COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology is a 120-credit program designed to provide students with strong scientific knowledge, laboratory training, field experience, and research skills focused on marine organisms, ocean systems, and coastal environments. The degree begins with a comprehensive General Education Curriculum that includes written communication, humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and science courses with laboratories. Recommended science foundations include biology, chemistry, and physics, which are also major requirements for advanced marine biology study. Students complete specialized communication requirements through Scientific Writing in Ocean Science and Marine Science Seminar, while the senior capstone experience is fulfilled through MAR 497 Senior Practicum. The major area of study contains intensive marine science coursework, including environmental microbiology, marine ecology, coastal processes, marine organism structure and function, field methods in marine science, oceanographic data management, and introductory biometry. Students also take Thrive in Marine Biology courses that help them adapt to academic and professional expectations within the discipline. A key feature of the program is the experiential learning requirement, where students must complete either marine science research projects or internships to gain practical experience in laboratory work, field sampling, environmental analysis, or marine conservation activities. The curriculum also allows students to choose marine biology electives in specialized areas such as genetics, marine mammals, marine pollution, marine botany, aquaculture, marine microbial ecology, ecotoxicology, fish diversity, climate science, geographic information systems, comparative physiology, and marine invertebrate zoology. Additional requirements strengthen the scientific foundation through courses in zoology, botany, ecology, cell biology, organic chemistry, calculus, and general physics. The program emphasizes advanced laboratory techniques, data analysis, scientific communication, environmental understanding, and field-based marine research. Students typically complete the first two years at either the Hattiesburg or Gulf Park campuses, while junior and senior-level coursework is completed at Gulf Park, where specialized marine laboratories and coastal research facilities are available. Overall, the Marine Biology BS program prepares graduates for careers in marine research, environmental consulting, fisheries, aquaculture, conservation, coastal management, laboratory science, marine resource management, and graduate or professional studies in marine and biological sciences.