Undergraduate Marine Sciences
SEBS(628) - NEW

To view old SEBS Major Curriculum click on the appropriate links here:

• SEBS Major 2003-2005

Degree: B.S.

Undergraduate Program Director: Judith P. Grassle, 732-932-6555 (351),

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 demonstrates how the different disciplines can be brought to bear on understanding marine processes and managing ocean resources wisely.

The Major prepares students for graduate work in oceanography or one of the basic disciplines, civil service careers in environmental management, employment in the many applied environmental and marine science fields, or teaching in the secondary schools.

The marine science 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 field. Students also are required to complete the experience-based education requirement with at least one term or summer of supervised, independent research.

The program includes the following options:

Marine Biology/Biological Oceanography
This option prepares students for professional opportunities or graduate study in oceanography or the biological sciences. Concentrations within the option permit students to focus on different levels of biological organization: at the molecular, cellular, organismic, community, or ecosystem level. Depending on their choice of electives, students also may fulfill the requirements of a major in the biological sciences or ecology and natural resources.

Marine Chemistry
This option prepares students for professional opportunities or graduate study in oceanography or chemistry. Students who elect 6.5 additional credits of chemistry and 3 additional credits of mathematics also may fulfill the requirements of a major in chemistry. (Beginning with the class of 2005, chemistry majors in Options B, C, and D must complete at least one term of biochemistry at the 400-level for ACS certification).

Marine Geology
This option prepares students for graduate study in oceanography, geology, environmental science, or an allied field, as well as for immediate employment. Students electing three additional courses in geology also may fulfill the requirements for the major in geological sciences.

Physical Oceanography
This option prepares students for graduate study in physical oceanography, meteorology, fluid dynamics, or a related field, as well as immediate employment in environmental agencies or consulting firms and technical positions in marine sciences.G

Graduation Requirements for the Major
Students majoring in marine sciences must have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0.

All students in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences must complete the SEBS Core Requirements appropriate for students majoring in Marine Sciences (Areas I through VII below), plus the additional Major requirements (Area VIII A below, and one of the options described in Area VIII B below).

I. School Mission: Interdisciplinary Critical Analysis (5-6 credits)

II. Introductory Life and Physical Sciences (17 credits)

A. Life Sciences (8 credits)

B. Physical Sciences (9 credits)
01:160:161-162 General Chemistry (4, 4)
01:160:171 Introduction to Experimentation (1)

III. Humanities and the Arts (6 credits)
See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

IV. Multicultural and International Studies (6 credits)
See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

V. Human Behavior, Economic and Political Processes (9 credits)
A. Human Behavior (3 credits)
See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

B. Economic Systems (3 credits)
See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter
.
Students considering the fisheries science certificate should note that microeconomics is a prerequisite for 11:373:362 Natural Resource Economics (3) and 11:373:363 Environmental Economics (3).

C. Political Processes (3 credits)
See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

VI. Oral and Written Communication (6 credits)
See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

VII. Experience-Based Education (6 credits)
11:628:497,498 Special Problems in Marine Sciences (BA, BA) or an equivalent independent research or cooperative education placement which includes both oral and written presentations of scientific results.

VIII. Proficiency in Marine Sciences (55-74.5 (credits)

A. REQUIRED COURSES (10 credits)

Quantitative Skills
See VIII. B., Option Requirements

Computer and Information Technology Competence
See VIII. B., Option Requirements

Professional Ethics
Ethical issues in marine sciences are addressed throughout the program in both introductory and advanced courses, especially within the framework of the experience-based educational requirement.

B. OPTIONS (45-64.5 credits)

IX. Unspecified Electives 18 credits

In addition to courses meeting the above requirements, students can take any other courses offered by the University, for which they meet the course eligibility requirements, to bring their total number of credits to the minimum of 128 required for graduation.

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