Marine Sciences (BS): Biological Oceanography Concentration
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
919.513.1093听
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Courses/Marine Science 1 | |||
| MEA听100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections | 4 | |
| MEA听200 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 | |
| MEA听210 | Oceanography Lab | 1 | |
| MEA听250 | Introduction to Coastal Environments | 3 | |
| MEA听251 | Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory | 1 | |
| MEA听459 | Field Investigation of Coastal Processes | 5 | |
| MEA听460 | Principles of Physical Oceanography | 3 | |
| MEA听462 | Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics | 3 | |
| MEA听495 | Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences | 1 | |
| Biological Oceanography Concentration 1 | |||
| BIO听181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 | 4 | |
| BIO听183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 | 4 | |
| 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 | |||
| PB听200 | Plant Life | 4 | |
| or听PB听250 | Plant Biology | ||
| Concentration Electives 1, 2 | 15 | ||
| AEC/PB 360 | Ecology | 4 | |
| MEA听449 | Principles of Biological Oceanography | 3 | |
| or听MEA听549 | Principles of Biological Oceanography | ||
| ZO听350 | Animal Phylogeny and Diversity | 4 | |
| Basic Math & Sciences 1 | |||
| CH听101 &听CH听102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 | |
| CH听201 &听CH听202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 | |
| Select one of the following Physics I courses: 1 | 4 | ||
| 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 | |||
| MA听131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A 1 | 3 | |
| or听MA听141 | Calculus I | ||
| MA听231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B 1 | 3 | |
| or听MA听241 | Calculus II | ||
| Statistics Elective | 3 | ||
| Select one of the following Computer Science electives: | 3 | ||
| Introduction to GIS | |||
| Introduction to Computing in the Geosciences | |||
| Introduction to Computing: Python | |||
| Introduction to Computing-FORTRAN | |||
| Introduction to Computing - MATLAB | |||
| College Requirements | |||
| COS听100 | Science of Change 3 | 2 | |
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 | |
| 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 Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP Elective | 3 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
- 1
Grade of C- or higher required in BIO 181, 183; CH 101, 201; ENG 101; MA 131/141, 231/241; PY 211/205. No 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
Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.
- 3
COS 100 is for new freshmen only. 听Transfer students will need to select a course from the GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives course list.
Statistics Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ST听311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| ST听312 | Introduction to Statistics II | 3 | |
| ST/BUS 350 | Economics and Business Statistics | 3 | |
| ST听370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 | |
| ST听371 | Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory | 3 | |
| ST听372 | Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| BIO听181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity 1 | 4 |
| COS听100 | Science of Change 3 | 2 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| MA听131 or MA听141 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A (CP) 1 or Calculus I | 3-4 |
| MEA听100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections 1 | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO听183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 1 | 4 |
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| MEA听200 &听MEA听210 | Introduction to Oceanography and Oceanography Lab (CP) 2 | 4 |
| MA听231 or MA听241 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B 1 or Calculus II | 3-4 |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PB听200 or PB听250 | Plant Life 2 or Plant Biology | 4 |
| CH听101 &听CH听102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory (CP) 1 | 4 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I or College Physics I | ||
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ZO听350 | Animal Phylogeny and Diversity 1 | 4 |
| CH听201 &听CH听202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| MEA听250 &听MEA听251 | Introduction to Coastal Environments and Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| PY听208 &听PY听209 or PY听212 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II 1 or College Physics II | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Concentration Elective 1, 2 | 3 | |
| CH听220 or CH听221 | Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 or Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH听222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 | 1 |
| MEA 449/549 | Principles of Biological Oceanography 1 | 3 |
| MEA 460/540 | Principles of Physical Oceanography 1 | 3 |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Concentration Elective 1, 2 | 3 | |
| MEA听462 | Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics 1 | 3 |
| MEA听495 | Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences | 1 |
| Statistical Science Option 3 | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Summer | ||
| MEA听459 | Field Investigation of Coastal Processes 2 | 5 |
| 听 | Hours | 5 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Advanced Writing Elective | 3 | |
| Concentration Elective 1, 2 | 3 | |
| PB听360 | Ecology 1 | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Concentration Elective 1, 2 | 3 | |
| Concentration Elective 1, 2 | 3 | |
| Computer Science Option Elective 1 | 3 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 120 |
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 2
No more than one D will be accepted in MEA core courses and concentration 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 after completion of an undergraduate degree in Marine Science.
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.
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.
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