Marine Sciences - BS
The Marine Sciences (MARS) program is a Bachelor of Science degree that focuses on the geological, chemical and physical science aspects of the estuarine, coastal, and marine environment. The coastal location of the campus enables students to acquire extensive hands-on field experience in addition to rigorous course work in chemistry, geology, physics, biology, oceanography and mathematics. All MARS majors take five semesters of oceanography with labs and a course in geographic information systems (GIS). During the senior year students will participate in 2 semesters of research with faculty members culminating in a poster presentation of their research. The curriculum is structured to allow students to focus their education on one of three different specialty tracks, including geosciences, chemical/biogeochemical oceanography, and physical oceanography, or a broader interdisciplinary focus. The selection of a specific track enables students to broaden their coursework in the respective discipline and prepares them to enter graduate programs in oceanography, related disciplines or to work in environmental, oceanographic, and energy-related companies that need expertise in this area. For example, choosing the chemical marine science track allows the student to focus on chemical aspects of marine sciences, and it also enables students to obtain a chemistry minor through the chemistry department at Texas A&M University in College Station with coursework completed in Galveston. Similarly, the geological marine science track can lead to a minor in geology. An advisor in the MCES department can help with course selection and facilitate the minor approval process through another department.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Semester Credit Hours | |
| CHEM 119 | Fundamentals of Chemistry I | 4 |
| ENGL 104 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| GEOL 101 & GEOL 102 | Principles of Geology and Principles of Geology Laboratory | 4 |
| MARS 101 | Marine Science Matters 1 | 1 |
| MATH 147 or MATH 151 | Calculus I for Biological Sciences or Engineering Mathematics I | 4 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 120 | Fundamentals of Chemistry II | 4 |
| MATH 148 or MATH 152 | Calculus II for Biological Sciences or Engineering Mathematics II | 4 |
| OCNG 251 & MARS 252 | Oceanography and Introductory Marine Science Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| Communication | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| BIOL 111 | Introductory Biology I | 4 |
| MARS 210 | Marine Geography 1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| College Physics | ||
| Newtonian Mechanics for Engineering and Science and Physics of Motion Laboratory for the Sciences | ||
| Track focus elective 1,2 | 3-4 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 112 or GEOL 106 | Introductory Biology II 3 or Historical Geology | 4 |
| MARS 281 | Sophomore Seminar in Marine Sciences 1,4 | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| College Physics | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism for Engineering and Science and Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory for the Sciences | ||
| American history | 3 | |
| Track focus elective 1,2,3 | 3-4 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MARS 303 | Computing and Data Display 1 | 3 |
| MARS 410 | Physical Oceanography 1 | 3 |
| OCNG 420 | Biological Oceanography 1 | 3 |
| POLS 207 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| Track elective 1 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MARS 365 | Integrated Marine Sciences Laboratory 1 | 3 |
| MARS 430 or MARS 431 | Geological Oceanography-Plate Tectonics 1,4 or Geological Oceanography-Earth's Climate | 3 |
| MARS 440 | Chemical Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| Creative arts | 3 | |
| Track elective 1 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MARS 325 | Introduction to GIS for Marine Sciences 1 | 3 |
| MARS 460 | Capstone Undergraduate Research Experience I 1 | 1 |
| MARS 491 | Research in Marine Sciences 1 | 2 |
| POLS 206 | American National Government | 3 |
| Language, philosophy and culture | 3 | |
| Track elective 1 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MARS 461 | Capstone Undergraduate Research Experience II 2 | 1 |
| MARS 481 | Seminar 2 | 1 |
| MARS 491 | Research in Marine Sciences 2 | 2 |
| American history | 3 | |
| General elective 2,5 | 3-5 | |
| Track elective 1 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
| 1 | Course counts towards major GPR. |
| 2 | Hours vary depending on track focus electives chosen. |
| 3 | If a student is following the geology track, GEOL 106 is their focus elective and they will need to choose any additional 4 credit class for the spring semester to satisfy the curriculum 120 credit hours. |
| 4 | Writing intensive course. |
| 5 | 3 hours must be International and Cultural Diversity. This requirement can be met with courses used to satisfy other degree requirements. |
Track Options
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Marine Science | ||
| Focus electives | ||
| CHEM 227 & CHEM 237 | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 228 & CHEM 238 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| Breadth electives | 12 | |
Select four of the following: | ||
| Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollution | ||
| Geochemistry | ||
| Biochemistry | ||
| Eco-Environmental Modeling | ||
| Statistical Methods | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 20 | |
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Geological Marine Science | ||
| Focus electives | ||
| GEOL 106 | Historical Geology | 4 |
| MARS 306 | Coastal Sedimentary Geology | 4 |
| Breadth electives | 12 | |
Select four of the following: | ||
| Geomorphology | ||
| Environmental Micropaleontology | ||
| Geochemistry | ||
| Coastal Processes | ||
| Remote Sensing Technology | ||
| Geological Oceanography-Plate Tectonics | ||
| Geological Oceanography-Earth's Climate | ||
| Peak Oil, Global Warming and Resource Scarcity | ||
| Exploration Geophysics | ||
| Special Topics in Marine Sciences | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 20 | |
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Marine Science | ||
| Focus electives | ||
| MATH 251 | Engineering Mathematics III | 3 |
| MATH 308 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| Breadth electives | 12 | |
Select four of the following: | ||
| Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollution | ||
| Estuarine and Coastal Hydrodynamics | ||
| Remote Sensing Technology | ||
| Eco-Environmental Modeling | ||
| Special Topics in Marine Sciences | ||
| Statistical Methods | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated Track | ||
| Focus electives | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Coastal Sedimentary Geology | ||
| Engineering Mathematics III | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Historical Geology | ||
| Differential Equations | ||
| Breadth elective | 12 | |
Select four of the following: | ||
| Geomorphology | ||
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 18-20 | |