Marine Science & Ecology at UC Santa Barbara
Pre-college program for high school students at UC Santa Barbara
Program Highlights
Residential Tuition:
$5,698
Commuter Tuition:
$3,298
Session 3:
July 20, 2025
August 1, 2025
UC Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
Course Overview
Roughly 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by our oceans, of which more than 80% remain unmapped, unobserved, and unexplored. There is a vast and diverse amount of marine life and ecosystems found in our oceans – those both discovered and researched, and those still wading in the depths. Summer Springboard’s course in Marine Science and Ecology will offer students the opportunity to explore these various marine life and ecosystems. Students will explore select marine life, learn about the different habitats they live in and the ways their ecosystems interact, study various threats facing our oceans and marine life today, and hear from leading experts in the field.
Meet your instructor

Dr. Anita Giraldo Ospina
Marine Science & Ecology UC Santa Barbara
Anita is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Caselle lab at UC Santa Barbara. Anita’s work has focused on the ecology of marine habitat-building species like kelp, seagrasses, and corals.
Learn moreTopics you'll explore
Hands-On-Learning
At UC Santa Barbara, possible excursions include whale watching, tide-pooling, visiting the Maritime museum,
The Reef (UCSBs teaching aquarium), and more.
