The marine science major provides both an integrative science background and specialized foundation work especially suitable for students planning professional careers in marine fields.
Students majoring in any track of the marine science major are expected to be knowledgeable regarding fundamental concepts of biological, geological, chemical, and physical oceanography as well as scientific methods employed by marine scientists.
In addition, students are expected to be able to:
- synthesize information from the various marine science disciplines
- speak professionally
- utilize bibliographic resources effectively and properly document them in a scientific report.
The B.A. degree is not offered.
Required for the B.S. is a core of 10 courses:
- Biological Oceanography
- Geological Oceanography
- Chemical and Physical Oceanography
- Marine Science Seminar
- Fundamental Physics I
- General Chemistry I and II
- Calculus I and II
- Marine Science Comprehensive Exam or Senior Thesis.
In addition to the core, specified courses in one of the following four tracks must be included:
Marine Biology
- Marine Invertebrate Biology
- Marine and Freshwater Botany
- Cellular Processes
- Genetics and Molecular Biology
- Ecology
- Physiology
- Organic Chemistry I
Marine Chemistry
- Physics II
- Organic Chemistry I and II
- Analytical Chemistry
- Marine Geochemistry or Marine Pollution
- Instrumental Analysis
- any 200+ level course in Marine Science and one of the following: any 300+ level course in Marine Science or a 200+ level course in Mathematics.
Marine Geology
- Physics II
- Earth Systems History
- Earth Materials
- Earth Structure
- Marine Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
- three of the following upper level geology courses: Coastal Geology, Marine Invertebrate Paleontology, Marine Geochemistry, Marine Pollution, Principles of Hydrology, and Solid Earth Geophysics. Statistics, GIS for Environmental Studies or Remote Sensing may be substituted for one upper level geology class
Marine Geophysics
- Physics II
- Earth Materials
- Earth Structure
- Solid Earth Geophysics
- Calculus III
- Differential Equations
- one introductory computer science course (Computer Programming Concepts or Intermediate Programming)
- one of the following upper level courses: Earth Systems History, Marine Stratigraphy and Sedimentation, Marine Invertebrate Paleontology, Principles of Hydrology, Marine Geochemistry, Marine Pollution, Coastal Geology, GIS for Environmental Studies, Remote Sensing, or Linear Algebra.
All marine science majors are encouraged to participate in an alternative field experience, which may include Winter Term or Sea Semester.
Majors must complete one of the following capstone experiences:
Comprehensive Exam: A thorough exam covering general oceanography and required courses within the track; offered during the Winter Term and Spring Semester of a student's senior year.
Thesis: A formal thesis including original research in marine or related sciences. At least one marine science tenure-track faculty member must be on the thesis committee.
Students who major in the marine science biology track may not major in biology. Students who major in the marine science chemistry track may not major in chemistry. Students who major in marine science geology or geophysics tracks may not major in geosciences.
Students majoring or minoring in marine sc
ience must complete both Biological Oceanography and Geological Oceanography with a grade of C- or better.
Possible sequence of courses:
Marine Biology Track
First Years
- Biological Oceanography
- Geological Oceanography
- Calculus I
Sophomores
- General Chemistry I and II
- Calculus II
- Cellular Processes
- Genetics and Molecular Biology
Juniors
- Marine Invertebrate Biology
- Marine and Freshwater Botany
- Principles of Ecology
- Organic Chemistry I
- Marine Science Junior Seminar
Seniors
- Comparative Physiology
- Chemical and Physical Oceanography
- Marine Science Senior Seminar
- Physics I and II
Marine Chemistry Track
First Years
- Biological Oceanography
- Geological Oceanography
- General Chemistry I and II
- Calculus I
Sophomores
- Organic Chemistry I and II
- Calculus II
- Physics I and II
- Marine Pollution or any 200+ level course in Marine Science
Juniors
- Chemical and Physical Oceanography
- Analytical Chemistry
- any 300+ level course in Chemistry or Marine Science or a 200+ level course in Mathematics
- Marine Science Junior Seminar
Seniors
- Marine Geochemistry
- Instrumental Analysis
- Marine Science Senior Seminar
Marine Geophysics Track
First Years
- Biological Oceanography
- Geological Oceanography
- Calculus I and II
Sophomores
- Earth Structure
- Earth Materials
- Physics I and II
- Computer Programming Concepts or Intermediate Programming
Juniors
- Solid Earth Geophysics
- General Chemistry I and II
- Calculus III
- Marine Science Junior Seminar
Seniors
- Differential Equations
- Upper-level geology elective
- Chemical and Physical Oceanography
- Marine Science Senior Seminar
Marine Geology Track
First Years
- Biological Oceanography
- Geological Oceanography
- Calculus I and II
Sophomores
- Earth Materials
- Earth Systems History
- General Chemistry I and II
Juniors
- Earth Structure
- Marine Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
- Physics I and II
- Upper level geology elective or Statistics
- Marine Science Junior Seminar
Seniors
- 2 Upper-level geology electives
- Chemical and Physical Oceanography
- Marine Science Senior Seminar
The minor in Marine Science consists of five courses to include the following: Biological Oceanography, Geological Oceanography, Chemical and Physical Oceanography, and two marine science courses (with MS course prefixes) at the 200-level or above. Biological Oceanography and Geological Oceanography must be completed with a grade of C- or better. Please see course descriptions for prerequisites to these courses.
