The Marine Science Program

Marine science integrates multiple disciplines to understand the dynamic forces that influence our oceans and how the ocean, in turn, affects us. As a marine scientist, you'll explore rivers, estuaries, coastlines and the open sea.

research ship photo by NOAA on Unsplash

Requirements

Marine Science Course Requirements

Physical Science Courses (12 credit hours)

CHEM 106: General Chemistry II & CHEM 106L
College Physics 1&2 (PHYS 121, 122) or General Physics 1&2 (PHYS 141, 142) or Fundamental of Physics 1&2 (PHYS 151, 152)

Biology Core Courses (10 credit hours)

BIOL 105: Principles of Biology I & BIOL105L
BIOL 106: Principles of Biology II & BIOL 106L

Math Core Courses (4 credits)

Math 221: Statistics
OR
BIOL 311: Biostatistics
NOTE: Calculus I and II (MATH 151, 152) are recommended for all students and are required by most graduate and professional schools.

Marine Science Core Courses (12 credits)

MRNE 110: Introduction to Marine Science
MRNE 220: Physical Oceanography
BIOL 383: Biological Oceanography

Professional Discovery (4 credits)

MRNE 398: Marine Internship
MRNE 397: Marine Science Directed Research
MRNE 399: Marine Science Independent Study
MRNE 493: First Semester Marine Science SMP

Marine Science Elective Courses (16 credits)

Students must select 16 credits of marine science-related elective courses of which a minimum of 12 credits must be upper level (300 or 400).

PHEC 232: Advanced Open Water SCUBA	BIOL 384: Ichthyology
BIOL 303: Invertebrate Zoology	BIOL 432: Limnology
BIOL 463: Ecology of Coastal Systems	ENST 392 / MRNE 392: Field Research Methods
ENST 393 / MRNE 393: Coastal Ecosystem Management	MRNE 181: Lower Level Marine Science Transfer Course
	MRNE 320 / ENST 320: Quantitative methods
MRNE 307: Student Assistantship	MRNE 3XX / BIOL 3XX: Plankton Ecology
MRNE 3XX / BIOL 3XX: Ecology of Marine Plants	MRNE 3XX / ENST 3XX: Marine Environmental Toxicology
MRNE 3XX / BIOL 3XX: Marine Microbiology	MRNE 481: Upper-Level Marine Science Transfer Course
MRNE 480: Topics in Marine Science	ANTH 351: Underwater Archaeology
CHEM 301: Marine Chemistry	CHEM 302: Geochemistry

Marine Science Capstone Experience (4 credits)

Students complete one of the following Capstone Experiences:

MRNE 490: Marine Science Capstone or
MRNE 494: Second Semester Marine Science SMP or
Completion of an 8 credit SMP sequence in any of the following departments:
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Environmental Studies
- Math
- Physics

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St. Mary’s College of Maryland reserves the right to provide some or all of the course content through alternative methods of course delivery, including remote methods of delivery, and it reserves the right to change the method of delivery at any time before or during the academic term, in the event of a health or safety emergency or similar situation when it determines, in its sole discretion, that such change is necessary and in the best interests of the College and the campus community.