The Biology and Geomorphology of Tropical Islands class, also known as ESPM 107 and IB 158, is a semester-long field science course for undergraduates at the University of California, Berkeley. In the fall of 2006, 22 students spent nine weeks on the island of Moorea in French Polynesia conducting original research at the Richard B. Gump South Pacific Research Station. The curriculum focuses on moving students from the lecture hall into the world of professional science through the creation, design, and completion of unique research projects covering biology, geology, oceanography, and anthropology. Students explore diverse environments including reefs, highlands, and mangrove swamps to find specific research interests. The course structure includes three weeks of preparation in Berkeley, nine weeks of field research in Moorea, and two final weeks back in Berkeley for final analysis and the publication of their results in a research volume.