FAQ

Q: What is the purpose of the fieldwork week?

You’ll conduct your own research project in self-identified groups, using the week to investigate your research question using GPS, GIS and related technologies for spatial data collection, analysis and presentation of your work. You’ll also get to know some of your classmates and faculty, and can visit the USC campus, including the Spatial Sciences Institute. Past students have considered their Catalina week to be the highlight of their GIST experience.

Q: What is the typical schedule?

The schedule generally follows this format, although it may be adjusted for weather conditions and other considerations out at the island that week:

Q: How do we get to and from Catalina Island?

We travel on the Miss Christy, a 45-foot boat owned by USC and operated by WIES, dedicated for USC travel.

We depart on Monday mornings at 7:30 a.m. from the USC Southern California Marine Institute (SCMI), located at 820 South Seaside Avenue, Terminal Island, CA 90731, to WMSC on Catalina Island. On Sundays, we leave to return to SCMI on the mainland by 3 p.m.

The journey takes approximately 90 to 120 minutes depending on sea conditions. Closed-toed shoes are mandatory for the boat ride!

Your professor will give you more detailed directions and parking information.

Q: What are the accommodations like?

We stay in dormitory-style rooms and/or furnished apartments. Typically, two students are assigned to share a room which is equipped with twin beds, desks, bookshelves, dressers, large closets, a small refrigerator and a full set of linens. There is no daily housekeeping service. There is limited availability for single rooms, at an additional fee.

All meals are included and are served in the cafeteria. We have three set meal times: breakfast (7:30–8 a.m.); lunch (12–12:30 p.m.); and dinner (6–6:30 p.m.). We eat with other researchers, staff and guests working at and visiting WIES. The full-time kitchen staff can accommodate special dietary needs requested in advance.

Two Harbors has a general store and restaurant.

Q: How much “down time” is there?

Most of the week’s schedule is a function of group work in the field and each group’s work on their project. Each group organizes itself with faculty direction and “down time” is largely dependent on group dynamics. Groups are encouraged to complete their projects during the work sessions during the day as much as possible, so they could work on other class assignments, check in with their offices and relax in the evenings. Many past groups have done this successfully, while some groups opt to continue to work together into the evenings.

Q: Is there cell phone and internet access?

Yes, the USC wireless access is reliably strong and available throughout the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies campus.

Q: Can spouses or guests come along?

Spouses and significant others are not allowed to stay or visit during this field trip as you will be residing in the dormitories and spending most of your time working on assigned tasks during the week. However, in the past, some students have joined friends and/or family members after the class is over in Avalon (on the other side of Catalina Island) where there are hotels, attractions and fun activities for a vacation.

Q: What are the additional expenses?

In addition to your travel expenses and regular tuition costs, a room and board fee will be charged to your USC fee bill. You will not need to pay this fee prior to going on the field trip, but it must be paid in full prior to registering for courses the following semester.

Q: What about travel to and from Los Angeles?

While some students live in the greater Los Angeles area and will be able to drive to the SCMI the morning the boat departs for Catalina Island, other students will need to arrive in the Los Angeles area at least one night before the field trip begins. In addition to using Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for your travel plans, you may want to look into flights in and out of Long Beach Airport (LGB) and John Wayne Airport (SNA). Both LGB and SNA are relatively close to the SCMI and not nearly as busy as LAX.

Q: What about Long Beach area accommodations?

Students arriving in the Los Angeles area in advance of our departure to Catalina Island on Monday morning may consider staying at one of the hotels in San Pedro and Long Beach close by our departure point at SCMI. While USC does not promote any specific hotel or lodging arrangement, many students from previous sections have stayed at various hotels in San Pedro. If you plan on spending a night at a hotel prior to the field trip to Catalina, you may want to initiate or join a thread on Blackboard to coordinate with any classmates that may want to share a room and/or cab to SCMI.

Q: What equipment do I need?

The Spatial Sciences Institute will provide each student team with one or more GPS units and laptops for data collection and analysis for the entire week. Additionally, you will have reliable access to USC wireless internet there. You may want to bring your own laptop, tablet, phone and camera as well as any other personal equipment you think might be appropriate to supplement the resources that will be provided to you during the field trip.

Q: What is the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies?

The Wrigley Marine Science Center of the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies is a 0.5-acre research and educational campus where scientists from around the world join USC faculty and staff to investigate biological adaptations to climate change, study interactions among humans and natural systems, and connect science to environmental policy.

Q: Will I be able to visit USC?

Upon returning to the Southern California Marine Institute from Catalina, we offer a visit to the USC main campus, with a visit to the USC Bookstore, a tour of the Spatial Sciences Institute and drinks and appetizers with faculty, schedules permitting. The USC campus is located near downtown Los Angeles, approximately 20 miles north of SCMI. Generally, we have enough cars to carpool from SCMI to the campus.