About Field Quarter

Started by Ken Norris in 1973, Natural History Field Quarter is a 15-unit Environmental Studies class taught each spring quarter. While camping at UC's Natural Reserves, the class focuses on California natural history and land management. Graduates gain career skills relevant to field ecology, education, science illustration, writing, and environmental policy & management. Applications are required and scholarships are available. The class is open to ALL majors. 

Spring 2025 Class

Applications for this year's course will be due in the Fall Quarter by Sunday November 3th at midnight. Students accepted into the course may then apply for a scholarship. For more information, peruse this site, contact Chris Lay at (831) 459-4763 or email at cml@ucsc.edu. Also, please attend our NHFQ info night on Thursday October 17 from 7-8:30pm at the Norris Center in Natural Sciences 2 Room 233.  We encourage everyone to attend in-person if you can. If you can't attend in-person, here is a zoom link for the meeting. 

Alumni Quotes

Before Field Quarter, I had no idea what I wanted to do, cared deeply for the environment but lacked expertise and skill to feel competent to make any real impact in a professional manner. Now that I have completed the Field Quarter, I work as a Naturalist full-time. In my eyes it's all because of Field Quarter, which filled me with equal parts passion, wonder, dedication, and a practical skill set to transform my passion into environmental change.

Ken Norris

Norris Center logoLearn more about Ken Norris by visiting the Ken Norris Center for Natural History on Science Hill in Natural Sciences 2 Room 239.

 

NHFQ 2023

Wildflower bliss on NHFQ 2023