COURSE CURRICULUM

The B.S. in Marine and Environmental Sciences is a multidisciplinary STEM program designed to provide students with a strong foundation in biological, chemical, physical, and environmental sciences while preparing them for careers in marine biology, environmental science, oceanography, conservation, and marine policy. Students complete a structured 40-credit University Core Curriculum alongside a rigorous set of major requirements that include foundational courses in biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, and specialized marine science courses such as oceanography, marine botany, marine vertebrate zoology, ecology, and scientific writing. The program emphasizes both classroom learning and laboratory-based instruction, ensuring students gain practical skills in data collection, experimentation, and scientific analysis. In addition to core coursework, students choose between a thesis track or a non-thesis track; the thesis option involves a two-semester senior research project, while the non-thesis option includes a research proposal and an approved elective aligned with their concentration. Students must also select one of three concentrations—Marine Biology, Marine Policy, or Environmental Science—each requiring 18–22 credits of specialized coursework. Marine Biology focuses on organismal and ecological marine science with electives in genetics, chemistry, and advanced biology; Marine Policy emphasizes governance, economics, fisheries, and environmental regulation; and Environmental Science centers on pollution, geoscience, GIS, and environmental systems analysis. Across all concentrations, students are expected to integrate interdisciplinary knowledge and apply it to real-world environmental challenges. The program’s learning outcomes include strong scientific communication skills, the ability to conduct field and laboratory research, competence in data analysis, and critical evaluation of scientific literature, preparing graduates for professional roles or advanced study in marine and environmental fields.