COURSE CURRICULUM

The Marine Science degree program at The University of Alabama is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary curriculum designed to provide students with a strong foundation in biological, chemical, geological, and physical sciences while preparing them for careers or advanced studies related to marine environments, and the program begins with core science requirements that include introductory biology with lab, general chemistry, and earth science courses such as The Dynamic Earth and The Earth Through Time or Sustainable Earth, ensuring that students build essential knowledge about living systems and the planet’s processes, followed by key courses like Ecology and Evolution that deepen understanding of environmental interactions, while specialized marine science courses such as Marine Geology, Marine Biology, and Introductory Oceanography form the backbone of the major by focusing specifically on ocean systems, marine organisms, and coastal dynamics, and students must also complete upper-level electives in marine science or biological sciences, allowing them to explore topics like marine ecology, coastal zone management, marine vertebrate or invertebrate zoology, microbiology, conservation biology, or aquatic ecosystems based on their interests, and to support quantitative and analytical skills, students are required to take statistics as well as ancillary courses including Calculus I and two semesters of physics, ensuring they are well-prepared for scientific research and data analysis, and overall the program totals approximately 66 credit hours and emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical application, especially through field-based and laboratory experiences often conducted at facilities like Dauphin Island Sea Lab, where students gain hands-on exposure to real marine environments, making the degree highly valuable for careers in marine biology, environmental conservation, oceanography, research, and policy-making.