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Marine Sciences (BS): Biological Oceanography Concentration

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit .

To see more about what you will learn in this program, visit the !

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Marine Science may be obtained by selecting one of five concentrations: Biological Oceanography, Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology, or Physics.

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources is available with a concentration in Marine and Coastal Resources.

Marine scientists explore all aspects of the seas and coastal regions, seeking to understand how the oceans, their biological communities, the solid earth and the atmosphere interact. As professionals with interdisciplinary training, marine scientists are needed to advise business, industry and governments on the potential impact of human activities and the wise use of marine resources. Marine scientists work for consulting firms; regulatory agencies; the mass media; business and industry; federal, state and local governments; academic laboratories; research and education organizations; and nonprofit environmental watchdog groups.

Contact

For more information about our marine science programs, visit our or contact:

Maggie Puryear
Associate Director of Undergraduate Programs

mwpollar@ncsu.edu
919.513.1093Ìý

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Plan Requirements

Core Courses/Marine Science
MEAÌý100Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections4
MEAÌý200Introduction to Oceanography3
MEAÌý210Oceanography Lab1
MEAÌý250Introduction to Coastal Environments3
MEAÌý459Field Investigation of Coastal Processes5
MEAÌý460Principles of Physical Oceanography3
MEAÌý462Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics3
MEAÌý495Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences1
Biological Oceanography Concentration
BIOÌý181Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 14
BIOÌý183Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 14
Select one of the following Organic Chemistry course sets:4
Introductory Organic Chemistry
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry I Lab
PBÌý200Plant Life4
orÌýPBÌý250 Plant Biology
Concentration Electives 216
AEC/PB 360Ecology4
MEAÌý449Principles of Biological Oceanography3
orÌýMEAÌý549 Principles of Biological Oceanography
ZOÌý350Animal Phylogeny and Diversity4
Basic Math & Sciences
CHÌý101
&ÌýCHÌý102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
CHÌý201
&ÌýCHÌý202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
Select one of the following Physics I courses: 14
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory
College Physics I
Select one of the following Physics II courses:4
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
College Physics II
MAÌý131Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 13
orÌýMAÌý141 Calculus I
MAÌý231Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B 13
orÌýMAÌý241 Calculus II
Statistics Elective3
Select one of the following Computer Science electives:3
Introduction to Computing: Python
Introduction to Computing-FORTRAN
Introduction to Computing - MATLAB
Introduction to GIS
College Requirements
COSÌý100Science of Change 32
ENGÌý101Academic Writing and Research 14
Select one of the following Advanced Writing courses:3
Communication for Engineering and Technology
Communication for Business and Management
Communication for Science and Research
GEP Courses
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences6
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts)3
GEP U.S. Diversity (verify requirement)
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours120

Statistics Electives

BUSÌý350Economics and Business Statistics3
ECÌý351Econometrics I3
STÌý305Statistical Methods4
STÌý307Introduction to Statistical Programming- SAS1
STÌý308Introduction to Statistical Programming - R1
STÌý311Introduction to Statistics3
STÌý312Introduction to Statistics II3
STÌý350Economics and Business Statistics3
STÌý370Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
STÌý371Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory3
STÌý372Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression3
STÌý380Probability and Statistics for the Physical Sciences3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
BIOÌý181 Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 4
COSÌý100 Science of Change 2
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
MAÌý131
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A (CP) 1
or Calculus I
3-4
MEAÌý100 Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections 2 4
ÌýHours14
Spring Semester
BIOÌý183 Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 4
ENGÌý101 Academic Writing and Research 1 4
MEAÌý200 Introduction to Oceanography (CP) 2 3
MEAÌý210 Oceanography Lab 2 1
MAÌý231
Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B 1
or Calculus II
3-4
ÌýHours15
Second Year
Fall Semester
PBÌý200
Plant Life 2
or Plant Biology
4
CHÌý101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science (CP) 1 3
CHÌý102 General Chemistry Laboratory 3 1
GEP Social Sciences 3
Select one of the following: 4
College Physics I 1 Ìý
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory
Ìý
ÌýHours15
Spring Semester
ZOÌý350 Animal Phylogeny and Diversity 2 4
CHÌý201 Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 1 3
CHÌý202 Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 3 1
MEAÌý250 Introduction to Coastal Environments 2 3
Select one of the following: 4
College Physics II Ìý
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory 3
Ìý
ÌýHours15
Third Year
Fall Semester
Concentration Elective 2 4
Organic Chemistry Elective 2 3
CHÌý222 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
MEA 449/549 Principles of Biological Oceanography 2 3
MEAÌý460 Principles of Physical Oceanography 2 3
ÌýHours14
Spring Semester
Concentration Elective 2 3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
MEAÌý462 Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics 2 3
MEAÌý495 Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences 1
Statistical Science Option 3 3
ÌýHours14
Summer
MEAÌý459 Field Investigation of Coastal Processes 2 5
ÌýHours5
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
Advanced Writing Elective 3
Concentration Elective 2 3
PBÌý360 Ecology 4
GEP Humanities 3
ÌýHours13
Spring Semester
Concentration Elective 2 3
Concentration Elective 2 3
Computer Science Option Elective 3 3
GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts) 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
ÌýHours15
ÌýTotal Hours120

Career Opportunities

MEAS undergraduate degree programs provide talented students with the foundation of scientific knowledge required for careers in government, industry, or academia. Many students pursue graduate degrees and pursue careers in industry, at government agencies and in academia.

Marine Sciences graduates go on to become oceanographers, to manage our coastal resources, model air-sea interaction, and explore global climate change. They conduct basic and applied research, serving as environmental consultants for industry and governmental agencies, policy and management experts for governmental agencies, and environmental science educators. Graduates with a Natural Resources degree are versed in the fundamental processes and interdisciplinary nature of the coastal zone. As scientists, managers, administrators, and regulators, they make decisions regarding use and conservation of coastal and marine resources.

Geology graduates address society’s needs for dealing effectively with earth processes, such as water resources and the stability of land forms. They work for engineering firms, permit-issuing agencies, and industries that rely on geological resources. Historical geologists are familiar with the evolution of earth through time and provide a perspective on potential long-term reactions of the earth systems to change. Those who concentrate in Environmental Geology are trained to assess and monitor geological resources such as ground water. Marine geologists are experts in the complex issues facing industry, municipalities, and residents in the dynamic and ecologically vulnerable coastal zone.

Meteorology graduates enjoy careers in weather forecasting, air quality assessment, development of weather products and services, broadcast communications, and advanced research. Marine meteorologists study ocean-generated weather systems. Their research is yielding practical benefits such as refined prediction of storm surge, which has streamlined evacuation efforts during severe storms along the Carolina coast. Meteorology graduates with an air quality emphasis work for environmental firms, regulatory agencies, and in applied research. Study of air quality and how air pollution is transported and dispersed is a rapidly expanding field in the atmospheric sciences.

MEAS graduates play a key service role for the State of North Carolina, assisting in everything from forecasting severe storms and analyzing the impact of atmospheric pollutants on agriculture and our estuaries, to determining the effects of toxic waste disposal on quality of surface and ground water.