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Marine Sciences (BS): Physics 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 ourÌýÌýor contact:

Maggie Puryear
Associate Director of Undergraduate Programs

mwpollar@ncsu.edu
919.513.1093Ìý

Plan Requirements

Core Courses/Marine Science
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý100Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý200Introduction to Oceanography3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý210Oceanography Lab1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý250Introduction to Coastal Environments3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý459Field Investigation of Coastal Processes5
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý460Principles of Physical Oceanography3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý462Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý495Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences1
Physics Concentration
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý463Fluid Physics3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý464Ocean Circulation Systems3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý467Marine Meteorology3
±Ê³ÛÌý203¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ Physics III 14
±Ê³ÛÌý411Mechanics I3
±Ê³ÛÌý412Mechanics II3
±Ê³ÛÌý413Thermal Physics3
±Ê³ÛÌý414Electromagnetism I3
±Ê³ÛÌý415Electromagnetism II3
Technical Elective 23
Basic Math & Sciences
°ä±áÌý101Chemistry - A Molecular Science 13
°ä±áÌý102General Chemistry Laboratory1
°ä±áÌý201Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 13
°ä±áÌý202Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory1
±Ê³ÛÌý201¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ Physics I 14
±Ê³ÛÌý202¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ Physics II 14
²Ñ´¡Ìý141Calculus I 14
²Ñ´¡Ìý241Calculus II 14
²Ñ´¡Ìý242Calculus III4
²Ñ´¡Ìý341Applied Differential Equations I3
²Ñ´¡Ìý401Applied Differential Equations II3
³§°ÕÌý370Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
Select one of the following Computer Science electives:3
Introduction to Computing: Python
Introduction to Computing-FORTRAN
Introduction to Computing - MATLAB
Introduction to Computing - Java
Introduction to Scientific Computing
College Requirements
°ä°¿³§Ìý100Science of Change 32
·¡±·³ÒÌý101Academic Writing and Research 14
Select one of the following: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

Semester Sequence

Critical Path Courses – Identify using the code (CP) which courses are considered critical path courses which represent specific major requirements that are predictive of student success in a given program/plan. Place the (CP) next to the credit hours for the course.

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
²Ñ´¡Ìý141 Calculus I (CP) 1 4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý100 Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections 2 4
°ä°¿³§Ìý100 Science of Change 2
±Ê³ÛÌý201 ¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ Physics I (CP) 1 4
ÌýHours14
Spring Semester
°ä±áÌý101 Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 3
°ä±áÌý102 General Chemistry Laboratory 3 1
·¡±·³ÒÌý101 Academic Writing and Research 1 4
²Ñ´¡Ìý241 Calculus II (CP) 1 4
±Ê³ÛÌý202 ¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ Physics II (CP) 1 4
ÌýHours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
²Ñ´¡Ìý242 Calculus III 3 4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý200 Introduction to Oceanography (CP) 2 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý210 Oceanography Lab 2 1
±Ê³ÛÌý203 ¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ Physics III 1 4
GEP Social Sciences 3
ÌýHours15
Spring Semester
°ä±áÌý201 Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 1 3
°ä±áÌý202 Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 3 1
Computer Science Option Elective 3 3
²Ñ´¡Ìý341 Applied Differential Equations I 3 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý250 Introduction to Coastal Environments 2 3
±Ê³ÛÌý411 Mechanics I 2 3
ÌýHours16
Third Year
Fall Semester
GEP Humanities 3
²Ñ´¡Ìý401 Applied Differential Equations II 3 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý460 Principles of Physical Oceanography 2 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
±Ê³ÛÌý412 Mechanics II 2 3
ÌýHours13
Spring Semester
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý462 Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics 2 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý467 Marine Meteorology 2 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý495 Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences 1
±Ê³ÛÌý413 Thermal Physics 2 3
³§°ÕÌý370 Probability and Statistics for Engineers 3 3
GEP Additional Breadth 3
ÌýHours16
Summer
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý459 Field Investigation of Coastal Processes 2 5
ÌýHours5
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
Advanced Writing Elective 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý463 Fluid Physics 2 3
±Ê³ÛÌý414 Electromagnetism I 2 3
ÌýHours13
Spring Semester
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý464 Ocean Circulation Systems 2 3
±Ê³ÛÌý415 Electromagnetism II 2 3
GEP Humanities 3
Technical Elective 2 3
ÌýHours12
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.