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Marine Science

  • Associate Professor Joseph (Coordinator); Assistant Professors Bove, Leslie; Visiting Professors and Instructors Professor Benfer.

  • Marine science (MARS) is an interdisciplinary major, providing students the opportunity to develop knowledge about oceanic processes, organisms, and important intersections of human–ocean systems. Students investigate aspects of the oceans and ocean life through the incorporation of the fields of marine science, biology, environmental/geological science, and environmental studies, supported by a background in other science and math-related courses. Students build their critical thinking and analytical skills through their class/lab work and gain additional hands-on experience in the field through their experiential learning projects.

    Successful completion of the MARS curriculum helps prepare students for graduate work and employment in marine-oriented professions. Potential career paths are wide-ranging in this interdisciplinary field, such as work to protect ocean organisms (e.g., national and international policy changes, habitat conservation, marine animal studies), support coastal community health (e.g. shoreline erosion protection, managed retreat, coastal policies), consider ocean resources (e.g. ecosystem studies, mining impacts, fishing regulations), and climate studies (e.g. impacts of sea level rise, ocean acidification, heat transport patterns).

    Ursinus students studying marine science and related fields have completed their experiential learning projects through research with faculty members on coral health in a changing environment, microplastics in aquatic systems, marine snail physiology across the northeast U.S., geologic analysis of sea floor sediment, whale identification through visual and genetic studies, and more. Further, many students participate in off-campus internships in fields including aquaculture, public education at aquaria, whale and dolphin studies, sea turtle protection, freshwater invasive species removal, learning research methods out at sea, sustainable coastal tourism, and other experiences.

    Requirements for Majors

    All students majoring in Marine Science (MARS) must complete a minimum of 56 credit hours distributed as noted below, plus an experiential learning project (XLP). Majors within MARS fulfill the college requirements for writing, oral presentations, and capstone experience by completing the MARS capstone course (MARS-420W). The MARS curricular requirements are as follows:

    Foundational Core (Complete all six)

    • MARS-106Q
    • BIO-101Q
    • ENVS-100
    • BIO/ENVS-330
    • ENVS-372
    • MARS-420W


    Foundational Building Blocks (complete one from each category):

    • A math or statistics course:
      • STAT-141Q and 142; or
      • One semester of math MATH-111 or 112

    • A two-semester chemistry or physics sequence:
      • CHEM-107/107LQ and CHEM-108/108L (or CHEM-151/151LQ); or
      • PHYS-111Q and PHYS-112 or
      • PHYS-121Q and PHYS-122


    Marine Life (Complete one of two):

    • BIO/ENVS-375
    • BIO/ENVS-360


    Oceans & People (Complete one of two):

    • ENVS-266
    • ENVS-364

    Related Systems (Complete three from the following list)

    • BIO-102Q, 345, 359, 442W; BIO/ENVS-334, 336, 415W, 419W, 455W; ENVS-244, 268, 370; STAT-150


    Marine-focused XLP

    • XLP or similar experience, germane to marine science (see additional information below)


    Recommended for All Majors

    • Additional courses in mathematics, statistics, chemistry, physics, international relations, politics, etc. as determined by planned career path and in consultation with MARS advisor.

     

    Special topics, other new courses, courses taken during a study abroad or off campus program may count towards the Marine Science major with permission of the MARS coordinator. Similarly, in consultation with the MARS coordinator, students may petition to have independent research or honors research satisfy one of the MARS requirements. For independent or honors research to fulfill the major requirements, students must have already completed the following MARS requirements: MARS-106, BIO-101Q, ENVS-100, a more advanced marine-specific course (BIO/ENVS-330, 375, 360 or ENVS-372), and receive permission from the MARS coordinator.

    To fulfill the MARS major students must also complete an experiential learning project (XLP) or similar experience, the focus of which is germane to marine science and approved by the MARS coordinator. Options include: MARS-381, 382, 481, 491, IDS-381, 382, ENVS-381, 382, 481, 491, BIO-382; 481, 485, 491, Summer Fellows research, or other non-credit bearing XLP experience approved by the MARS coordinator (and director or advisor of the experience, as needed). A 3- or 4-credit accumulated sequence of MARS-391/MARS-392, BIO-391/BIO-392, or ENVS-391/ENVS-392 that leads to a coherent project progression within the field of marine science may also fulfill this requirement, with approval from the MARS coordinator and the overseeing research faculty member.

    For students double majoring in BIO or ENVS with MARS, at least 24 of the 56 credits for the Marine Science major must be in addition to credits already counting towards BIO or ENV(S), respectively. Credit-bearing XLP’s do not count towards these 24 credits.

    Students who plan to continue on in fields of marine science/oceanography after graduation are advised to select a MARS advisor who is most closely related to their field of interest and to work with this advisor to determine the courses that may be recommended for continuing in this field.

    S/U Guidance

    The MARS foundational courses (MARS-106Q, BIO-101Q, ENVS-100, BIO/ENVS-330, ENVS-372, and MARS-420W) may not be taken with S/S-/U grading to count for the Marine Science major. For students considering graduate programs in marine science, any prerequisite courses for the graduate program, including math, chemistry, and physics courses, should not be taken with S/S-/U grading.

    Requirements for Minors

    All students minoring in marine science (MARS) must complete a minimum of 32 credits that count towards a minor in MARS. Required courses include:

    Foundational Core (three of three)

    • MARS-106Q
    • BIO-101
    • ENVS-100

     

    Marine Systems (three of four)

    • BIO/ENVS-330
    • BIO/ENVS-360
    • BIO/ENVS-375
    • ENVS-372

     

    Oceans and People (one of two)

    • ENVS-266
    • ENVS-364

     

    Related Systems (one from the following list)

    • BIO/ENVS-336
    • BIO/ENVS-415W
    • BIO/ENVS-419W
    • ENVS-244
    • ENVS-268
    • ENVS-370
    • MARS-420W
    • Courses from any of the above listings not already used for one of the Marine Science requirements

     

    Recommended for All Minors:

    • Marine-focused XLP or similar experience, germane to marine science (see additional information above, as described within the MARS major requirements)

    • Other foundational core and building block courses listed in the major, as determined by planned career path and in consultation with MARS advisor.

     

    Students who plan to continue on in fields of marine science/oceanography after graduation are advised to select a MARS advisor who is most closely related to their field of interest and to work with this advisor to determine the courses that may be recommended for continuing in this field.

    Special topics, other new courses, courses taken during a study abroad or off campus program may count towards the Marine Science minor with permission of the MARS coordinator. Similarly, in consultation with the MARS coordinator, students may petition to have independent research or honors research satisfy requirements for one of the MARS requirements. For independent or honors research to fulfill the major requirements, students must have already completed the following MARS requirements: MARS-106, BIO-101Q, ENVS-100, a more advanced marine-specific course (BIO/ENVS-330, 375, 360 or ENVS-372), and receive permission from the MARS coordinator.

    For Biology or ENVS majors or minors (or BIO/ENVS double majors) or minors in Climate Change, Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation, and Earth and Environmental Science, at least 12 of the 32 credits for the Marine Science minor must be in addition to credits already counting towards these other majors, minors (or double major in BIO/ENVS). Credit-bearing XLP’s do not count towards these 12 credits.

    No more than four credit hours of courses may be taken with S/S-/U grading to count for the Marine Science minor. This may be in addition to any courses, such as research (e.g. MARS-381) or internships, that are automatically graded S/S-/U. For students considering graduate programs in marine science, any prerequisite courses for the graduate program, including biology, math, chemistry, and physics courses, should not be taken with S/S-/U grading.

 

Courses

  • MARS-106Q. Introduction to Marine Science
    This course is an introduction to the field of marine science, integrating perspectives from biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and the social sciences to understand the ocean as a connected system. Students will examine how physical and chemical processes shape marine life, how organisms interact with one another and their environments, and how human societies both depend on and impact the ocean. This course may also include weekday or weekend field trips to support course goals and provide hands-on learning experiences. Three or more hours of meeting time per week, with an equivalent of one semester hour spent on methods of inquiry and/or experimentation. Four semester hours. (Q, S.)

    MARS-381. Internship
    An academic/work experience under the supervision of an internship adviser and an on-site supervisor. Students must document their experience according to the requirements delineated in the College catalogue section on Internships. Contact Marine Science Coordinator for further information. Open to juniors and seniors. The term during which the internship work is performed will be noted by one of the following letters, to be added immediately after the internship course number: A (fall), B (winter), C (spring), or D (summer). Internships undertaken abroad will be so indicated by the letter I. The intern must complete a minimum of 120 hours of work. Graded S/U. Prerequisites: 12 credit hours in marine science major courses including MARS-106Q and approval of a faculty internship adviser. Three semester hours. (XLP.)

    MARS-382. Internship
    An academic/work experience under the supervision of an internship adviser and an on-site supervisor. Students must document their experience according to the requirements delineated in the College catalogue section on Internships. Contact the Marine Science Coordinator for further information. Open to juniors and seniors. The term during which the internship work is performed will be noted by one of the following letters, to be added immediately after the internship course number: A (fall), B (winter), C (spring), or D (summer). Internships undertaken abroad will be so indicated by the letter I. The intern must complete a minimum of 160 hours of work. Graded S/U. Prerequisites: 12 credit hours in marine science major courses including MARS-106Q and approval of a faculty internship adviser. Four semester hours. (XLP.)

    MARS-391. Directed Research
    Laboratory and/or field experiences under the direction of a faculty member and designed to introduce students to fundamental research procedures and data manipulation in the context of an original research project. This course can be taken more than once. Prerequisite: permission of a participating faculty member. Three hours of laboratory per week. Graded S/U. One semester hour.

    MARS-392. Directed Research
    Laboratory and/or field experiences under the direction of a faculty member and designed to introduce students to fundamental research procedures and data manipulation in the context of an original research project. This course can be taken more than once. Prerequisite: permission of a participating faculty member. Six hours of laboratory per week. Graded S/U. Two semester hours.

    MARS-420W. Current Conditions: Marine Science & Changing Seas
    This course explores contemporary issues in marine science. While the topic of the course will change based on faculty expertise, students in this course will synthesize knowledge and skills developed throughout previous coursework and experiences to design, execute, and report on a marine science research project.This course fulfills the capstone requirements for marine science majors and may fulfill the capstone requirements for biology majors depending on the topic of the course. The course contains significant writing, oral, and experiential elements, culminating in a group project. This course may also include weekday or weekend field trips to support course goals. Prerequisites: MARS-106Q, BIO-101Q, and junior or senior standing; or permission of the instructor. Three or more hours of meeting time per week. Four semester hours.

    MARS-481. Independent Research
    Laboratory, field, or other scholarly investigation within the field of marine science. This original work includes library-assisted preparation of final written and oral presentation products intended for a faculty/student colloquium. Pre- or co-requisites: junior or senior standing, and written consent of a faculty member who will serve as research adviser. This course may be taken more than once for credit. Four semester hours. (XLP.)

    MARS-491. Honors in Marine Science
    This course is open to eligible candidates for departmental honors. This original work is comprised of an independent project including laboratory, field, or other scholarly investigation within the field of marine science. The preparation of a written status report and an oral scientific presentation for this original work is required. Pre- or co-requisites: junior or senior standing, and written consent of the marine science faculty member who will serve as research adviser. Four semester hours. (XLP.)

    MARS-492W. Honors in Marine Science
    This course is open to candidates for departmental honors who are eligible to continue on from MARS-491. This original work is comprised of an independent project including laboratory, field, or other scholarly investigation within the field of marine science and builds on the work in MARS-491. The preparation of both a written and oral report based on library-assisted research is required. This continuation of MARS-491 fulfills the capstone, oral and writing requirements within the major. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing, written consent of a faculty member who will serve as research adviser. Four semester hours. (XLP.)