Marine Sciences, BS

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Marine Sciences, BS

Bachelor of Science in Marine Sciences · 69 credits

Catalog page

Typical path

+ First Year Seminar

+ SBC

+ SBC ×2

+ MAR Elective

+ SBC

+ Elective

+ MAR Elective

+ Upper-division SBC

+ MAR 305 or MAR Elective

+ Upper-division SBC

+ SBC

+ Elective

+ Upper-division SBC

+ Upper-division elective

+ Elective ×2

All options

Hide courses not offered in

Focus Area (Choose one, 9 credits minimum) (1)

Pick 9 credits · 23 courses to choose from

100s

None

200s

None

300s

400s

Focus Area (Choose one, 9 credits minimum) (2)

Pick 9 credits · 13 courses to choose from

100s

None

200s

None

300s

400s

Focus Area (Choose one, 9 credits minimum) (3)

Pick 9 credits · 8 courses to choose from

100s

None

200s

None

300s

400s

Foundation Courses (40 credits)

- AMS 102Elements of Statistics3 cr
- or
  AMS 110Probability and Statistics in the Life Sciences3 cr
ATM 201Introduction to Climate and Climate Change3 cr
BIO 201Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems3 cr
- BIO 202Fundamentals of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Biology3 cr
- or
  BIO 203Fundamentals of Biology: Cellular and Organ Physiology3 cr
CHE 131General Chemistry IB4 cr
CHE 133General Chemistry Laboratory I1 cr
CHE 132General Chemistry II4 cr
CHE 134General Chemistry Laboratory II1 cr
One of
- GEO 122Physical Geology4 cr
- or
  All of
  - GEO 102The Earth3 cr
  - GEO 112Physical Geology Laboratory1 cr
MAR 104Oceanography3 cr
MAR 105Introduction to Oceanography Laboratory1 cr
MAT 125Calculus A3 cr
MAT 126Calculus B3 cr
- ENS 119Physics for Environmental Studies4 cr
- or
  PHY 119Physics for Environmental Studies4 cr
- or
  PHY 121Physics for the Life Sciences I4 cr

Alternative path: replaces CHE 131, CHE 132

CHE 152Molecular Science I4 cr

Catalog text

CHE 152 may be substituted for CHE 131 +CHE 132.

Substitution

CHE 129 /CHE 130 may be substituted for CHE 131.

Substitution

MAT 131, MAT 132 or MAT 141, MAT 142 or MAT 171 may be substituted for MAT 125, MAT 126

Substitution

The first semester of any calculus-based Physics with lab can be substituted, such as PHY 131 /PHY 133 or PHY 141 or PHY 142.

Catalog text

AMS 102 - Elements of Statistics OR AMS 110 - Probability and Statistics in the Life Sciences; ATM 201 - Introduction to Climate and Climate Change; BIO 201 - Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems; BIO 202 - Fundamentals of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Biology OR BIO 203 - Fundamentals of Biology: Cellular and Organ Physiology; CHE 131 - General Chemistry IB (see Note 1); CHE 133 - General Chemistry Laboratory I; CHE 132 - General Chemistry II (see Note 1); CHE 134 - General Chemistry Laboratory II; GEO 122 - Physical Geology OR GEO 102 - The Earth + GEO 112 - Physical Geology Laboratory; MAR 104 - Oceanography; MAR 105 - Introduction to Oceanography Laboratory; MAT 125 - Calculus A (see layout note re MAT 130); MAT 126 - Calculus B (see Note 2); ENS 119 - Physics for Environmental Studies OR PHY 119 - Physics for Environmental Studies OR PHY 121 - Physics for the Life Sciences I (see Note 3)

Core Courses (20 credits)

MAR 349Introduction to Biological Oceanography4 cr
MAR 351Introduction to Ocean Chemistry3 cr
MAR 352Introduction to Physical Oceanography3 cr
MAR 354Introduction to Geological Oceanography3 cr
ATM 320Problem Solving with Python3 cr
GSS 313GIS Design and Application I3 cr
GSS 314GIS Laboratory1 cr

Catalog text

MAR 349 - Introduction to Biological Oceanography 4 credits; MAR 351 - Introduction to Ocean Chemistry 3 credits; MAR 352 - Introduction to Physical Oceanography 3 credits; MAR 354 - Introduction to Geological Oceanography 3 credits; ATM 320 - Problem Solving with Python 3 credits; GSS 313 - GIS Design and Application I 3 credits; GSS 314 - GIS Laboratory 1 credit

Focus Area (Choose one, 9 credits minimum)

One of

Choose 9 credits
- BIO 342Invertebrate Zoology3 cr
- BIO 343Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory2 cr
- BIO 351Ecology3 cr
- BIO 353Marine Ecology3 cr
- MAR 301Environmental Microbiology4 cr
- MAR 302Marine Microbiology and Microbial Ecology3 cr
- MAR 303Long Island Marine Habitats4 cr
- MAR 305Experimental Marine Biology3 cr
- MAR 315Marine Conservation3 cr
- MAR 320Limnology4 cr
- MAR 370Marine Mammals3 cr
- MAR 373Marine Apex Predators: Ecology and Conservation3 cr
- MAR 375Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rehabilitation3 cr
- MAR 376Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles3 cr
- MAR 377Biology and Conservation of Seabirds3 cr
- MAR 380Ichthyology3 cr
- MAR 384Diseases of Aquatic Organisms3 cr
- MAR 385Principles of Fishery Biology and Management3 cr
- MAR 386Ecosystem Science for Fisheries Management3 cr
- MAR 388Tropical Marine Ecology4 cr
- SUS 326Conservation Genetics3 cr
- MAR 487Research in Marine Sciences0–6 cr
- MAR 488Internship0–6 cr
At most 3 credits from MAR 487, MAR 488.
or
Choose 9 credits
- CHE 321Organic Chemistry I4 cr
- ENV 320Chemistry for Environmental Scientists3 cr
- MAR 301Environmental Microbiology4 cr
- MAR 302Marine Microbiology and Microbial Ecology3 cr
- MAR 308Environmental Instrumental Analysis3 cr
- MAR 336Marine Pollution3 cr
- MAR 340Environmental Problems and Solutions3 cr
- MAR 384Diseases of Aquatic Organisms3 cr
- MAR 392Waste Management Issues3 cr
- MAR 393Waste Treatment Technologies3 cr
- MAR 394Environmental Toxicology and Public Health3 cr
- MAR 487Research in Marine Sciences0–6 cr
- MAR 488Internship0–6 cr
At most 3 credits from MAR 487, MAR 488.
or
Choose 9 credits
- ENV 316Coastal Zone Management3 cr
- GSS 325GIS Design & Applications II3 cr
- GSS 354Geospatial Science for the Coastal Zone3 cr
- MAR 304Waves, Tides, and Beaches3 cr
- MAR 333Coastal Oceanography3 cr
- MAR 334Remote Sensing of the Environment3 cr
- MAR 487Research in Marine Sciences0–6 cr
- MAR 488Internship0–6 cr
At most 3 credits from MAR 487, MAR 488.

Substitution

CHE 331 may be substituted for CHE 321.

Catalog text

Focus Area (Choose one, 9 credits minimum): Marine Ecology & Conservation: BIO 342 - Invertebrate Zoology 3 credits; BIO 343 - Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory 2 credits OR BIO 351 - Ecology 3 credits; BIO 353 - Marine Ecology 3 credits; MAR 301 - Environmental Microbiology 4 credits OR MAR 302 - Marine Microbiology and Microbial Ecology 3 credits; MAR 303; MAR 305; MAR 315; MAR 320; MAR 370; MAR 373; MAR 375; MAR 376; MAR 377; MAR 380; MAR 384; MAR 385; MAR 386; MAR 388; SUS 326; MAR 487 or MAR 488 (maximum of three credits for the major). Environmental Health: CHE 321 - Organic Chemistry I (see Note 4); ENV 320; MAR 301 OR MAR 302; MAR 308; MAR 336; MAR 340; MAR 384; MAR 392; MAR 393; MAR 394; MAR 487 or MAR 488 (maximum of three credits for the major). Coastal Processes: ENV 316; GSS 325; GSS 354; MAR 304; MAR 333; MAR 334; MAR 487 or MAR 488 (maximum of three credits for the major). Other courses may be substituted with department approval.

Upper-Division Writing Requirement

MAR 459Write Effectively in ATM, ENS, MAR and MVB0 cr
Enrollment in and satisfactory completion of an approved advanced course that entails writing of either a term paper or a laboratory report

Catalog text

The advanced writing component of the major in MAR requires registration in, and satisfactory completion of, the 0-credit MAR 459 (S/U grading) along with enrollment in an approved advanced course that entails writing of either a term paper or a laboratory report. Completion of MAR 459 with a grade of S will also result in fulfillment of the WRTD requirement.

Math placement condition

If students do not place into MAT 125 or 131 on the basis of the math placement examination, MAT 123 (or MAT 119/MAT 123) is a required course for the major.

Catalog text

If students do not place into MAT 125 or 131 on the basis of the math placement examination, MAT 123 (or MAT 119/MAT 123) is a required course for the major.

Total credits and grade rule

Completion of the major requires a minimum of 69 credits. Of these, no more than one course (4 credits) with a grade lower than C can be credited to the major.

Catalog text

The major in Marine Sciences leads to a Bachelor of Sciences degree. Completion of the major requires a minimum of 69 credits. Of these, no more than one course (4 credits) with a grade lower than C can be credited to the major.

Sample schedule

Year 1 · Fall15 cr

First Year Seminar 1011
WRT 101Introductory Writing Workshop3
CHE 131General Chemistry IB4
CHE 1221
MAT 125Calculus A3
MAR 104Oceanography3

Year 1 · Spring16 cr

First Year Seminar 1021
WRT 102Intermediate Writing Workshop3
CHE 132General Chemistry II4
CHE 134General Chemistry Laboratory II1
MAT 126Calculus B3
MAR 105Introduction to Oceanography Laboratory1
SBC3

Year 2 · Fall16 cr

BIO 201Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems3
ATM 201Introduction to Climate and Climate Change3
GEO 102The Earth3
GEO 112Physical Geology Laboratory1
SBC3
SBC3

Year 2 · Spring16 cr

BIO 202 / BIO 203Fundamentals of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Biology3
AMS 102Elements of Statistics3
ENS 119 / PHY 119Physics for Environmental Studies4
SBC3
SBC3

Year 3 · Fall16 cr

MAR 351Introduction to Ocean Chemistry3
GSS 313GIS Design and Application I3
GSS 314GIS Laboratory1
MAR Elective3
SBC3
Elective3

Year 3 · Spring13 cr

MAR 349Introduction to Biological Oceanography4
MAR 354Introduction to Geological Oceanography3
MAR Elective3
Upper-division SBC3
MAR 459Write Effectively in ATM, ENS, MAR and MVB0

Year 4 · Fall15 cr

MAR 352Introduction to Physical Oceanography3
MAR 305 or MAR Elective3
Upper-division SBC3
SBC3
Elective3

Year 4 · Spring15 cr

ATM 320Problem Solving with Python3
Upper-division SBC3
Upper-division elective3
Elective3
Elective3

Notes

Advising: Students should contact the director of undergraduate studies to design and approve an acceptable course of study before declaring the major.
Note: MAR 487 and MAR 488 may count for a maximum of three credits toward the major.
Note: Marine Sciences Honors Program: students with a 3.50 GPA in all courses for the major by the end of the junior year may apply to the SoMAS undergraduate director. Honors requires an honors thesis written as a scientific journal paper, an oral examination in May, a recommendation from the undergraduate research committee, and a GPA of 3.5 in major courses through senior year. Not evaluated here.
Note: BS/MS program in Marine Sciences/MS in Marine and Atmospheric Sciences: effective Spring 2026, admission is temporarily suspended. Not evaluated here.
SBC: The SBC table lists major courses that can also satisfy SBC categories (e.g., MAR 459 for WRTD, ATM 320 for ESI). Per-course SBC tags are not encoded on the program.