Overview
The Marine Science/Computer Science degree is a Bachelor of Science degree (BSMAS) that is designed to give students a strong background in ocean modeling and computer science, providing the skills and expertise required for research in applied aspects of ocean science and management.
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 development of algorithms for data capture, visualization and analysis, model development, instrumentation programming and remote sensing applications. .
The Bachelor of Science double major in Marine Science/Computer Science 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 |
| Select two out of the three lab options below: | 2 | |
| Chemical Oceanography Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Marine Biology Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Physical Oceanography Lab | ||
| MBE 230 | Introduction to Marine Biology | 3 |
| MSC 301 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography 1 | 3 |
| MSC 321 | Scientific Computing in Marine and Atmospheric Sciences | 3 |
| Select 9 credit hours of approved Rosenstiel School electives within ATM, GSC, MBE, MSC, OCE or RSM courses 2 | 9 | |
| Computer Science Requirements | ||
| CSC 120 | Computer Programming I | 4 |
| CSC 220 | Computer Programming II | 4 |
| CSC 314 | Computer Organization and Architecture | 3 |
| CSC 322 | System Programming | 3 |
| CSC 431 | Introduction to Software Engineering | 3 |
| or CSC 317 | Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis | |
| Select 6 credit hours of approved electives, as described for Computer Science majors | 6 | |
| Biology Requirements | ||
| BIL 150 & BIL 151 | General Biology and General Biology Laboratory | 5 |
| Chemistry Requirements | ||
| CHM 121 | Principles of Chemistry 3 | 4 |
| CHM 113 | Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| Geological Sciences Requirement 5 | 3-4 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| The Earth System | ||
| Earth System History | ||
| Origin and Geology of the Galapagos Islands. (Approval Required) 5 | ||
| Mathematics Requirements | ||
| MTH 161 | Calculus I 4 | 4 |
| or MTH 171 | Calculus I | |
| MTH 162 | Calculus II (fulfills the Rosenstiel BSMAS quantitative skills requirement) 4 | 4 |
| or MTH 172 | Calculus II | |
| MTH 210 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MTH 309 | Discrete Mathematics I | 3 |
| MTH 311 | Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 |
| Statistics Requirement | ||
| MSC 204 | Environmental Statistics | 3 |
| or MTH 224 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | ||
| 300+ Level Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-121 | |
- 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 3 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
Principles of Chemistry must be passed with a grade of “C-” or higher.
- 4
Calculus I and II must be passed with a grade of “C-” or higher.
- 5
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 credits.
Suggested Plan of Study
This is only a sample. There are numerous ways students can create plans of study for the Marine Science/Computer Science 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 | ||
| CSC 120 | Computer Programming I | 4 |
| 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 | 16 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MSC 215 | Chemical Oceanography | 3 |
| MSC 216 | Chemical Oceanography Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| CSC 220 | Computer Programming II | 4 |
| PHY 201 | University Physics I for the Sciences | 4 |
| PHY 106 | Physics Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| MBE 230 | Introduction to Marine Biology | 3 |
| MTH 210 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MTH 309 | Discrete Mathematics I | 3 |
| PHY 202 | University Physics II for the Sciences | 4 |
| PHY 108 | Physics Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| A&H Cognate Course #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MSC 301 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| MTH 311 | Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 |
| CSC 314 | Computer Organization and Architecture | 3 |
| CSC Course | 3 | |
| A&H Cognate Course #2 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MSC 302 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography Lab 1 | 1 |
| MSC 321 | Scientific Computing in Marine and Atmospheric Sciences | 3 |
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| CSC 317 | Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis | 3 |
| CSC 322 | System Programming | 3 |
| MSC 204 | Environmental Statistics | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| CSC Course | 3 | |
| 300 level or higher elective | 3 | |
| A&H Cognate Course #3 | 3 | |
| P&S Cognate Course #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| GSC 111 | Earth System History | 4 |
| P&S Cognate Course #2 | 3 | |
| P&S Cognate Course #3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 121 | |
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 Computer Science, acquire valuable technical skills and learn how to apply this knowledge to real-world problems, in a time of rapidly increasing use of computational resources and methods in science and industry. 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 Computer Science.
- 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.
