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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
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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.