Gulf of California Field Course Overview and Application
Oceans Exploration: Gulf of California (Oceans 164H/264H)
Stanford’s Gulf of California Field Course is an immersive quarter-long program that investigates oceanography, ecology, animal behavior and humanistic elements. The program begins with three weeks of background lectures, labs, discussions and field trips at Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, California. The next five weeks take place in Baja California Sur, Mexico, where students will conduct oceanographic and ecological surveys, learn how to catch Humboldt squid, observe living octopus and other invertebrates in the wild and in the lab, see fishing/aquaculture operations and visit historic and cultural sites. After returning to Hopkins Marine Station, the final two weeks will wrap up with data analysis, paper writing, project preparation and a final symposium.
Exploration points of interest:
- 3 weeks at Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, CA (3/28-4/17)
- 5 weeks in Baja California Sur, Mexico (4/19-5/21)
- 2 more weeks at Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, CA (5/21-6/5)
While we work with local communities, we spend the majority of our time living and working together. Students should be prepared to work long hours outdoors, participate in daily chores, share nearly all meals together, and have very little time to themselves. This program can be very rewarding and, if you are fully engaged throughout, it is an amazing experience.
2026 Priority Application Deadline 11:59PM January 21, 2026
2026 Regular Application Deadline 11:59PM February 5, 2026
Program Dates 3/28/26 - 6/05/26
Questions oceans-baja@stanford.edu