Overview
Marine Science is an interdisciplinary program dealing with the study of the world’s oceans, their physical and biological constituents, the influence of oceanic resources on human society, and the conservation and future development of these resources.
The Bachelor of Science in Marine Science is a full double major program that requires a major in Marine Science through the Rosenstiel School and a second major in one of the sciences. Approved second majors in Applied Physics, Biochemistry, Engineering (all disciplines), and Mathematics may be taken. Students interested in adding a second major in one of these disciplines should review the Applied Physics, Biochemistry, Engineering (all disciplines), or Mathematics pages for additional requirements. Each of the areas of concentration constitutes a rigorous program requiring 120-130 credit hours for graduation.
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 |
| 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 | |
| Select two of the following laboratories: | 2 | |
| Chemical Oceanography Laboratory (required for Biochemistry double majors) | ||
| Introduction to Marine Biology Laboratory (required for Biochemistry double majors) | ||
| Introduction to Physical Oceanography Lab (required for Engineering, Mathematics and Applied Physics double majors) | ||
| Marine Science Core Elective Requirements | ||
| Select 12 credit hours of which 6 must be 300-level or higher approved Rosenstiel School electives (MBE, MSC, OCE or RSM). 1 | 12 | |
One MSC course from the following (MSC 348, MSC 405, MSC 401, ATM course at the 300 or 400 level (excluding ATM 306), OCE or ATM courses at the 500 level ( excluding OCE 512, OCE 522, OCE 531, and ATM 534), and one Computational course from MSC 203, MSC 321, MBE 536, or CSC 315) may double count for both Marine Science and Applied Physics. 1 | ||
| 200+ Level Approved Science or Mathematics Elective Requirement (Not required for Biochemistry) | 3 | |
Including but not limited to ATM, BIL, BME, BMB, CET, CAE, CHM, CSC, ECE, GSC, MAE, MBE, MIC, MTH, MSC, NEU, OCE, PHY, RSM. | ||
| 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 |
| Geological Sciences Requirement | 3-4 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| The Earth System | ||
| Earth System History | ||
| Origin and Geology of the Galapagos Islands. 2 | ||
| 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 | 3-4 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Environmental Statistics | ||
| Foundations of Computational Marine Science | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics | ||
| Computer Programming I | ||
| Physics Requirements | ||
| Review approved STEM major for required Physics sequence. If one is not recommended take Option 1. | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 10 | |
| Option 1 (recommended): | ||
| University Physics I for the Sciences and Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
| University Physics II for the Sciences and Physics Laboratory 2 | ||
| Option 2: | ||
| University Physics I | ||
| University Physics II | ||
| University Physics III | ||
| Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
or PHY 108 | Physics Laboratory 2 | |
| Option 3: | ||
| College Physics I and Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
| College Physics II and Physics Laboratory 2 | ||
| Requirements for Second Science Major 4 | 32 | |
| Students should review the Applied Physics, Biochemistry, Engineering (all disciplines), or Mathematics page for the second major requirements and credits needed. | ||
| 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 162 | Calculus II | |
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 9 | |
| People and Society Cognate | 9 | |
| STEM Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 120-122 | |
- 1
At least 6 credit hours of which must be at the 300-level or higher. Courses from other disciplines are allowed only if taken from an approved list. CAE 330 or MAE 309 may double count for both Marine Science elective and Engineering. One MSC course from an approved B.S. in Applied Physics - Marine Science Track list may double count for both MSC and Applied Physics.
- 2
Students who participate in the UGalapagos Program may use MSC 424 (a 3-credit course) to fulfill the Geological Sciences requirement.
- 3
Equivalent Statistics course may be substituted with permission from the Marine Science Undergraduate Program Director.
- 4
Students should review the Applied Physics, Biochemistry, Engineering (all disciplines), or Mathematics page for the second major requirements and credits needed.
Suggested Plan of Study - Marine Science/Second Major
This is only a sample. There are numerous ways students can create plans of study for the Marine Science/Second Major program. 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 | ||
| CHM 121 | Principles of Chemistry | 4 |
| CHM 113 | Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| GSC 111 | Earth System History | 4 |
| WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | 3 |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MSC 203 | Foundations of Computational Marine Science | 4 |
| MBE 230 | Introduction to Marine Biology | 3 |
| PHY 221 | University Physics I | 3 |
| STEM Second Major Course | 3 | |
| A&H Course #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MSC 301 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| MSC 302 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography Lab 1 | 1 |
| PHY 222 | University Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 106 | Physics Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| PHY 108 | Physics Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| A&H Course #2 | 3 | |
| STEM Second Major Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHY 223 | University Physics III | 3 |
| STEM Second Major Course | 3 | |
| STEM Second Major Course | 3 | |
| STEM Second Major Course | 4 | |
| A&H Course #3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MSC 215 | Chemical Oceanography | 3 |
| MSC 216 | Chemical Oceanography Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| STEM Second Major Course | 3 | |
| P&S Course #1 | 3 | |
| P&S Course #2 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| P&S Course #3 | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| STEM Second Major Course | 3 | |
| STEM Second Major Course | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| STEM Second Major Course | 3 | |
| STEM Second Major Course | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
1. Students must complete two laboratories from MSC 216, MBE 232, and MSC 302.
Additional Major Curriculum Requirements
If a student would like to add a Marine Science with a Second Major as an additional major, they must have a primary science major in one of the following areas Applied Physics, Biochemistry, Engineering (all disciplines), or Mathematics. The student must also meet with the Marine Science 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 (fulfills the Rosenstiel BS quantitative skills requirement) | ||
or MTH 172 | Calculus II | |
| Pre-Requisite Statistics or Computational Science Requirement | ||
| Environmental Statistics | ||
| 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 Marine Science Undergraduate Program Director for students required to complete a Statistics course for their primary major. Approved courses include but are not limited to ECS 204, EPS 351, ISE 311, MAS 201, MAS 311, 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 Geological Sciences Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| The Earth System | ||
| Earth System History | ||
| Origin and Geology of the Galapagos Islands. 1 | ||
| Pre-Requisite Physics Requirements | ||
| If primary approved STEM major does not require or recommend a Physics sequence take Option 1. | ||
| Select one of the following options: | ||
Option 1 (recommened): | ||
| University Physics I for the Sciences and Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
| University Physics II for the Sciences and Physics Laboratory 2 | ||
Option 2: | ||
| University Physics I | ||
| University Physics II | ||
| University Physics III | ||
| Physics Laboratory 1 | ||
or PHY 108 | Physics Laboratory 2 | |
| Option 3: | ||
| PHY 101 & PHY 106 | College Physics I and Physics Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| PHY 102 & PHY 108 | College Physics II and Physics Laboratory 2 | 4 |
| Approved Primary Science Major 2 | ||
| Approved primary science majors are Applied Physics, Biochemistry, Engineering (all disciplines), or Mathematics. | ||
| Marine Science Core Requirements | ||
| MSC 111 | Introduction to Marine Science | 3 |
| MSC 112 | Introduction to Marine Science Lab | 1 |
| MSC 215 | Chemical Oceanography | 3 |
| 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 | |
| Select two of the following laboratories: | 2 | |
| Chemical Oceanography Laboratory (required for Biochemistry double majors) | ||
| Introduction to Marine Biology Laboratory (required for Biochemistry double majors) | ||
| Introduction to Physical Oceanography Lab (required for Engineering, Mathematics and Applied Physics double majors) | ||
| Marine Science Core Elective Requirements | ||
| Select 12 credit hours of which 6 must be 300-level or higher approved Rosenstiel School electives (MBE, MSC, OCE or RSM). 3 | 12 | |
One MSC course from the following (MSC 348, MSC 405, MSC 401, ATM course at the 300 or 400 level (excluding ATM 306), OCE or ATM courses at the 500 level ( excluding OCE 512, OCE 522, OCE 531, and ATM 534), and one Computational course from MSC 203, MSC 321, MBE 536, or CSC 315) may double count for both Marine Science and Applied Physics. 3 | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 35 | |
- 1
Students who participate in the UGalapagos Program may use MSC 424 (a 3-credit course) to fulfill the Geological Sciences requirement.
- 2
Approved primary science majors are Applied Physics, Biochemistry, Engineering (all disciplines), or Mathematics.
- 3
At least 6 credit hours of which must be at the 300-level or higher. Courses from other disciplines are allowed only if taken from an approved list. CAE 330 or MAE 309 may double count for both Marine Science elective and Engineering. One MSC course from an approved B.S. in Applied Physics - Marine Science Track list may double count for both MSC and Applied Physics.
- 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.
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, 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.
- 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.
