Associate Professors
Robert Chant, B.S., SUNY(Buffalo); Ph.D., SUNY(Stony Brook)
Robert M. Sherrell, B.A., Oberlin; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyElisabeth Sikes, B.S., Wesleyan University; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution
John L. Wilkin, B.E., University of Auckland; Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of
Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Associate Research Professors
James Ammerman, B.A., Grinnell College; Ph.D., California (Scripps Institution of
Oceanography)
Enrique Curchitser, B.S., Ph.D., Rutgers
Michael Kennish, B.A., M.S., Ph.D., Rutgers
Maxim Y. Gorbunov, M.S., Ph.D. Moscow State (Russia)

Assistant Professors
Kay D. Bidle, B.S., Maryland (Baltimore County); Ph.D., California (San Diego/Scripps)
David Bushek, B.S., The Ohio State University; M.S., University of Houston; Ph.D. Rutgers
Josh Kohut, B.S., The College of Charleston; Ph.D., Rutgers

Assistant Research Professors
Thomas Grothues, B.A., California, Santa Barbara; Ph.D., SUNY (Stony Brook)
Julia Levin, B.S., Moscow Oil and Gas Academy; M.S., Ph.D., Columbia
Zavala-Garay, B.S., Universidad Autonoma de Baja California (Mexico); PhD., University of Colorado (Mexico)

Marine science is the study of the marine environment and its interactions with the earth, the biosphere, and the atmosphere. It is therefore an interdisciplinary science requiring a knowledge of the principles of physics, geology and geophysics, mathematics, chemistry, and biology. A major in marine sciences provides students with a broad curriculum in the sciences, which shows how the different scientific disciplines can be brought to bear on understanding marine processes, and managing ocean resources wisely. The major prepares a student for many future paths: further study in graduate school in oceanography or in one of the basic disciplines; employment in one of the many applied marine science or environmental fields; a career in environmental management in the civil service; or teaching in secondary schools.

The marine sciences courses emphasize improvement of oral and written communication skills, and facility in accessing, reading, and understanding the current primary literature in marine sciences. Many of the courses include hands-on, experiential learning in the laboratory or in the field. Students also are required to have 3 credits of experience-based education, by completing at least one term or summer of supervised, independent research.

Entry to the major requires a grade-point average of at least 2.0 in the basic, required mathematics and science courses (i.e., Calculus I and II, General Biology I and II, General Chemistry I and II, General Physics I and II) completed by the time of declaration. This is a credit-intensive major, and students are advised to contact the undergraduate director during their second term.

The curriculum includes the following options: Option A, Marine Biology/Biological Oceanography; Option B, Marine Chemistry; Option C, Marine Geology; and Option D, Physical Oceanography. The required core courses are listed below. For course descriptions see Cook College secton of the Undergraduate Catalog, Marine Science 628.

Required Core Courses (30 credits)

Options

Option A, Marine Biology/Biological Oceanography
Option A, Marine Biology/Biological Oceanography. This option prepares students for professional opportunities or graduate study in oceanography or the biological sciences. Concentrations within this option permit students to focus their studies at different levels of organization; e.g., at the molecular, cellular, organismic, community, or ecosystem level. Students fulfilling the requirements for this major option also may fulfill the requirements for a major in the biological sciences or natural resource management (see the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences chapter), depending on their choice of electives.
In addition to the core courses, the following courses are required.

Required courses (48-55))

Electives
At least four credits from the following (4-6)

Option B, Marine Chemistry
This option prepares students for professional opportunities or graduate study in oceanography or chemistry. Students fulfilling the requirement for this major option can fulfill the requirements for a major in chemistry with 6.5 additional credits of specific chemistry courses and 3 additional credits in mathematics. Beginning with the class of 2005, chemistry majors in Options B, C, and D must take a biochemistry class as well for ACS certification [01:694:407 Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (3) or 11:115:403 General Biochemistry (3)]

Required courses (55-63)

Electives
At least four credits from the following (4-6):

Option C, Marine Geology
This option prepares students for graduate study in oceanography, geology, environmental science or an allied field, and for employment directly following the B.S. Students fulfilling the requirements for this major option can fulfill the requirements for a geology major by taking three additional courses in geology: 01:460:303 Paleontology, 01:460:307 Structural Geology, and 01:460:410 Field Geology.

Required courses (48-57)

One of the following (3-4)

One of the following (3)

Option D, Physical Oceanography
This option prepares students for graduate study in physical oceanography, meteorology, fluid dynamics, or a related field; for employment within environmental agencies or consulting firms; and for technical positions within marine sciences.

Minor Requirements (18 credits)
A minor in marine sciences is offered for students who wish to show that their studies have included a focus on some aspect of marine science. Two terms of biology, calculus, chemistry, physics, and an introductory geology course are recommended and/or required for many of the courses in the program.