Oceanography taught this winter in Baja

Glendale Community College is offering a winter program in Baja at the college’s field station. GCC has been holding classes in the Baja California peninsula of Mexico since 1974.

Oceanography 115 — Introduction to Oceanography and Oceanography 116 — Field/Laboratory Investigations in Oceanography are both transferable courses to the UC and CSU systems. The classes will be held at the college’s new field station Jan. 24 to Feb. 7. The field station (Estación del Mar Cortés) is in the town of Bahía de los Angeles on the Gulf coast of the Baja California Peninsula. The area is sometimes referred to as the “Galapagos of Mexico” because of its natural beauty and biodiversity. The area is known as the Midriff Islands where students in the program do their field research and it is famous to scientists and educators and even fishermen.

The field station has classrooms, dorms, a living room, kitchen, showers and restrooms. Students help with daily cleaning and food preparation under the supervision of staff and a cook.

The college credit courses are open to anyone from high school students to seniors and have no prerequisites. Participants are required to enroll at the college and get a student ID number. Students will also meet on the GCC campus from Jan. 9 to 20 before beginning courses at the field station.

The cost is $850. It includes food, transportation and lodging at the field station. More information and the application form can be found at www.glendale.edu/baja.

Medical and Dental Office Courses Meet High Job Demand

Completion of GCC’s Medical and Dental Front Office/Billing and Coding Programs lead to jobs in hospitals, medical clinics and doctors’ and dentists’ offices. Courses are offered in the spring semester starting the week of Feb. 13.