Marine Science

Degree

Bachelor in Science in Marine Science
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
School of Marine and Environmental Programs

Contact

Dr. Charles Tilburg
Academic Director
ctilburg@une.edu

Mission

The mission of the School of Marine and Environmental Programs at the 51Æ·²è is to help our students gain an understanding of the natural world, develop critical thinking skills, and become scientifically literate. Together we lay the foundation for lifelong learning and meaningful, productive contributions to society.

The Marine Sciences encompass a wide variety of disciplines that seek to understand the way the ocean functions, how it is related to earth systems science, and how humans interact with the environment. Students will learn the theoretical underpinnings and applications of disciplines from biology to chemistry, geology, and physics. These disciplines are critical to life as we know it on the planet. Students will be able to apply these disciplines to solving real problems, in ocean sciences and beyond.

Major Description

The Marine Science program offers a baccalaureate education to students interested in all facets of the marine environment. The classroom curriculum provides a strong background in the marine sciences, including biology, chemistry, physics, and geology of the oceans and their surroundings. The program focuses on hands-on activities, internships, and research experiences in addition to classroom work.

The marine science major is designed to provide students with a strong science foundation upon which to build their marine specialty courses. The program is flexible and students are encouraged to explore many areas of the marine sciences through courses and internships emphasizing "hands-on" experiences. An additional goal of the major is to provide students with an adequate background for entry-level career positions and for graduate study in marine science programs, or any field requiring a strong science background. The University is located on the Saco River where it joins the Atlantic Ocean, providing numerous marine, estuarine, and freshwater habitats to study on or adjacent to campus.

The Marine Living Learning Community (MLC)

All entering first-year Marine Science, Marine Affairs, and Marine Entrepreneurship majors are invited to participate in a year-long living learning community focused on developing the skills needed to be a successful student, discovery of their majors and associated learning opportunities, and building relationships with peers, faculty, and professional staff.

The MLC integrates classroom learning, student success programming, experiential opportunities, as well as team-building and leadership development programs designed to assist Marine majors in their transitions from High School to College to Career.

Learning Community courses and events allows students an opportunity to expand their interests and grow personally, as well as professionally. A dedicated team comprised of faculty, professional staff, and peer leaders supports the MLC. This community of learning enriches classroom content and allows an opportunity to apply learning in context.

Students who participate in the MLC are expected to

  • Live together in a Residence Hall Community designed by the Office of Housing and Resident/Commuter Life.
  • Take two (2) or more designated courses in common over the course of their first year.
  • Participate in required experiential learning opportunities and community programs.

Curricular Requirements

Marine Biology Track

CAS Core Requirements Credits
Total 42–46
Marine Biology Track Required Courses Credits
CHE 110/110L – General Chemistry I with Lab Credits Fulfilled by Core Requirements
CHE 111/111L – General Chemistry II with Lab 4
MAT 150 – Statistics for Life Sciences Credits Fulfilled by Core Requirements
MAT 190 – Calculus I 4
PHY 110 – General Physics I with Lab 4
PHY 111 - General Physics II with Lab 4
One (1) Cellular and Molecular Area Course 3–4
One (1) Organismal Area Course 3–4
One (1) Process Area Course 3–4
One (1) Physiological Area Course 3–4
Eight (8) Credits of Marine Science Electives 8
MAR 105/105L – Introduction to Ecol/Evol of Marine Organisms with Lab 4
MAR 106/106L – Introduction to Cell/Molec of Marine Organisms with Lab 4
MAR 250/250L – Marine Biology with Lab 4
MAR 270/270L – Oceanography with Lab 4
MAR 325 – Marine Science Speaker Series 1
One (1) MAR 400-level course 3
Total 56–60
Open Electives (as needed to reach 120 credits) Variable
Minimum Required Credits 120

Oceanography Track

CAS Core Requirements Credits
Total 42–46
Oceanography Track Required Courses Credits
CHE 110/110L – General Chemistry I with Lab Credits Fulfilled by Core Requirements
CHE 111/111L – General Chemistry II with Lab 4
CHE 210/210L/210S – Organic Chemistry I with Lab and LabLecture 5
CHE 211/211L/211S – Organic Chemistry II with Lab and LabLecture or CHE 310/310L – Fundamentals of Biochemistry with Lab 4–5
MAT 150 – Statistics for Life Sciences Credits Fulfilled by Core Requirements
MAT 190 – Calculus I 4
MAT 195 – Calculus II 4
MAT 225 – Computer Programming with MAT LAB 3
PHY 110 – General Physics I with Lab 4
PHY 111 – General Physics II with Lab 4
MAR 105/105L – Introduction to Ecol/Evol of Marine Organisms with Lab 4
MAR 106/106L – Introduction to Cell/Molec of Marine Organisms with Lab 4
MAR 250/250L – Marine Biology with Lab 4
MAR 270/270L – Oceanography with Lab 4
MAR 366 – Advanced Oceanography I: Biological & Geological Oceanography 3
MAR 368 – Advanced Oceanography II: Physical & Chemical Oceanography 3
MAR 325 – Marine Science Speaker Series 1
One (1) 400-level MAR course 3
Total 58–59
Open Electives (as needed to reach 120 credits) Variable
Total Minimum Required Credits 120

Area Courses

Organismal Biology Area Courses Credits
BIO 234/234L – Environmental Microbiology 4
MAR 320/320L – Invertebrate Zoology 4
BIO 330/330L – Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy 4
MAR 331/331L – Biology of Fishes 4
MAR 355/355L – Biology of Marine Mammals 4
MAR 375/375L – Biology of Sharks, Skates, and Rays 4
MAR 376 – Biology of Sharks, Skates and Rays 3
MAR 452/452L – Natural History and Evolution of Galapagos Fauna with Lab 4
BIO 422/422L – Marine Biology Topics: Coral Reefs with Lab 4
MAR 312/312L – Plankton with Lab 4
BIO 222/222L – Techniques in Finfish and Shellfish Culture with Lab 4
BIO 223/223L – Health, Nutrition, and Feeding of Cultured Organism with Lab 4
Process Area Courses Credits
MAR 335/335L – Animal/Behavioral Ecology with Lab 4
MAR 350/350L – Marine Ecology with Lab 4
MAR 432/432L – Fisheries Biology with Lab 4
MAR 428 – Marine Conservation 3
Physiology Area Courses Credits
BIO 322 – Comparative Animal Physiology 3
BIO/MAR 421/421L – Physiological Ecology of Fishes with Lab 4
MAR 380 – Experimental Animal Physiology 4
Cell and Molecular Area Courses Credits
BIO 205/205L – Fish Genetics with Lab 4
MAR 220/220L – Cellular and Molecular Approaches in Marine Science with Lab 4

Electives

Marine Elective Options Credits
Any MAR course (200 level or above) 3–4
Any MAF course 3
Any Chemistry course (200 level or above) 3-5
BIO 221 – Principles of Aquaculture 3
BIO 222/222L – Finfish/Shellfish Culture Tech 4
BIO 223/223L – Hlth, Nutr, Feed Cultured Org 4
BIO 323/323L – Aquarium Science and Operation 4
Any GIS course 3–4
BIO 205/205L – Fish Genetics with Lab 4
BIO 422/422L – Marine Biology Topics: Coral Reefs with Lab 4
Total Minimum Required Credits 8

Students wishing to pursue teacher certification in Life Science can complete a double major with Marine Science and Secondary Education or a major in Secondary Education and a concentration in Marine Science. For more information, see the Secondary Education catalog page.

Students in this major can participate in the pre-health graduate school preparation tracks.

Academic and Technical Standards

Graduation Requirements

A minimum grade of C- must be achieved in all science and mathematics courses used toward graduation in any of the programs in the Department of Marine Science. A 2.00 cumulative average in sciences is a requirement for graduation in any of the programs in the Department of Marine Science.

Program Completion Timeline

Students have a maximum of seven years to complete the graduation requirements.

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate a strong content-knowledge foundation in their specific field of study (Marine Biology, Oceanography, Marine Entrepreneurship, or Marine Affairs).
  • Students will communicate effectively in both oral and written format to convey their scientific knowledge, interdisciplinary training, and findings to peers, professional audiences, decision-makers, and/or the public.
  • Students will demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills in their specific field of study by designing, carrying out, and interpreting the results of their experiments, by evaluating the literature published by professionals, by making recommendations to policy makers and/or by creating and innovating in their field.

Minors

A marine science minor requires 6 courses and can follow either of the two tracks in the major, Marine Biology or Oceanography.

Marine Biology Minor

Required Courses Credits
MAR 105/105L – Intro to Ecology/Evolution of Marine Organisms or BIO 105/105L – Biology I: Ecology/Evolution and MAR 106/106L Intro to Cellular/Molecular Biology of Marine Organisms or BIO 106/106L - Biology II: Cellular/Molecular or BIO 104/104L - General Biology and (MAR 105/105L - Intro to Ecology/Evolution of Marine Organisms or MAR 106/106L - Intro to Cellular/Molecular Biology of Marine Organisms) 8
MAR 270/270L – Oceanography with Lab 4
MAR 250/250L – Marine Biology with Lab 4
Two additional Organismal topics courses (see course listing above in Curricular Requirements) 6-8
Total 21–23

Oceanography Minor

Required Courses Credits
MAR 105/105L – Intro to Ecology/Evolution of Marine Organisms with Lab 4
MAR 250/250L – Marine Biology with Lab 4
MAR 270/270L – Oceanography with Lab 4
MAR 366 – Adv Oceanography I: Bio/Chem 3
MAR 368 – Advanced Oceanography II: Phy/Geo 3
Any one (1) MAR course 3–4
Total 21–22

Honors Program

We offer qualified students the option of graduating with Honors. This includes significant research, scholarship or creative activity under the direction of a faculty member. Interested students should consult with their major advisor.

Transfer Credit

Courses previously completed at another accredited college can be transferred to this degree program. Transferred courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the marine science courses offered at 51Æ·²èin order to count as exact equivalents. Otherwise, they will transfer as general electives. All Science/Math courses previously completed must be no older than five years.

Other options and restrictions apply. See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

Admissions

See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.

Financial Information

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

Lab Fees

Travel courses have separate fees that vary depending on the course.

Financial Aid

Detailed information and applications are available on request from the Financial Aid Office on the Biddeford Campus. Call (207) 602-2342, or visit the Financial Aid website

Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog

This Catalog documents the academic programs, policies, and activities of the 51Æ·²è for the 2023–2024 academic year. The information contained herein is accurate as of the date of publication April 28, 2023.

The 51Æ·²è reserves the right in its sole judgment to make changes of any nature in its programs, calendar, or academic schedule whenever it is deemed necessary or desirable, including changes in course content, the rescheduling of classes with or without extending the academic term, canceling of scheduled classes or other academic activities, in any such case giving such notice thereof as is reasonably practicable under the circumstances.

While each student may work closely with an academic advisor, he or she must retain individual responsibility for meeting requirements in this catalog and for being aware of any changes in provisions or requirements.