for Course Descriptions

• Marine Biology
• Marine Biology Laboratory and Field  Study
• Marine Ecology: Kelp Forests of Catalina Island* - Taught every semester
• Marine Ecology: The Marine Ecology of the Rocky Intertidal Enviornment of the Punta Banda - Baja California* - Taught Fall semesters
• Marine Ecology: The Marine Ecology of the Wetland Enviornment of the Punta Banda - Baja California* - Taught Spring semesters
• Marine Biology of the Gulf of California in Bahia de los Angeles, Baja California**
• Introduction to Oceanography
• Physical Oceanography Laboratory

The Faculty

WHY PIERCE COLLEGE?

• Course offerings.  Pierce College offers the most courses in marine biology and  oceanography of any community college in California.
• Unique opportunities.  With the diversity of courses taught at Pierce College students are able to study aboard research ships,  on the shore, in the water, and have the opportunity for international travel to unique marine environments.
• No prerequisites for courses.  Pierce students can take courses normally offered only to upper division university biology/oceanography majors.  Non majors can take marine biology and oceanography field classes.  Biology majors get a "jump start" working in field biology.
• Respect.  The marine biology program at Pierce is respected at universities throughout California.  Some courses receive upper division credit on transfer.
• Training.  Pierce College biology students have superior biology/marine biology backgrounds when transferring to university programs.
• Transfer.  Pierce graduates are regularly accepted to the top university marine biology programs in the state.  Several graduates have achieved Masters and Ph.D. degrees.
• Advisement.  Faculty advisors personally assist students in selecting courses and in choosing and applying to transfer universities.
• Cost.  Tuition for courses is only $26 a unit.

• Enroll in all or some of the study opportunities at Pierce College and take advantage of this excellent program.
• Gain experience as a field biologist by taking regular semester, weekend, or summer field courses.
• Biology majors can complete their lower division requirements at Pierce by taking both marine biology and majors biology courses along with chemistry.
• Special enrollment is available for students from other institutions.

"The experience and information I gained at Pierce have put me ahead of the other marine biology majors at my university."

"Not only did I learn a lot but I had fun and some amazing adventures in the field courses at Pierce."

"I am not a biology major but I took all of the marine biology courses at Pierce - they were the highlight of my college education."