STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY/Southampton

MAR 104, Oceanography, 3 Credits
Students in MAR 104 Oceanography

Stony Brook Southampton
July 7 - 20, 2026

Students will examine the World Ocean and the chemical, geological, and physical processes that control its major features and the life that inhabits it, as well as explore human interactions with the marine environment. This intensive course is specifically designed for motivated high school students wishing to earn college credit, and current undergraduates (both SBU and visiting), graduates, or professionals can also enroll. The short-term course will run for 2 weeks and meet for 4 – 5.5 hours each weekday at the Stony Brook Southampton campus. Content will be delivered via lectures, in- class activities (including a live plankton lab!), and 2 boat trips during which students will explore nearby coastal habitats using oceanographic sampling equipment. Students must have completed high school biology and be at least 16 years old.  Optional housing is available for students who are at least 17 years old.

Note: MAR 104 is a required course for Marine Science majors at Stony Brook University. 

Section 01: Dr. Kurt Bretsch (class # TBD)

Check out the most updated course syllabus!

The textbook is required: Essentials of Oceanography, edition 9, by Tom Garrison & Robert Ellis, ISBN13: 9798214193496.  Students are encouraged to read the entire textbook prior to the first day of class.

SoMAS Total Immersion Scholarship: High school students with financial needs are eligible to apply.  Recipients will receive up to $2000 to cover the cost of course enrollment and housing.  To apply,  fill out this application.  To contribute to the scholarship fund, visit the Total Immersion Scholarship site.

To enroll, sign up for housing, or get answers to frequently asked questions for this and our other summer courses, explore our summer courses FAQs.

Read more about the course from Stony Brook University news.

This course fulfills SNW Stony Brook University's educational diversity categories.

Frequently Asked Questions

This schedule allows students to have 4 days of lectures and in-class activities followed by a full weekend to study before each of the 2 exams, as well as a stress-free boat trip after each exam.  Each year, students overwhelmingly report that they prefer this schedule over a Monday to Friday schedule in which exams would be on Fridays.