Overview
The Marine Science/Geological Sciences degree is a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) that is designed to give students a strong background in the study of the origin of the Earth and its oceans, and the ongoing processes of geophysical and geochemical change.
Undergraduate students are encouraged to work with the faculty and are able to earn course credit by conducting independent research under the supervision of leading scientists in their field. Research at UM focuses on carbonate sedimentology of the Florida reef tract, stable isotope geochemistry and micropaleontology of deep ocean cores to reconstruct paleoclimate, tectonic processes (volcanoes and earthquakes), and the impact of rising sea level on coastal systems.
The Bachelor of Science double major in Marine Science/Geological Sciences prepares students for admission to graduate programs and for careers in teaching and research as well as for technical careers in government and private industries concerned with the oceans.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Science Core Requirements | ||
| MSC 111 | Introduction to Marine Science | 3 |
| MSC 112 | Introduction to Marine Science Lab | 1 |
| MSC 215 | Chemical Oceanography | 3 |
| Select two of the following laboratories: | 2 | |
| Chemical Oceanography Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Marine Biology Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Physical Oceanography Lab | ||
| MSC 218 | Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| or MBE 230 | Introduction to Marine Biology | |
| MSC 301 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| or MSC 351 | Climate, Oceanography, and Biogeography of the Galapagos | |
| Marine Science Core Elective Requirements | ||
| Select 9 credit hours of which 6 must be 300-level or higher approved Rosenstiel School electives (MBE, MSC, OCE or RSM). 1 | 9 | |
| Geological Sciences Core Requirements | ||
| GSC 110 | The Earth System | 4 |
| GSC 111 | Earth System History | 4 |
| GSC 260 | Earth Materials | 4 |
| GSC 360 | Depositional and Diagenetic Systems | 4 |
| GSC 380 | Paleontology and Stratigraphy | 4 |
| MGS 513 | Introductory Geochemistry | 3 |
| MGS 514 OR 3 credit hour GSC OR MGS 300 level or higher course | 3 | |
If MGS 514 is taken to complete the Physics II requirement (lecture and lab), replace it with a 3 credit 300-level or higher GSC or MGS course. | ||
| GSC 440 | Petrology | 4 |
| GSC 480 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GSC 482 | Field Methods | 2 |
| GSC 561 | Communicating Geoscience | 2 |
| GSC 580 | Summer Field Geology | 4 |
| Biology Requirements | ||
| BIL 150 & BIL 151 | General Biology and General Biology Laboratory | 5 |
| Chemistry Requirements | ||
| CHM 121 | Principles of Chemistry (minimum grade of C- required) | 4 |
| CHM 113 | Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| Mathematics Requirements | ||
| MTH 161 | Calculus I (minimum grade of C- required) | 4 |
| or MTH 171 | Calculus I | |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II (fulfills the Rosenstiel BS quantitative skills requirement) | 4 |
| or MTH 172 | Calculus II | |
| Statistics or Computational Science Requirement 3 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Environmental Statistics | ||
| Analyze and Visualize Geoscience Data | ||
| Foundations of Computational Marine Science | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics | ||
| Computer Programming I | ||
| Physics Requirements 2 | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 8-10 | |
| Option 1 (recommended): | ||
| University Physics I for the Sciences and Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
| University Physics II for the Sciences and Physics Laboratory 2 2 | ||
or MGS 514 | Geophysics | |
| Option 2: | ||
| College Physics I and Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
| College Physics II and Physics Laboratory 2 2 | ||
or MGS 514 | Geophysics | |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | 3 |
| or WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | |
| or ENG 106 | Writing About Literature and Culture | |
Quantitative Skills: | ||
| Calculus I (fulfilled through the major) | ||
or MTH 171 | Calculus I | |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 9 | |
| People and Society Cognate | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| Additional Elective | 1 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-123 | |
- 1
At least 6 of which must be at the 300-level or higher. MSC 204 and MSC 425 do not satisfy the Rosenstiel School elective requirement. ATM courses, GSC courses, and courses from other Schools are allowed only if taken from an approved list.
- 2
If MGS 514 is taken to complete the Physics II requirement, replace it with a 3 credit 300-level or higher GSC or MGS course.
- 3
Equivalent Statistics or Computational Science course may be substituted with permission from the Geological Sciences or Marine Science Undergraduate Program Director.
Suggested Plan of Study
This is only a sample. There are numerous ways students can create plans of study for the Marine Science/Geological Sciences major. Students should feel empowered to use the information listed in the Academic Bulletin to take charge of their education, pursue their own academic interests, and create their own, unique plans of study.
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MSC 111 | Introduction to Marine Science | 3 |
| MSC 112 | Introduction to Marine Science Lab | 1 |
| GSC 110 | The Earth System | 4 |
| MTH 161 | Calculus I | 4 |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GSC 111 | Earth System History | 4 |
| CHM 121 | Principles of Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM 113 | Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GSC 260 | Earth Materials | 4 |
| BIL 150 | General Biology | 4 |
| BIL 151 | General Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| A&H Course #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MSC 215 | Chemical Oceanography | 3 |
| MSC 216 | Chemical Oceanography Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| GSC 380 | Paleontology and Stratigraphy | 4 |
| GSC 440 | Petrology | 4 |
| A&H Course #2 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MBE 230 | Introduction to Marine Biology | 3 |
| MBE 232 | Introduction to Marine Biology Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| GSC 360 | Depositional and Diagenetic Systems | 4 |
| PHY 201 | University Physics I for the Sciences | 4 |
| PHY 106 | Physics Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| MSC 204 | Environmental Statistics | 3 |
| GSC 482 | Field Methods | 2 |
| PHY 202 | University Physics II for the Sciences | 4 |
| PHY 108 | Physics Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| A&H Course #3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Summer | ||
| GSC 580 | Summer Field Geology | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 4 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MSC 301 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| MGS 513 | Introductory Geochemistry | 3 |
| MGS 514 | Geophysics | 3 |
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| P&S Course #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| GSC 480 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GSC 561 | Communicating Geoscience | 2 |
| P&S Course #2 | 3 | |
| P&S Course #3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 121 | |
Additional Major Curriculum Requirements
Students who wish to complete the additional major must complete the full combined double major in addition to course pre-requisites. Please note that there may be financial aid implications if adding the additional major increases the length of a student’s degree beyond 120 credits. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with a financial aid representative before declaring the additional major.
If a student would like to add a Marine Science/Geological Sciences as an additional major, they need to meet with the Geological Sciences Program Director before submitting their Academic Change Form to their Cane Navigator for processing.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Requisite Mathematics Requirements | ||
| Calculus I (minimum grade of C- required) | ||
or MTH 171 | Calculus I | |
| Calculus II | ||
or MTH 172 | Calculus II | |
| Pre-Requisite Statistics or Computational Science Requirement | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| Environmental Statistics | ||
| Analyze and Visualize Geoscience Data | ||
| Foundations of Computational Marine Science | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics | ||
| Computer Programming I | ||
An equivalent Statistics or Computational Science course may be substituted with permission from the Geological Sciences or Marine Science Undergraduate Program Director for students required to complete either Statistics or a Computational course for their primary major. Approved courses include but are not limited to ECS 204, EPS 351, GEG 310, ISE 311, MAS 201, MAS 311, MSC321, NUR 202, PSY 291, PSY 292, SOC 211. | ||
| Pre-Requisite Biology Requirements | ||
| General Biology and General Biology Laboratory | ||
| Pre-Requisite Chemistry Requirements | ||
| Principles of Chemistry (minimum grade of C- required) | ||
| Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Pre-Requisite Physics Requirements 1 | ||
| Select one of the following options: | ||
| Option 1 (recommended): | ||
| University Physics I for the Sciences and Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
| University Physics II for the Sciences and Physics Laboratory 2 1 | ||
or MGS 514 | Geophysics | |
| Option 2: | ||
| College Physics I and Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
| College Physics II and Physics Laboratory 2 1 | ||
or MGS 514 | Geophysics | |
| Marine Science Core Requirements | ||
| MSC 111 | Introduction to Marine Science | 3 |
| MSC 112 | Introduction to Marine Science Lab | 1 |
| MSC 215 | Chemical Oceanography | 3 |
| Select two of the following laboratories: | 2 | |
| Chemical Oceanography Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Marine Biology Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Physical Oceanography Lab | ||
| MSC 218 | Biological Oceanography | 3 |
| or MBE 230 | Introduction to Marine Biology | |
| MSC 301 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography 3 | 3 |
| or MSC 351 | Climate, Oceanography, and Biogeography of the Galapagos | |
| Marine Science Core Elective Requirements | ||
| Select 9 credit hours of which 6 must be 300-level or higher approved Rosenstiel School electives (MBE, MSC, OCE or RSM). 2 | 9 | |
| Geological Sciences Core Requirements | ||
| GSC 110 | The Earth System | 4 |
| GSC 111 | Earth System History | 4 |
| GSC 260 | Earth Materials | 4 |
| GSC 360 | Depositional and Diagenetic Systems | 4 |
| GSC 380 | Paleontology and Stratigraphy | 4 |
| MGS 513 | Introductory Geochemistry | 3 |
| MGS 514 OR 3 credit hour GSC OR MGS 300 level or higher course | 3 | |
If MGS 514 is taken to complete the Physics II requirement (lecture and lab), replace it with a 3 credit 300-level or higher GSC or MGS course. | ||
| GSC 440 | Petrology | 4 |
| GSC 480 | Structural Geology | 4 |
| GSC 482 | Field Methods | 2 |
| GSC 561 | Communicating Geoscience | 2 |
| GSC 580 | Summer Field Geology | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 66 | |
- 1
If MGS 514 is taken to complete the Physics II requirement, replace it with a 3 credit 300-level or higher GSC or MGS course.
- 2
At least 6 of which must be at the 300-level or higher. MSC 204 and MSC 425 do not satisfy the Rosenstiel School elective requirement. ATM courses, GSC courses, and courses from other Schools are allowed only if taken from an approved list.
- Note:
Your primary major must have a minimum of 24 credits of core major requirements. They must be different than those used for this additional major.
Requirements for the additional major are pending.
Mission
The mission of the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science is to deepen our collective knowledge of our planet through cutting-edge scientific research on the oceans, atmosphere, geology, biota, and the human dimension, while training the next generation of scientists. We transfer the knowledge gained to our students, the national and international scientific community, and to policymakers and the public.
The educational mission of the BS degree in Marine Science at the University of Miami is to graduate students with the ability and desire to integrate knowledge of marine science into their future careers.
Goals
Students completing this double major will be able to master a broad set of fundamental scientific knowledge in Marine Science and Geology, acquire valuable technical skills and learn how to apply this knowledge to real-world problems, in a time of increasing stress on Earth’s resources and environment. The program will provide the rigor, flexibility, depth and integration to enable students to:
- Design and pursue their course of study that meets requirements of a double major in Marine Science and Geology.
- Learn from the diverse and outstanding group of professors and researchers who are experts in their fields and have active research programs.
- Undertake active research experiences, which will allow them to gain a strong understanding of the scientific process and provide them with a set of valuable experimental and computational skills.
- Prepare themselves for graduate school and for successful careers in public and private industries.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively.
- Students will develop analytical and quantitative skills to allow critical data analysis.
- Students will be able to do carry out supervised research in the field of marine science.
- Students will be able to present and synthesize background information from scientific literature and report findings from their laboratory experiments or observations from their field work.
