Hatfield Student Experience

Your Pathway to Coastal Learning

Hatfield Marine Science Center is Oregon State University’s marine field campus, combining world-class research with immersive undergraduate and graduate education. As OSU's central hub of marine resources for students, Marine and Coastal Opportunities can help you get there.

Take a class!
Internships and Research
Stay Connected!
Volunteer at the Coast!
Hatfield Facilities and Housing

Dive in and join us!  

Located on Yaquina Bay on the Oregon Coast, Hatfield Marine Science Center serves as Oregon State University’s site of learning for marine and coastal experiential learning, connecting students to hands-on learning and research opportunities across the coast. From curiosity to career preparation, students from all majors can engage in immersive courses, research, and community-embedded experiences grounded in real-world coastal systems. 

At Hatfield, OSU research laboratories are co-located with OSU Marine Operations, PacWave, and five state and federal agency partners, creating a unique environment where science, engineering, policy, and management intersect. As part of a broader coastal network, Hatfield also connects students to OSU’s coastal research sites, including the OSU Seafood Lab in Astoria on the North Coast and the Port Orford Field Station on the South Coast —expanding access to diverse environments, applied research, and career pathways across Oregon’s working waterfronts and coastal communities. 

Explore Ways to Learn at Hatfield 

Students from all majors can go beyond the classroom at Hatfield - learning through research, internships, creative practice, field experiences, and community partnerships — bridging the sciences, engineering, policy, education, and the arts. This integrated environment gives students hands-on experience, interdisciplinary exposure, and meaningful connections that support curiosity, skill-building, and career preparation.

Whether you’re exploring a new interest or building toward a career, Hatfield offers multiple ways to engage with coastal learning.

Take a Class

Oregon State University's academic programs offer field-based undergraduate and graduate courses at the Hatfield Marine Science Center. Spanning a myriad coastal topics and disciplines, these courses support different interests, schedules, and learning styles—so students from any major can "put the ocean" into their academic path. 

  • Hatfield's Facilities - Learn more about Hatfield's learning and research facilities.

  • Course Roster Page– Browse undergraduate and graduate coastal courses at Hatfield Marine Science Center by term to explore current and upcoming opportunities. 

  • Coastal Course Search Filter– Use the customizable search tool to filter courses by topic, term, course level, modality, and engagement length to find options that match your goals and schedule

Engage in Research and Internships

As a hub for marine and coastal work, Hatfield offers students diverse ways to gain mentored research or internship experiences. Students can apply in structured programs or seek out opportunities directly with faculty, research labs, and state and federal agency partners. By working alongside scientists and professionals, students build skills in scientific inquiry, collaboration, and applied problem-solving—gaining hands-on experience that supports both academic growth and career preparation.

Become a volunteer

Volunteering is one way to get involved in coastal learning through opportunities in the Hatfield community and the surrounding coastal region. These experiences offer hands-on learning, community engagement, and a way to explore your interests. 

Stay connected

Stay up to date with what’s happening at Hatfield and find informal ways to engage with marine and coastal science. From campus events to research seminars, there are many ways to connect, learn, and be part of the coastal community. 

  • Hatfield Events Calendar – Explore talks, workshops, and community events that highlight marine science, communication, and coastal topics. 

  • Thursday Research Seminars – Join weekly seminars (in-person or online) to hear from leading scientists at Hatfield and around the world on a wide range of marine and coastal research. 

  • Join the Community Listserv – Sign up to receive updates on events, opportunities, and happenings across the Hatfield community. This Listserv is open to those involved academically or professionally with Hatfield, including students.

Explore Hatfield's Facilities

Hatfield Marine Science Center is more than a single building—it is a fully integrated field
campus designed to support hands-on, transdisciplinary learning. From collaborative
learning spaces to specialized research infrastructure, Hatfield gives students access to
the tools, environments, and community that support real-world coastal learning.

 Completed in 2020, the The Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building  expanded Hatfield’s infrastructure with space for research, teaching, and collaboration. This modern, transdisciplinary facility supports diverse labs and student programs, creating a place where students can learn, create, and connect across disciplines. 

  • Innovation Lab: A collaborative space for researchers, students, and community members to connect with specialists who can take ideas from prototype to production. These facilities include a machine shop, welding shop, electronic lab and 3D printing, while also offering paid internships that provide students with hands-on experience relating to the design and development of a prototype.
  • Artist in Residency Studio: A dedicated studio and exhibit that provides a collaborative space for visiting artists to explore and the marine world in transformative ways. 
  • Vertical Evacuation: Engineered to be a vertical evacuation structure, this building is stocked with rooftop supplies to support over 920 people for up to two days after a Cascadia-level event. 
  • Rise Cafe: Open Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 3:00 pm - Offers coffee, lunch, and snacks featuring local and fresh food. 
  • Carmen Ford Phillips Auditorium: A 250-seat auditorium built to be a designated space for lectures, music, performing arts, and more. 

 The Marilyn Potts Guin Library houses the largest marine science collection on the West Coast, designed to support coastal learning through its access to collaborative study areas and resources. 

  • Guin’s Library of Things: A collection of technology, games, equipment, and kits available for checkout by any student or community member. 
  • Hatfield’s Food Pantry: Designed to reduce food insecurity within the Hatfield community, this resource is available to students, staff, faculty, agency partners, and community members - no proof of income required. 
  • Workspaces: Available in reserveable and drop-in formats, these spaces within the Guin Library are designed to foster communication and collaboration within the Hatfield community. 
  • The Mind Spa: A relaxation space to help individuals unwind and rejuvenate with features such as massage chairs, yoga mats, a biofeedback system, and more. 

 Hatfield’s Learning Facilities are equipped with various types of equipment and technologies that positively impact coastal learning opportunities.

  • Hatfield’s Seawater System: A continuous-flow seawater system that supplies high-quality seawater from the Yaquina Bay directly to labs and teaching spaces across campus.

  • Campus Classrooms and Laboratories: A variety of classrooms and labs exist within Hatfield’s facilities, including seawater labs, computational labs, wet labs, and specialty labs. 

Hatfield’s Research Facilities span up and down the Oregon Coast, providing access to marine areas and collecting valuable data on the state of our ocean. Hatfield connects students to a broader network of facilities and partners across the Oregon coast, supporting hands-on learning, fieldwork, and real-world research experiences. 

  • Coastal Monitoring Station – Provides real-time ocean and atmospheric data used in research and student learning about coastal processes and environmental change. 

  • Marine Operations– Supports research vessels, small boats, and fieldwork, enabling students to participate in hands-on ocean research and gain experience on the water. 

  • Small Boat Program– Provides access to a fleet of small boats and trained operators, giving students opportunities to support nearshore and estuarine fieldwork. 

  • Scientific Diving Program – Offers professional scientific diving training and supports underwater research, allowing students to gain experience in marine field methods and data collection. 

  • Coastal Research Network – A collaborative network of OSU programs, agencies, and partners that expands opportunities for students to engage in applied research, fieldwork, and coastal careers. 

Living at the Coast: Hatfield Housing 

Students have the option to live at the coast while taking courses, participating in research, or engaging in internships at Hatfield Marine Science Center. Housing is located near classes, labs, and field sites—making it easier to stay connected, manage busy schedules, and be part of the coastal community. 

 

  • Harborton Street Housing: Hatfield’s newest and primary residential option, featuring modern studio and two-bedroom apartments located outside the tsunami zone. Units are fully furnished, with all-inclusive rates covering utilities, Wi-Fi, laundry, parking, and access to shared community spaces. 

  • Historic Hatfield Housing: A more traditional, on-campus option that may be available for shorter stays, including workshops, courses, and visiting students or professionals. 

  • Students interested in living at Hatfield should apply early, as space is limited and demand can be high. 

  • Housing Application & Deadlines – View application details, timelines, and availability for each term. 

Financial support is available to help offset the cost of living at the coast for students participating in Hatfield-based experiences. 

Traveling to Hatfield

  • The Coast to Valley Express Shuttle is a public transit system that travels from the central valley to Newport and back, 4 trips daily, with multiple pick-up locations including Hatfield Marine Science Center and OSU's McNary Hall. 

  • MACO provides tickets to the Coast to Valley Express shuttle free of charge to students engaging in marine-related academic & professional development work, such as classes, field trips, tours, lectures, meetings, events, etc. at Hatfield Marine Science Center.  Read more on the MACO website