Marine Biology and Coastal Sciences represent the wide variety of ecosystems that are linked through water. The study of Marine Biology and Coastal Sciences encompasses freshwater lakes and streams, estuaries, and coastal marine habitats. These habitats are critical for numerous plants and animals, but they can be compromised by human activities. Students who pursue this major are interested in understanding the relationships among plants, animals and humans and how to protect and restore these valuable ecosystems.
This major is an interdisciplinary program of study emphasizing the four core sciences of biology, geology, chemistry, and physics. This is a combined BS/MS program where students will be engaged in both class work and research, culminating in the development and completion of the Master's Thesis. Students completing this program will be well prepared to enter the work force in research, environmental consulting, education and regulatory agencies (e.g., EPA), as well as in non-profit organizations. Additionally, students will be prepared to undertake further graduate work.
The curriculum was designed for students who have had high school biology, chemistry, and physics, and three years of college preparatory mathematics.
120 credits of coursework is required for the baccalaureate degree with a minimum 2.0 overall GPA, and a minimum 2.0 major GPA.
General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. New Student Seminar | 1 | |
| C. Communication | ||
| 1. Writing | 3 | |
| 2. Literature | 3 | |
| 3. Communication | 3 | |
| D. Fine and Performing Arts | 3 | |
| F. Humanities | ||
| 1. Great Works and Their Influences | 3 | |
| 2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 | |
| G. Computer Science | 3 | |
| H. Mathematics | 0 | |
| Fulfilled in the major. | ||
| I. Natural Science Laboratory | ||
| Fulfilled in the major. | 0 | |
| J. Physical Education | 1 | |
| K. Social Science | ||
| 1. American and European History | 3 | |
| 2. Global Cultural Perspectives | 3 | |
| 3. Social Science Perspectives | 3 | |
| L. Interdisciplinary Studies | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 35 | |
World Languages and Cultures Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| World Languages | 3-6 | |
| World Cultures | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 3-9 | |
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 35 | |
| World Languages and Cultures Requirements | 3-9 | |
| Major Requirements (including Graduate swing courses) | 78-79 | |
| Free Electives | 4-0 | |
| Total Credits | 120-123 | |
Major Requirements
Requirements for the graduate portion of this combined program can be found here.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| AQUA 351 | Aquatic Biological Processes | 4 |
| BIMS 220 | Introduction to Marine Biology | 4 |
| BIOL 113 | Principles of Biology II | 4 |
| BIOL 213 | Introduction to Ecology | 4 |
| EAES 105 | Physical Geology | 4 |
| EAES 230 | Hydrology | 3 |
| EAES 322 | Environmental Geochemistry | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Research in Aquatic and Coastal Sciences | ||
| Biology Independent Research | ||
| Field Methods in the Marine Sciences | ||
| Independent Study in Geoscience | ||
| Major Electives | ||
| Select two courses from the list (see below) | 7-8 | |
| Collateral Requirements | ||
| Chemistry Collateral | ||
| CHEM 120 | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHEM 121 | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHEM 230 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 232 | Experimental Organic Chemistry I | 2 |
| Physics Collateral | ||
| Select one of the following sequences: | 8 | |
| University Physics I and University Physics II | ||
| College Physics I and College Physics II | ||
| Mathematics Collateral | ||
| Select one of the following sequences: | 8 | |
| Applied Precalculus and Applied Calculus A | ||
| Calculus I and Calculus II | ||
| Statistics Collateral | ||
| STAT 230 | Data Science and Statistics | 3 |
| Graduate Courses 1 | ||
| AQUA 551 | Advanced Aquatic Biological Processes | 3 |
| BIOL 570 | Ecology | 3 |
| EAES 505 | Environmental Geoscience | 3 |
| or EAES 526 | Geochemistry | |
| Total Credits | 78-79 | |
| 1 | These courses will also count toward the MS portion of this program. |
Major Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIMS 490 | Field Methods in the Marine Sciences | 4 |
| BIOL 380 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL 460 | Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| BIOL 461 | Aquatic Ecology | 3 |
| BIOL 467 | Biology of the Fishes | 4 |
| CHEM 231 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 233 | Experimental Organic Chemistry II | 2 |
| CHEM 310 | Analytical Chemistry | 5 |
| EAES 210 | Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| EAES 310 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | 3 |
| EAES 311 | Fundamentals of Remote Sensing of Environment | 3 |
| EAES 331 | Geohydrology | 3 |
| EAES 340 | Sedimentology | 4 |
| EAES 341 | Principles of Soil Science | 3 |
| EAES 451 | Coastal Marine Geology | 4 |
This recommended five-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within five years. This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.
Fifth year courses are taken at the graduate level, after matriculation into the graduate portion of this combined degree program.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (A) New Student Seminar | 1 | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing | 3 | |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature | 3 | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication | 3 | |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 10 | |