Overview
The Marine Science/Biology degree is a Bachelor of Science degree (BSMAS) that is designed to give students a strong background in the structure and function of marine organisms from the cell and molecular level to their role in ecosystem function.
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 tropical marine and coral reef ecology, fisheries conservation and management, and the use of marine organisms as models for environmental stress and human disease.
The Bachelor of Science double major in Marine Science/Biology 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 Requirements | ||
| MSC 111 | Introduction to Marine Science | 3 |
| MSC 112 | Introduction to Marine Science Lab | 1 |
| MSC 215 | Chemical Oceanography | 3 |
| MBE 230 | Introduction to Marine Biology | 3 |
| MBE 232 | Introduction to Marine Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| MSC 301 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography 1 | 3 |
| MSC 216 | Chemical Oceanography Laboratory | 1 |
| or MSC 302 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography Lab | |
| Select 12 credit hours of approved Rosenstiel School electives within ATM, GSC, MBE, MSC, OCE or RSM courses 2,3 | 12 | |
| Biology Requirements | ||
| BIL 150 | General Biology | 4 |
| BIL 151 | General Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| BIL 160 | Evolution and Biodiversity | 4 |
| BIL 161 | Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory | 1 |
| BIL 250 | Genetics | 4 |
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Cellular and Molecular Biology | ||
| Evolutionary Biology | ||
| Ecology | ||
| Comparative Physiology | ||
| Select 9 credit hours of electives as described for Biology majors 3,4 | 9 | |
| Chemistry Requirements | ||
| CHM 121 | Principles of Chemistry 5 | 4 |
| CHM 113 | Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CHM 221 | Introduction to Structure and Dynamics | 4 |
| CHM 205 | Chemical Dynamics Laboratory | 1 |
| Geological Sciences Requirement 8 | 3-4 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| The Earth System | ||
| Earth System History | ||
| Origin and Geology of the Galapagos Islands. (Approval Required) 8 | ||
| Mathematics Requirements | ||
| MTH 161 | Calculus I 6 | 4 |
| or MTH 171 | Calculus I | |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II (fulfills the Rosenstiel BSMAS quantitative skills requirement) | 4 |
| or MTH 172 | Calculus II | |
| Statistics or Computational Science Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Environmental Statistics | ||
| Foundations of Computational Marine Science | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics | ||
| Computer Programming I | ||
| Physics Requirements | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 10 | |
| Option 1 (recommended): | ||
| University Physics I for the Sciences | ||
| Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
| University Physics II for the Sciences | ||
| Physics Laboratory 2 | ||
| Option 2: | ||
| University Physics I | ||
| University Physics II | ||
| University Physics III | ||
| University Physics II Lab | ||
or PHY 225 | University Physics III Lab | |
| Option 3: | ||
| College Physics I | ||
| College Physics II | ||
| Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
| Physics Laboratory 2 | ||
| 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) | ||
| Electives | ||
| 200+ Level Approved Science or Mathematics Elective 7 | 3 | |
| Additional Elective 7 | 0-2 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-122 | |
- 1
MSC 351 and MSC 352 taken together in the Galapagos may be used to complete the MSC 301 requirement and 3 credits of approved Rosenstiel School electives.
- 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.
- 3
One of the following courses may fulfill requirements in both Biology and Marine Science: BIL 333, BIL 337, or an MBE or MSC course from an approved list.
- 4
The electives must include at least one lab or field course. Up to eight credit hours toward the requirement may be selected from courses with a biological topic within MBE or MSC courses from an approved list.
- 5
Principles of Chemistry must be passed with a grade of “C-” or higher.
- 6
Calculus I must be passed with a grade of “C-” or higher.
- 7
CHM 222 and CHM 206 are recommended.
- 8
Students who participate in the UGalapagos Program may use MSC 424 (a 3-credit course) to fulfill the Geological Sciences requirement and complete the BSMAS degree in 120 credits. All other students will need to complete 121-122 credits depending on the course used to fulfill the Statistics or Computational Science requirement.
Suggested Plan of Study
This is only a sample. There are numerous ways students can create plans of study for the Marine Science/Biology 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 |
| BIL 150 | General Biology | 4 |
| BIL 151 | General Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| MTH 161 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIL 160 | Evolution and Biodiversity | 4 |
| BIL 161 | Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory | 1 |
| CHM 121 | Principles of Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM 113 | Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | 3 |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MBE 230 | Introduction to Marine Biology | 3 |
| MBE 232 | Introduction to Marine Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| GSC 111 | Earth System History | 4 |
| MSC 204 | Environmental Statistics | 3 |
| A&H Cognate Course #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| MSC 215 | Chemical Oceanography | 3 |
| MSC 216 | Chemical Oceanography Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| MSC 203 | Foundations of Computational Marine Science 2 | 4 |
| BIL 250 | Genetics | 4 |
| A&H Cognate Course #2 | 3 | |
| A&H Cognate Course #3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| BIL 255 | Cellular and Molecular Biology | 3 |
| CHM 221 | Introduction to Structure and Dynamics | 4 |
| CHM 205 | Chemical Dynamics Laboratory | 1 |
| PHY 201 | University Physics I for the Sciences | 4 |
| PHY 106 | Physics Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIL 330 | Ecology | 3 |
| BIL Course | 3 | |
| PHY 202 | University Physics II for the Sciences | 4 |
| PHY 108 | Physics Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| P&S Cognate Course #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MSC 301 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| BIL 360 | Comparative Physiology | 3 |
| P&S Cognate Course #2 | 3 | |
| P&S Cognate Course #3 3 | 3 | |
| Science Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| BIL/MSC Course 4 | 3 | |
| BIL course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 122 | |
- 1
Students must take one laboratory from MSC 216 or MSC 302.
- 2
Recommended elective to take for the Marine Science/Biology major.
- 3
CHM 222 and CHM 206 are the recommended choices.
- 4
Student will need to take 2 additional elective credits in MSC if the course can be counted for Biology only and not also Marine Science.
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 Biology, acquire valuable technical skills and learn how to apply this knowledge to real-world problems, in a time of increasing stress on marine 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 Biology.
- 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.
