Degree in Marine Biology
Major Requirements
Students who declare a marine biology major must complete BIO 103 and BIO 104 with an average grade of C- or higher in order to continue in the program.
Marine biology majors pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree must complete two semesters of calculus (MATH 213, and either MATH 214 or MATH 218) and one semester of statistics (MATH 250 or MATH 315). The Bachelor of Arts degree requires MATH 250 and MATH 136. A paper or other evidence of the student's ability to conduct investigations, use library resources, and write a report following a standard format is required in each advanced-level course. A writing course, Critical Writing, is prerequisite to advanced courses and should be completed in the sophomore year.
Marine biology majors must satisfy all University Core Curriculum requirements and the College speech requirement. In addition, marine biology majors must successfully complete the following courses and sufficient electives to total 120 credits. Majors are encouraged to apply electives toward a minor or second major.
- NATSC 104 Principles of Oceanography
- BIO 103 Biology I and Lab
- BIO 104 Biology II and Lab
- BIO 200 Genetics and Lab
- CHEM 191 Principles of Chemistry I and Lab
- CHEM 192 Principles of Chemistry II and Lab
- CHEM 301 Organic Chemistry I and Lab
- for B.S. degree, one of the following:
- for B.S. degree: PHYS 201 Principles of Physics I Lab
- for B.S. degree: PHYS 202 Principles of Physics II and Lab
- for B.A. degree: PHYS 109 Physics I and Lab
- for B.A. degree: PHYS 110 Physics II and Lab
Organismal Category (Students must take at least one course marked * and at least one course marked **)
- BIO 220 Marine Vertebrate Zoology and Lab*
- BIO 302 Ichthyology and Lab*
- BIO 335 Invertebrate Zoology and Lab*
- BIO 350 Marine Mammalogy*
- BIO 355 Marine Phycology and Lab**
- BIO 356 Biology of Plankton and Lab**
- BIO 315 Animal Physiology and Lab
- BIO 320 Marine Ecology and Lab
- BIO 392/393 Animal Nutrition/Animal Nutrition Lab
Applied Category
- AQS 260 Principles of Aquatic Animal Husbandry and Lab
- AQS 262 Aquarium System Design and Life Support and Lab
- AQS 314 Field Collection Methods (Bahamas)
- AQS 346 Principles of Hatchery Management and Lab
- BIO 310 Tropical Ecology
- BIO 312 Conservation Biology
- BIO 332 Fisheries Science
- BIO 345 Aquaculture and Lab
- NATSC 301 Marine Resource Management
- NATSC 333 Environmental Monitoring and Analysis and Lab
Molecular Category
The SEA Semester Option
Prerequisite for majors:Satisfactory completion of the writing, mathematics, and the five-course Interdisciplinary Core; a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above; and permission from the program faculty.
Prerequisite for Core Concentration:
Students who are not majoring in science or mathematics may use the SEA Semester to fulfill the Core Concentration requirement provided the following prerequisites are met before the SEA Semester: satisfactory completion of the writing, mathematics, and the five-course Interdisciplinary Core; a GPA of 2.5; and permission of the program faculty.
Students in good academic standing and who meet the prerequisites may apply to attend a SEA Semester through the Sea Education Association (SEA) of Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Students attending a SEA Semester enroll in the following courses:
- BIO 411 Applied Oceanography 3 credits
- BIO 412 Nautical Science 3 credits
- BIO 414 Maritime Studies 3 credits
- BIO 416 Marine Technology 4 credits
- BIO 418 Practical Oceanographic Research 4 credits
The Bermuda Semester Option
Prerequisite for majors: Satisfactory completion of the writing, mathematics, and the five-course Interdisciplinary Core; a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above; and permission from the program faculty.
Students in the Bermuda semester program enroll in the following courses:
- BIO 361 Coral Reef Ecology (4 credits)
- BIO 410.01 Research Diving Methods (3 credits)
- BIO 410.02 Marine Biology Research (6 credits)
- BIO 336 Tropical Marine Invertebrate Zoology (4 credits)
