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¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ Catalog 2023-2024

Marine Sciences (BS): Geology Concentration

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 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 1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý100Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý200Introduction to Oceanography3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý210Oceanography Lab1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý250Introduction to Coastal Environments3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý251Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory1
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
Geology Concentration 1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý101Geology I: Physical3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý110Geology I Laboratory1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý202Geology II: Historical3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý211Geology II Laboratory1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý410Introduction to Mineralogy3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý450Introductory Sedimentology and Stratigraphy4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý451Structural Geology4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý570Geological Oceanography3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý470Introduction to Geophysics3
´Ç°ùÌý²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý471 Exploration and Engineering Geophysics
Advised Elective 1, 38
Select one of the following Restricted Electives:3
Principles of Biological Oceanography
Marine Meteorology
Principles of Chemical Oceanography
Basic Math & Sciences
°ä±áÌý101Chemistry - A Molecular Science 13
°ä±áÌý102General Chemistry Laboratory1
°ä±áÌý201Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 13
°ä±áÌý202Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory1
±Ê³ÛÌý205
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý±Ê³ÛÌý206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
4
±Ê³ÛÌý208
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý±Ê³ÛÌý209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
²Ñ´¡Ìý141Calculus I 14
²Ñ´¡Ìý241Calculus II 14
²Ñ´¡Ìý242Calculus III4
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 Computing - Java
Introduction to GIS
Introduction to Scientific Computing
College Requirements
°ä°¿³§Ìý100Science of Change 22
·¡±·³ÒÌý101Academic 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 US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or higher is required.ÌýNo more than one D will be accepted in MEA core courses and concentration courses. No more than one D will be accepted in other basic math or science courses.

2

COS 100 is for new freshmen only. Transfer students will need to select a course from the GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives course list.

3

Any MEA course at the 300 level or higher. Select in consultation with your advisor.

Advised Elective

²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý300Environmental Geology4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý369Life on Earth: Principles of Paleontology3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý312Atmospheric Thermodynamics4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý315Mathematics Methods in Atmospheric Sciences4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý320Fundamentals of Air Pollution3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý321Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý323Geochemistry of Natural Waters3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý350Marine Conservation Biology3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý409Watershed Forensics3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý412Atmospheric Physics3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý415Climate Dynamics3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý421Atmospheric Dynamics I3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý422Atmospheric Dynamics II3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý425Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý440Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý443Synoptic Weather Analysis and Forecasting4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý444Mesoscale Analysis and Forecasting4
MEA 449/549Principles of Biological Oceanography3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý455Micrometeorology3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý458Introduction to Tropical Meteorology3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý463Fluid Physics3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý464Ocean Circulation Systems3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý466Preparatory Course for Field Camp1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý467Marine Meteorology3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý468Aquatic Microbiology3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý469Ecology of coastal Resources3
MEA 473/573Principles of Chemical Oceanography3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý476Worldwide River and Delta Systems: Their Evolution and Human Impacts3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý479Air Quality3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý481Geomorphology: Earth's Dynamic Surface3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý485Introduction to Hydrogeology3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý488Meteorology for Media3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý493Special Topics in MEAS1-6

Statistics Electives

³§°ÕÌý311Introduction to Statistics3
³§°ÕÌý312Introduction to Statistics II3
³§°ÕÌý350Economics and Business Statistics3
³§°ÕÌý370Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
³§°ÕÌý371Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory3
³§°ÕÌý372Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression3

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
°ä°¿³§Ìý100 Science of Change 2 2
²Ñ´¡Ìý141 Calculus I (CP) 1 4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý100 Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections 1 4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý101
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý110
Geology I: Physical
and Geology I Laboratory (CP) 1
4
ÌýHours14
Spring Semester
°ä±áÌý101
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory (CP) 1
4
·¡±·³ÒÌý101 Academic Writing and Research 1 4
²Ñ´¡Ìý241 Calculus II 1 4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý202
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý211
Geology II: Historical
and Geology II Laboratory 1
4
ÌýHours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
°ä±áÌý201
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
²Ñ´¡Ìý242 Calculus III 1 4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý200
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý210
Introduction to Oceanography
and Oceanography Lab (CP) 1
4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý410 Introduction to Mineralogy 1 3
ÌýHours15
Spring Semester
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý250 Introduction to Coastal Environments 1 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý251 Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory 1 1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý450 Introductory Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 1 4
±Ê³ÛÌý205
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý±Ê³ÛÌý206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
4
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
ÌýHours15
Third Year
Fall Semester
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý460 Principles of Physical Oceanography 1 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý451 Structural Geology 1 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
±Ê³ÛÌý208
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý±Ê³ÛÌý209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory 1
4
GEP Social Sciences 3
ÌýHours15
Spring Semester
Advanced Writing Elective 3
Computer Science Option Elective 1 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý462 Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics 1 3
Statistical Science Option Elective 1 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý495 Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences 1
ÌýHours14
Summer
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý459 Field Investigation of Coastal Processes 2 5
ÌýHours5
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
GEP Humanities 3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý570 Geological Oceanography 1 3
MEA Restricted Elective 1 3
Advised Elective 1 4
ÌýHours13
Spring Semester
Advised Elective 1 4
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý470
Introduction to Geophysics 2
or Exploration and Engineering Geophysics
3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
ÌýHours13
ÌýTotal Hours120
1

Grade of C- or higher is required in CH 101, 201; ENG 101; MA 141, 241; PY 205.ÌýNo more than one D will be accepted in MEA core courses and concentration courses.ÌýNo more than one D will be accepted in other basic math or science courses.

2

COS 100 is for new freshmen only.Ìý Transfer students will need to select a course from the GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives course list.

3

Any MEA course at the 300 level or higher. Select in consultation with your advisor.

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.