The university promotes an integrated approach to marine science education and research to prepare students for a variety of rewarding academic and professional careers. This major, offered cooperatively with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, allows students to tailor a curriculum that suits their interests and career goals.

The curriculum provides students with the core scientific and quantitative skills necessary for success. Lower-division courses build a strong foundation in basic sciences and math while upper-division courses provide opportunity for specialization. Students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) complete an upper-division core that concentrates on biological and ecological marine science essentials while also giving students a critical understanding of how statistics and economics are integrated into marine science and resource management.

Students work closely with a faculty advisor to create an individualized curriculum plan of at least 18 approved elective credits and 15-16 planned credits. These can include courses on resource management, human dimensions, conservation, quantitative population assessment and others. Students must complete their plans along with the approval of a faculty advisor before reaching 70 credits.

Coursework for the Major

The major requires 120 credits and at least 30 credits of upper-division coursework in the major must be completed at UF.

Required Coursework

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for entry to each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

• Complete OCE 1001 and 1 of the following, excluding labs: BSC 2010/BSC 2010L, BSC 2011/BSC 2011L, CHM 2045/CHM 2045L, CHM 2046/CHM 2046L, MAC 2311, PHY 2004/PHY 2004L
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

• Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

• Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course, excluding labs
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

• Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses, excluding labs
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

• Complete all critical-tracking courses, including labs
• 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
• 2.0 UF GPA required
• 2.0 Upper Division GPA required

Semester 6

• Complete 1 of the remaining required major courses from STA 2023, FAS 4202C, FAS 4270 or PCB 4460, FNR 3410C or STA 3024 or STA 4210 or STA 4222, FAS 4932, GLY 3083C, FNR 4660, ZOO 4205C
• Submit faculty advisor-approved Curriculum Plan
• 2.0 Upper Division GPA required
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 7

• Complete 3 additional remaining required major courses
• 2.0 Upper Division GPA required
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 8

• Complete all remaining required major courses
• 2.0 Upper Division GPA required
• 2.0  UF GPA required

Students are expected to complete the Writing Requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the General Education International (GE-N) and Diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another General Education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S).

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

APPROVED ELECTIVES | 18 CREDITS MINIMUM

Students meet with a faculty advisor to establish a curriculum plan for approved electives and planned electives and may focus these toward a specific area or a minor. For a broader program, students should select a minimum of three credits from each area of approved electives. Other options may include study abroad courses.

Ecology and Organismal Biology

Economics and Human Dimensions

Physical/Chemical Oceanography

Professional Skills

Quantitative Ecological Skills

¹

Use as an approved elective if not used to meet the quantitative requirement in semester seven. 

Additional Approved Electives | With instructor permission

This major provides integrative understanding of the basic concepts, theories, and observational findings related to marine materials and processes, geologic time, the diversity of marine life, the structure and function of marine organisms, and ecosystems and marine resource management.

The Marine Sciences major is administered jointly by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and utilizes faculty, courses and resources of the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program (CALS), the Department of Geological Sciences (CLAS), the Department of Biology (CLAS), and the Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering (Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering).

Before Graduating Students Must

• Achieve a passing score on the subject test. The content of the examination has been reviewed and approved by the Marine Sciences Committee.
• Achieve a passing score on the analytical skills test. The content of the examination has been reviewed and approved by the Marine Sciences Committee.
• Achieve a passing score on the bioethics quiz. The content of the examination has been reviewed and approved by the Marine Sciences Committee.
• Achieve a passing score on the scientific literacy paper. This paper is assessed using a rubric that has been reviewed and approved by the Marine Sciences Committee.
• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

1. Demonstrate competence in the basic terminology, concepts, methodologies, and theories used within the marine sciences.

Critical Thinking

2. Analyze information in the marine sciences and develop reasoned solutions to problems using the processes and applications of scientific inquiry.
3. Discriminate ethical behavior from unethical behavior in scientific research.

Communication

4. Communicate knowledge, ideas and reasoning clearly, effectively and objectively in written or oral forms appropriate to the marine sciences.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Assessment Types

• Marine sciences subject and analytical skills tests
• Bioethics quiz
• Scientific paper