Natural Resources (BS): Marine and Coastal Concentration
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The department offers curricula in each of the areas of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences. Each prepares students for employment at graduation or for further professional training. There is one Bachelor of Science (B.S.) curricula in atmospheric sciences: Meteorology.Ìý Students in that major can choose to concentrate in Marine Meteorology. Earth sciences house one curricula: the B.S. in Geology. In the marine sciences, students can choose between two degree programs: the B.S. in Marine Science or the B.S. in Natural Resources. Students in the marine science major choose one of five concentrations:
- Biological Oceanography
- Chemistry
- Geology
- Meteorology
- Physics
Students in the B.S. in Natural Resources concentrate in Marine and Coastal Resources.Ìý
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Core Courses | |||
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections | 4 | |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý101 | Geology I: Physical | 3 | |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý110 | Geology I Laboratory | 1 | |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý130 | Introduction to Weather and Climate | 3 | |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý135 | Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory | 1 | |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý200 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 | |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý210 | Oceanography Lab | 1 | |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý220 | Marine Biology | 3 | |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý250 | Introduction to Coastal Environments | 3 | |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý251 | Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory | 1 | |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý459 | Field Investigation of Coastal Processes | 5 | |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý469 | Ecology of coastal Resources | 3 | |
| ³Ò±õ³§Ìý280 | Introduction to GIS | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 1 | 3 | ||
Advised electives to be chosen with advisor and should be a science, math, engineering or GIS course at the 400 level or higher. | |||
| Select one of the following Chemistry options: | 3 | ||
| Geochemistry of Natural Waters | |||
| Principles of Chemical Oceanography | |||
| Principles of Chemical Oceanography | |||
| ±·¸éÌý400 | Natural Resource Management | 4 | |
| Math/Statistics/Orientation | |||
| ²Ñ´¡Ìý131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 2 | 3 | |
| ²Ñ´¡Ìý231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B | 3 | |
| ³§°ÕÌý311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| °ä°¿³§Ìý100 | Science of Change | 2 | |
| Chemistry/Physics/Natural Sciences | |||
| µþ±õ°¿Ìý181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 | |
| °ä±áÌý101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 | |
| °ä±áÌý102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| ´Ü°¿Ìý350 | Animal Phylogeny and Diversity | 4 | |
| °ä±áÌý201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 3 | |
| °ä±áÌý202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| ´¡·¡°äÌý360 | Ecology | 4 | |
| ´Ç°ùÌý±ÊµþÌý360 | Ecology | ||
| Select one of the following Physics courses: | 4 | ||
| College Physics I | |||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | |||
| Select one of the following Physics courses: | 4 | ||
| College Physics II | |||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | |||
| ³§³§°äÌý200 &²¹³¾±è;Ìý³§³§°äÌý201 | Soil Science and Soil Science Laboratory | 4 | |
| ´¡·¡°äÌý420 | Introduction to Fisheries Science | 3 | |
| English/Writing | |||
| ·¡±·³ÒÌý101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| Communication for Engineering and Technology | |||
| Communication for Business and Management | |||
| Communication for Science and Research | |||
| Humanities/Social Sciences | |||
| ±Ê³§Ìý201 | American Politics and Government | 3 | |
| ´Ç°ùÌý±Ê³§Ìý202 | State and Local Government | ||
| Select one of the following Economics courses: | 3 | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | |||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | |||
| Principles of Microeconomics | |||
| Fundamentals of Economics | |||
| ´¡¸é·¡Ìý336 | Introduction to Resource and Environmental Economics | 3 | |
| ´Ç°ùÌý·¡°äÌý336 | Introduction to Resource and Environmental Economics | ||
| ±Ê³§Ìý336 | Global Environmental Politics | 3 | |
| Health & Exercise Science | |||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | ||
| ±á·¡³§´¡Ìý226 | Skin and Scuba Diving I | 1 | |
| ´Ç°ùÌý±á·¡³§°¿Ìý253 | Orienteering | ||
| GEP Courses | |||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| 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 Hours | 120 | ||
| 1 | Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement. |
| 2 | A grade of C- or higher is required. |
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.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ²Ñ´¡Ìý131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A (CP) 1 | 3 |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections 2 | 4 |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý101 | Geology I: Physical 2 | 3 |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý110 | Geology I Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| °ä°¿³§Ìý100 | Science of Change | 2 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| µþ±õ°¿Ìý181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity (CP) 3 | 4 |
| ·¡±·³ÒÌý101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| ²Ñ´¡Ìý231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B (CP) 3 | 3 |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý130 | Introduction to Weather and Climate 2 | 3 |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý135 | Introduction to Weather and Climate Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| Ìý | Hours | 15 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| °ä±áÌý101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science (CP) 1 | 3 |
| °ä±áÌý102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 3 | 1 |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý200 | Introduction to Oceanography (CP) 2 | 3 |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý210 | Oceanography Lab 2 | 1 |
| ±Ê³§Ìý336 | Global Environmental Politics | 3 |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý220 | Marine Biology 2 | 3 |
| Ìý | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| °ä±áÌý201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 3 | 3 |
| °ä±áÌý202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 3 | 1 |
| Economics Elective | 3 | |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý250 | Introduction to Coastal Environments 2 | 3 |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý251 | Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| ±á·¡³§´¡Ìý226 | Skin and Scuba Diving I | 1 |
| ´Ü°¿Ìý350 | Animal Phylogeny and Diversity 3 | 4 |
| Ìý | Hours | 16 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| ±ÊµþÌý360 | Ecology 3 | 4 |
| ±Ê³ÛÌý211 | College Physics I 1 | 4 |
| ³§°ÕÌý311 | Introduction to Statistics 3 | 3 |
| Ìý | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Chemistry Option Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advanced Writing Elective | 3 | |
| ARE/EC 336 | Introduction to Resource and Environmental Economics | 3 |
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý469 | Ecology of coastal Resources 2 | 3 |
| ±Ê³ÛÌý212 | College Physics II 3 | 4 |
| Ìý | Hours | 16 |
| Summer | ||
| ²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý459 | Field Investigation of Coastal Processes 2 | 5 |
| Ìý | Hours | 5 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| GEP Additional Breadth | 3 | |
| ±Ê³§Ìý336 | Global Environmental Politics | 3 |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 12 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ´¡·¡°äÌý420 | Introduction to Fisheries Science 3 | 3 |
| ³Ò±õ³§Ìý280 | Introduction to GIS 2 | 3 |
| ±·¸éÌý400 | Natural Resource Management 2 | 4 |
| ³§³§°äÌý200 | Soil Science 3 | 3 |
| ³§³§°äÌý201 | Soil Science Laboratory 3 | 1 |
| Ìý | Hours | 14 |
| Ìý | Total Hours | 120 |
| 1 | A grade of C- or higher is required. |
| 2 | No more than one D will be accepted in major core courses. |
| 3 | No more than one D will be accepted in other basic math or science courses. |
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.