Program Format

The UCSD Master's Degree in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation consists of 48 quarter units of study. Coursework will be completed in twelve months. Following completion of the mandatory full-time summer program, part time study may be an option. See Pace of Study.

The academic year starts with the Summer program, an intensive, 16-unit course that features lectures, lab work, field trips, mock trials, presentations and more. Classes run 10 weeks and are taught at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and begin at 9:00am and run until 5:00pm, five days a week. The summer session for the academic year 2009-10 will begin with a mandatory orientation June 17-19. Classes officially begin June 22nd, and run through Aug. 27th, 2009.

During the Fall, Winter and Spring quarters, students are required to take various courses in the Marine Sciences, Economics and Policy. Students may choose electives courses from many departments at UCSD (See Program Overview below).

Summer Schedule 2009 (pdf)

Program Overview (pdf)

Electives (sample list only)