COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Environmental Science with a concentration in Marine Biology is an interdisciplinary graduate program designed to prepare students with advanced scientific knowledge, laboratory experience, and research skills related to marine ecosystems, aquatic environments, and environmental sustainability. The program combines environmental science, marine biology, oceanography, ecology, environmental policy, and scientific research methods to help students understand marine systems and address environmental challenges affecting oceans, coastal regions, and aquatic organisms. Students begin with core courses that provide foundational training in environmental law, environmental geoscience, ecological applications, scientific literature and proposal writing, and data analysis in environmental and biological sciences. These courses strengthen students’ abilities in scientific communication, ecological analysis, laboratory research, environmental assessment, and interpretation of environmental and biological data. Students pursuing the Marine Biology concentration complete specialized required courses in Advanced Oceanography, Advanced Marine Organismal Biology, Marine Pollution, and Marine and Estuarine Ecology with Laboratory. These courses provide in-depth knowledge of marine ecosystems, ocean processes, marine organisms, estuarine environments, aquatic ecology, and the environmental impacts of pollution on marine life. Students may further specialize through elective coursework in areas such as environmental chemistry, algal research methods, marine conservation and restoration, tropical marine ecology, aquaculture, environmental pollutants, wetlands ecology, inland water ecology, marine fisheries policy, and advanced geographical information systems applications. The curriculum also allows students to strengthen professional communication and research skills through independent studies and writing-focused courses. The program includes a capstone requirement that may be completed through an Internship, a Research Project, or a Thesis sequence consisting of Thesis I and Thesis II, depending on the student’s academic and professional goals. Students interested in advanced scientific research or doctoral study are encouraged to pursue the thesis option under faculty supervision, while internship and research project tracks provide practical marine and environmental experience. Many courses also include laboratory sessions, scientific analysis, field-based studies, coastal and marine investigations, and hands-on environmental research opportunities. Through interdisciplinary coursework, applied marine studies, ecological analysis, and environmental research, students develop expertise in marine ecosystems, aquatic conservation, marine pollution management, fisheries policy, ecological restoration, and environmental sustainability. Graduates are prepared for careers in marine research institutions, environmental consulting firms, conservation organizations, aquaculture industries, government environmental agencies, coastal resource management, marine policy, environmental education, and advanced doctoral-level study in marine biology, environmental science, and related disciplines.