Marine Science Major (BS) and Minor

MAJOR

Required for the B.S. is a core of 10 courses:

Biological Oceanography, Geological Oceanography, Chemical and Physical Oceanography, Fundamental Physics I, General Chemistry I and II, Calculus I and II, and Marine Science Capstone 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, Principles of Ecology, Physiology, one of the following physics or chemistry support courses: Physics 2, Organic Chemistry I, or Analytical Chemistry and one of the following upper‑level biology track or additional support courses: Biology of Fishes, Marine Invertebrate Paleontology, Marine Conservation Ecology, Marine Mammalogy, Mangrove Biology & Ecology, Navigation of Marine Organisms, Parasitology, Restoration Ecology, Elasmobranch Biology & Management, Coral Reefs, Physics 2, Organic Chemistry I, or Analytical Chemistry.

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 Chemistry or Marine Science or a 200+ level course in Mathematics.

MARINE GEOLOGY ‑ Physics II, Earth Systems History, Earth Materials, Earth Structure, Marine Stra‑ tigraphy and Sedimentation, and 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 or Linear Algebra, and one introductory computer science course (Computer Programming Concepts or Intermediate Programming), and 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, Linear Algebra, or Differential Equations.

All marine science majors are encouraged to participate in an alternative field experience, which may include Winter Term, Spring‑into‑Summer or Sea Semester.

Majors must complete one of the following capstone experiences:

Marine Science Capstone: A course in which students synthesize oceanographic concepts and demonstrate cumulative knowledge through examinations, oral presentations, written assignments, and group discussions. Students participate in either the Fall or Spring Term of their Senior year.

Thesis: A formal thesis including original research in marine or related sciences. By invitation of the Marine Science Faculty. At least one tenure‑track marine science faculty member must be on the thesis committee.

Students who major or minor in biology may not also major in the marine science biology track; students who major or minor in geosciences may not also major in the marine science geology or geo‑physics track; and students who major or minor in chemistry may not also major in the marine science chemistry track.

Students majoring or minoring in marine science must complete both Biological Oceanography and Geological Oceanography with a grade of C‑ or better. All Marine Science courses (with an MS prefix) require that every prerequisite course must be completed with a C‑ or better unless waived by the instructor.

MINOR

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. Biologi‑ cal Oceanography and Geological Oceanography must be completed with a grade of C‑ or better.

Please see course descriptions for prerequisites to these courses.