About this Program
- College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Science
- Credits for Degree: 120
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.
Related Programs
The university promotes an integrated approach to marine science education and research to prepare students for rewarding academic and professional careers. This major, offered cooperatively with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, lets students tailor a curriculum that suits their interests and career goals.
The curriculum provides 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 Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) complete an upper-division core that integrates the physical and biological sciences, mathematics, and engineering. They work closely with a faculty advisor to create an individualized curriculum of at least 12 credits of approved electives; this plan must be approved by the program's undergraduate coordinator before the student has earned 70 credits.
Coursework for the Major
The major requires 63-67 credits of coursework completed with minimum grades of C. At least 30 credits of coursework in the major must be completed at UF.
Required Coursework
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BSC 2010 & 2010L | Integrated Principles of Biology 1 and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| BSC 2011 & 2011L | Integrated Principles of Biology 2 and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 2 | 4 |
| CHM 2045 & 2045L | General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 4 |
| CHM 2046 & 2046L | General Chemistry 2 and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory | 4 |
| GLY 3083C | Fundamentals of Marine Sciences | 3 |
| GLY 4726 | Chemical Oceanography | 3 |
| MAC 2311 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 | 4 |
| MAC 2312 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 | 3-4 |
| or STA 2023 | Introduction to Statistics 1 | |
| OCE 1001 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| Select one: | 8-10 | |
Option One | ||
| Physics 1 and Laboratory for Physics 1 | ||
| Physics 2 and Laboratory for Physics 2 | ||
Option Two | ||
| Physics with Calculus 1 and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 1 | ||
| Physics with Calculus 2 and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 2 | ||
| ZOO 4403C | Marine Biology | 4 |
| ZOO 4926 | Special Topics in Zoology (Marine Ecology) | 3 |
| or FAS 4270 | Marine Ecological Processes | |
| Marine sciences core elective | 3-4 | |
| Approved marine sciences electives 1 | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 62-66 | |
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12 credits of approved marine sciences electives, approved by the undergraduate coordinator before the student has earned 70 credits. Electives may be chosen from the Approved Electives tab.
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.
For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.
For the purposes of critical-tracking, associated lecture and lab courses are considered one critical-tracking course (e.g., BSC 2010/BSC 2010L = 1 critical-tracking course).
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 critical-tracking course from BSC 2010/BSC 2010L, BSC 2011/BSC 2011L, CHM 2045/CHM 2045L, CHM 2046/CHM 2046L, MAC 2311, PHY 2053/PHY 2053L (or PHY 2048/PHY 2048L), PHY 2054/PHY 2054L (or PHY 2049/PHY 2049L)
- 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 2
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses
- 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 3
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course
- 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 4
- Complete 2 additional critical-tracking courses
- 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 5
- Complete all 8 critical-tracking courses
- 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 6
Semester 7
- Complete General Education course
- 2.0 UF GPA required
Semester 8
- Complete all remaining General Education requirements
- 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.
| Semester One | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CHM 2045 & 2045L |
General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Physical Sciences) |
4 |
| Select one: | 4 | |
| Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (Critical Tracking) | ||
| Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry (State Core Gen Ed Mathematics) 1 | ||
| OCE 1001 | Introduction to Oceanography (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Physical Sciences) | 3 |
| Quest 1 (Gen Ed Humanities) | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Semester Two | ||
| CHM 2046 & 2046L |
General Chemistry 2 and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Physical Sciences) |
4 |
| Select one: | 3-4 | |
Elective |
||
| Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (if needed) | ||
| State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Humanities | 3 | |
| State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Credits | 16-17 | |
| Semester Three | ||
| BSC 2010 & 2010L |
Integrated Principles of Biology 1 and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences) |
4 |
| GLY 3083C | Fundamentals of Marine Sciences (Gen Ed Physical Sciences) | 3 |
| Select one: | 3-4 | |
| Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 | ||
| Introduction to Statistics 1 (Gen Ed Mathematics) | ||
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 | |
| Gen Ed Humanities | 3 | |
| Credits | 16-17 | |
| Semester Four | ||
| Quest 2 (Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences) | 3 | |
| BSC 2011 & 2011L |
Integrated Principles of Biology 2 and Integrated Principles of Biology Laboratory 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences) |
4 |
| Select one: | 4-5 | |
| Physics 1 and Laboratory for Physics 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Physical Sciences) |
||
| Physics with Calculus 1 and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 1 (Critical Tracking) |
||
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 | |
| Credits | 14-15 | |
| Semester Five | ||
| Select one: | 4-5 | |
| Physics 2 and Laboratory for Physics 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Physical Sciences) |
||
| Physics with Calculus 2 and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 2 (Critical Tracking) |
||
| ZOO 4403C | Marine Biology | 4 |
| Foreign language | 5 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16-17 | |
| Semester Six | ||
| GLY 4726 | Chemical Oceanography | 3 |
| PCB 4460 or FAS 4270 |
Biodiversity and Ecology Field Immersion (Critical Tracking) or Marine Ecological Processes |
3-4 |
| Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| Foreign language | 5 | |
| Credits | 14-15 | |
| Semester Seven | ||
| Marine sciences core elective | 3-4 | |
| Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences; Critical Tracking | 3 | |
| Approved elective | 3 | |
| Electives (3000 level or above, not in major) | 6 | |
| Credits | 15-16 | |
| Semester Eight | ||
| Approved electives | 9 | |
| Elective (3000 level or above, not in major) | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
Select MAC 1147 if needed.
Marine Sciences Core Elective
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one: | 3-4 | |
| Physical Geology (Gen Ed Physical Sciences) | ||
| Historical Geology (Gen Ed Physical Sciences) | ||
| Oceans and Global Climate Change (Gen Ed Physical Sciences) 1 | ||
| Evolution of Earth and Life (Gen Ed Physical Sciences) 1 | ||
| Earth Materials 1 | ||
| Special Topics (Physical Oceanography) 1 | ||
- 1
These courses cannot count as marine sciences core electives and approved electives.
Approved Marine Sciences Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits (minimum): | 12 | |
| Special Topics (Physical Oceanography) 1 | ||
| Deltas and Humans | ||
| Biology of Fishes | ||
| Introduction to Fishery Science | ||
| Aquariums, Water and Aquaculture | ||
| Topics in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (Marine Adaptations ) | ||
| Oceans and Global Climate Change (Gen Ed Physical Sciences) 1 | ||
| Evolution of Earth and Life (Gen Ed Physical Sciences) 1 | ||
| Earth Materials 1 | ||
| Paleontology | ||
| Geophysics | ||
| Sedimentary Geology | ||
| Coastal Morphology and Processes | ||
| Special Topics in Geology (Deltas and Humans ) | ||
| Special Topics in Geology (Estuarine Systems ) | ||
| Invertebrate Biodiversity | ||
| Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation | ||
| Marine Mammal Biology | ||
- 1
These courses cannot count as marine sciences core electives and approved electives.
Additional Electives | With Instructor Permission
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EOC 6196 | Littoral Processes | 3 |
| EOC 6934 | Advanced Topics in Coastal and Oceanographic Engineering | 3 |
| FAS 4175 | Algae Biology and Ecology | 3 |
| FAS 5276C | Field Ecology of Aquatic Organisms | 4 |
| GLY 5255 | Organic Geochemistry and Geobiology | 3 |
| GLY 5558C | Sedimentology | 3 |
| GLY 5736 | Marine Geology | 3 |
| GLY 5786L | Topics in Field Geology (Bahamas) | 2 |
| GLY 6075 | Global Climate Change: Past, Present, and Future | 3 |
| GLY 6425 | Tectonics | 3 |
| GLY6726 | Chemical Biomarkers in Aquatic Ecosystems (instructor permission required). | |
| GLY 6932 | Special Topics in Geology (Chemical Biomarkers in Aquatic Ecosystems) | 3 |
| OCP 6050 | Physical Oceanography | 3 |
| OCP 6168 | Data Analysis Techniques for Coastal and Ocean Engineers | 3 |
| OCP 6295 | Estuarine and Shelf Hydrodynamics I | 3 |
| PCB 4460 | Biodiversity and Ecology Field Immersion | 4 |
| ZOO 4926 | Special Topics in Zoology (Biology of Sea Turtles) | 1-4 |
| ZOO 6456C | Ichthyology | 4 |
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
- Demonstrate competence in the basic terminology, concepts, methodologies, and theories used within the marine sciences.
Critical Thinking
- Analyze information in the marine sciences and develop reasoned solutions to problems using the processes and applications of scientific inquiry.
- Discriminate ethical behavior from unethical behavior in scientific research.
Communication
- 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
| Courses | SLO 1 | SLO 2 | SLO 3 | SLO 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLY 3083C | I | I | I | I |
| GLY 4930 | R | R | R | R |
| OCE 1001 | I | I | I | |
| ZOO 4403C | R | R | R | R |
| ZOO 4926 (Marine Ecology) or FAS 4932 (Marine Ecological Processes) | A | A | A | A |
Assessment Types
- Marine sciences subject and analytical skills tests
- Bioethics quiz
- Scientific paper