Marine Sciences (BS): Geology Concentration
The degree of Bachelor of Science in Marine Sciences may be obtained by selecting one of five concentrations: Biological Oceanography, Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology, or Physics.听The concentrations are designed to facilitate minoring or double majoring in the science cognates.
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.听Geological oceanographers are concerned with plate tectonics and how new crust is formed below the ocean, with the formation and evolution of marine sediments and coastlines, and with reconstruction of ancient environments from fossils and minerals found in the seafloor.
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听听or contact:
Maggie Puryear
Associate Director of Undergraduate Programs
mwpollar@ncsu.edu
919.513.1093听
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses/Marine Science | ||
| 惭贰础听100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections 2 | 4 |
| 惭贰础听200 | Introduction to Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听210 | Oceanography Lab 2 | 1 |
| 惭贰础听250 | Introduction to Coastal Environments 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听251 | Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| 惭贰础听459 | Field Investigation of Coastal Processes 2 | 5 |
| 惭贰础听460 | Principles of Physical Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听462 | Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听495 | Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences | 1 |
| Geology Concentration | ||
| 惭贰础听101 | Geology I: Physical 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听110 | Geology I Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| 惭贰础听202 | Geology II: Historical 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听211 | Geology II Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| 惭贰础听410 | Introduction to Mineralogy 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听450 | Introductory Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 2 | 4 |
| 惭贰础听451 | Structural Geology 2 | 4 |
| 惭贰础听570 | Geological Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听470 | Introduction to Geophysics 2 | 3 |
| 辞谤听惭贰础听471 | Exploration and Engineering Geophysics | |
| Advised Elective 2, 5 | 8 | |
| Select one of the following Restricted Electives: | 3 | |
| Principles of Biological Oceanography 2 | ||
| Marine Meteorology 2 | ||
| Principles of Chemical Oceanography 2 | ||
| Basic Math & Sciences | ||
| 颁贬听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| 颁贬听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 3 | 1 |
| 颁贬听201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 1 | 3 |
| 颁贬听202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 3 | 1 |
| 笔驰听205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 4 |
| 笔驰听208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II 3 | 4 |
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听242 | Calculus III 3 | 4 |
| Statistics Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following Computer Science electives: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Computing and Data Science with AI - Python 3 | ||
| Introduction to Computing-FORTRAN 3 | ||
| Introduction to Computing - MATLAB 3 | ||
| Introduction to Computing - Java 3 | ||
| Introduction to GIS 3 | ||
| Introduction to Scientific Computing 3 | ||
| College Requirements | ||
| 颁翱厂听100 | Science of Change 4 | 2 |
| 贰狈骋听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) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Grade of C- or higher is required in CH 101, 201; ENG 101; MA 141, 241; PY 205.
- 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.
- 4
COS 100 is for new freshmen only. Transfer students will need to select a course from the GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives course list.
- 5
Any MEA course at the 300 level or higher. Select in consultation with your advisor.
Advised Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 惭贰础听300 | Environmental Geology 2 | 4 |
| 惭贰础听305 | Catastrophic Earth 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听312 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics 2 | 4 |
| 惭贰础听315 | Mathematics Methods in Atmospheric Sciences 2 | 4 |
| 惭贰础听320 | Fundamentals of Air Pollution 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听321 | Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听323 | Geochemistry of Natural Waters 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听350 | Marine Conservation Biology 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听369 | Life on Earth: Principles of Paleontology 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听370 | Invertebrate Paleontology 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听409 | Watershed Forensics 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听412 | Atmospheric Physics 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听415 | Climate Dynamics 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听421 | Atmospheric Dynamics I 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听422 | Atmospheric Dynamics II 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听425 | Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听439 | Interdisciplinary Innovation in the Blue Economy 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听440 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听443 | Synoptic Meteorology 2 | 4 |
| 惭贰础听444 | Mesoscale Meteorology 2 | 4 |
| MEA 449/549 | Principles of Biological Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听455 | Micrometeorology 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听458 | Introduction to Tropical Meteorology 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听463 | Fluid Physics 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听464 | Ocean Circulation Systems 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听466 | Preparatory Course for Field Camp 2 | 1 |
| 惭贰础听467 | Marine Meteorology 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听468 | Aquatic Microbiology 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听469 | Ecology of Coastal Resources 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听472 | Glaciology 2 | 3 |
| MEA 473/573 | Principles of Chemical Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听475 | Paleoceanography 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听476 | Worldwide River and Delta Systems: Their Evolution and Human Impacts 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听478 | Volcanology 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听479 | Air Quality 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听481 | Geomorphology: Earth's Dynamic Surface 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听485 | Introduction to Hydrogeology 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听488 | Meteorology for Media 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听493 | Special Topics in MEAS 2 | 1-6 |
Statistics Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 厂罢听311 | Introduction to Statistics 3 | 3 |
| 厂罢听312 | Introduction to Statistics II 3 | 3 |
| 厂罢听350 | Economics and Business Statistics 3 | 3 |
| 厂罢听370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers 3 | 3 |
| 厂罢听371 | Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory 3 | 3 |
| 厂罢听372 | Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression 3 | 3 |
Semester Sequence
Critical Path Courses 鈥� 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 | |
| 颁翱厂听100 | Science of Change 4 | 2 |
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I (CP) 1 | 4 |
| 惭贰础听100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections 2 | 4 |
| 惭贰础听101 &补尘辫;听惭贰础听110 | Geology I: Physical and Geology I Laboratory (CP) 2 | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 颁贬听101 &补尘辫;听颁贬听102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory (CP) 1 | 4 |
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| 惭贰础听202 &补尘辫;听惭贰础听211 | Geology II: Historical and Geology II Laboratory 2 | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 颁贬听201 &补尘辫;听颁贬听202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听242 | Calculus III 3 | 4 |
| 惭贰础听200 &补尘辫;听惭贰础听210 | Introduction to Oceanography and Oceanography Lab (CP) 2 | 4 |
| 惭贰础听410 | Introduction to Mineralogy 2 | 3 |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 惭贰础听250 | Introduction to Coastal Environments 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听251 | Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| 惭贰础听450 | Introductory Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 2 | 4 |
| 笔驰听205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 4 |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 惭贰础听460 | Principles of Physical Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| 惭贰础听451 | Structural Geology 2 | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 笔驰听208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II 3 | 4 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| 惭贰础听495 | Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences | 1 |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Advanced Writing Elective | 3 | |
| Computer Science Option Elective 3 | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 惭贰础听462 | Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics 2 | 3 |
| Statistical Science Option Elective 3 | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| Summer | ||
| 惭贰础听459 | Field Investigation of Coastal Processes 2 | 5 |
| 听 | Hours | 5 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| 惭贰础听570 | Geological Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| MEA Restricted Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 2, 5 | 4 | |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Advised Elective 2, 5 | 4 | |
| 惭贰础听470 or 惭贰础听471 | Introduction to Geophysics 2 or Exploration and Engineering Geophysics | 3 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 120 |
- 1
Grade of C- or higher is required in CH 101, 201; ENG 101; MA 141, 241; PY 205.听
- 2
No more than one D will be accepted in MEA core courses and concentration courses.听
- 3
No more than one D will be accepted in other basic math or science courses.
- 4
COS 100 is for new freshmen only.听 Transfer students will need to select a course from the GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives course list.
- 5
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 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 Marine Sciences 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.
Career Titles
- Chief Scientist
- Coastal Geologist
- Conservation Scientist
- Contact Diver
- Environmental Consultant
- Environmental Protection Specialist
- Environmental Research Scientist
- Environmental Scientist
- GIS and Geological Oceanography Specialist
- Marine Eco-toxicologist
- Marine Geophysicist
- Natural Science Manager
- Ocean Mapper
- Oceanographer
- Sensory Biophysicist
- Undersea Specialist
- Wildlife Biologist
- Zoologist
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