Thank you for your interest in the Wrigley Institute’s Catalina Residential College Julymester at the Wrigley Marine Science Center (WMSC). In this program, we run several exciting Julymester classes within a residential college model on Catalina Island.

The purpose of a residential college setup is to provide a unique living-learning community for students as they expand their understanding of the environment and sustainability. Students are given a place for self-discovery through diverse experiences, educational support networks, exchanges with peers from different backgrounds, and close relationships with mentors in an interdisciplinary academic environment.

Catalina Residential College Julymester courses offer a month-long immersive learning experience, bringing together students from across the academic domains (natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities) to learn from the faculty and each other. The program includes undergraduates, graduate TAs, and faculty members living and learning as one community.

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  • A: We aim to offer 3 classes during the Julymester, which are all open to all majors. You may contact the instructor(s) with questions.

    • ENGL 105x Wayfinding: A Catalina Field Guide to Creative Writing (Creative Writing for Non-Majors)
    • ENST 320aL: Water & Soil Sustainability
    • HIST 499: Atlas Catalinae: Critical Map-Making on Catalina Island

  • A: Below is a high-level overview of the application process. Applicants and/or admitted students should refer to the more detailed instructions provided in the application and via email.

    To apply, you will need to submit a STARS report and a 500-word essay about why you are interested in the program and how it will advance your career goals. You can apply for up to two classes in the Catalina Residential College but will only be admitted to one. 

    The course professors review the applications and make their decisions, and students are notified by the Catalina Residential College team about their application decision usually within 1-2 weeks of the application deadline.

    Students who accept their admission offer will then submit a commitment to participate form, receive D-clearance, and then register for the course.

    The Catalina Residential College team strongly encourages all interested students to apply by the priority application deadline, Sunday, April 12 at 11:59 p.m. PT. This provides students the best chance at admission to their preferred course. If any courses still have space after the priority application deadline, students can apply on a rolling basis.

  • A: To foster a high-quality learning experience and to accommodate capacity limits on the island, each course is limited to 10-15 students. In years past, some courses have filled up quickly with waitlists. Faculty will have to be selective if interest exceeds available space, but some may be able to admit everyone who applies. We recommend applying early and contacting the faculty member for your desired course to express your interest.

  • A: All Julymester classes are part of the fall semester as far as units and tuition are concerned as long as you don’t go into credit overload (no more than 18 total units INCLUDING the Julymester). Classes run July 13-August 7, 2026. Class sizes are small to provide ample interactions with faculty and individual academic attention.

    Generally, required class activities take place Monday-Friday on Catalina Island. However, some courses may have required activities on the weekend, so you are encouraged to contact the relevant faculty member for more information.


    Classes are generally a mix of classroom/lecture time, research/writing, and field work. Most of the classes involve some kind of diving, boating, or hiking activities. Specific activities vary by course, so contact the faculty for more information about specific classes.

  • A: You can contact the faculty member for each course.

     

  • A: The Catalina Julymester courses can count toward your major or minor, depending on your course of study. Many of the courses are already approved for major/minor credit within the department that offers them.

    If you don’t see your Catalina Julymester course in your major/minor course plan, you can request the syllabus from the Julymester faculty member and send it to your advisor/department with a request to have the course counted toward your major or minor. We often hear that students complete this successfully!

  • A: The Catalina Island Julymester is not a vacation. Classes are academically rigorous. Because they condense an entire semester’s worth of work into a single month, the pace can be challenging. One day of instruction is roughly equal to a week’s worth of instruction during a normal semester. However, the small class size and close contact with faculty mean that students who want good grades usually earn them.

  • A: Yes, it is possible to complete this Julymester as a rising sophomore. All Julymester faculty spend the full month on the island and are highly accessible to and supportive of our students, so this is a good environment in which to challenge yourself. 

  • A: Tuition is covered under normal USC fall tuition as long as you don’t go into credit overload (no more than 18 total units INCLUDING the Julymester). There is an additional cost of $2,398 for room and board (21 meals/week) for the 4-week program.

    Some financial support is available through the Wrigley Institute. The priority deadline to apply for support is Sunday, April 12th at 11:59 p.m. PT. The application will remain open past the priority deadline only if funds are still available, so students who need support are strongly encouraged to apply early.

    For eligible students, Wrigley Institute room and board support of up to $1,298 can be combined with SOAR funds of up to $1,000*. See the SOAR website for more details.

    * Students enrolled in Julymester’s ENGL 105x Wayfinding: A Catalina Field Guide to Creative Writing (Creative Writing for Non-Majors) are not eligible for SOAR funds. 

    Please contact Hannah Maryanski Kiszla (maryansk@usc.edu) with questions.

    Note: Students who are admitted to Julymester and submit the commitment form will be subject to a withdrawal fee if they later choose to drop the program.

  • A: Students live in dormitories at the Wrigley Marine Science Center with 2 or 3 students to a room and 2 dorm rooms sharing each bathroom. The dining hall serves three meals each day, and the food is typically better than normal cafeteria food. Note that, due to WMSC’s remote location and limited staff and equipment, we are limited in the number and type of dietary restrictions we can accommodate.  Read the full WMSC Dietary Policy >>

  • A: While students are encouraged to stay on the island Monday-Friday, USC runs boats several times a week to and from WMSC, and we schedule classes and labs around the boat schedule. Students are welcome to return to L.A. over the weekends, as long as this does not conflict with their class schedule. However, most students choose to stay on the island and take advantage of recreational activities like snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, etc.

  • A: Baywatch paramedics are based in the town of Two Harbors, and they can reach the lab in just a few minutes. We also have a first-aid team on site at the Catalina Hyberbaric Chamber. For minor issues requiring a doctor’s attention, Catalina Island Medical Center is roughly 30 minutes away by boat in Avalon. Additionally, our campus has a helipad for medical evacuations to the mainland, which usually take about 30 minutes.

    We also recommend you add the USC Student Health Phone Line: 213-740-9355 to your phone. This number connects to services 24/7, even when the health center locations are closed. USC Student Health services include Advice Nurse, Mental Health Counseling Support, and Confidential Advocates for sexual assault survivor care.
    Note that there is no pharmacy nearby, so students should plan to pack a full month’s supply of all necessary medicines.

  • A: WMSC is a satellite campus of USC. As such, we mirror the main campus in terms of all health requirements and recommendations. We encourage all guests to follow best practices for maintaining a healthy environment, including being up-to-date on vaccinations and remaining away from others and/or wearing a mask if you are sick. A designated faculty member, TA, or WMSC staff member is always on call for after-hours needs. Because WMSC is a USC facility, the full USC Student Code of Conduct, including alcohol and drug policies, also applies and will be enforced.

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