Michel A. Boudrias, PhD, CHAIR
Elizabeth D. Baker Treloar, MS
Hugh I. Ellis, PhD
Sarah C. Gray, PhD
Ronald S. Kaufmann, PhD
Mary Sue Lowery, PhD
Bethany O’Shea, PhD
Nathalie Reyns, PhD
Drew M. Talley, PhD
Zhi-Yong Yin, PhD
The Marine Science Major
The marine science major, offered by the Department of Marine Science and Environmental Studies, is intended for students interested in the natural sciences as well as the marine world. It provides a rigorous curriculum that is intended to prepare students to go on to either graduate studies or directly into oceanographic work. A core of oceanography courses unifies the marine science major. In addition, the student elects a curriculum from a pathway in biology or earth systems. The student majoring in marine science is encouraged to select an advisor from his or her area of concentration as soon as possible. A list of advisors is available from the chair of the Department of Marine Science and Environmental Studies.
Preparation for the Major
35 units of lower-division courses are required: BIOL 190 and 221/221L, CHEM 151/151L and 152/152L, ENVI 110, MARS 120, MATH 150, and PHYS 136, 137. MATH 151 is recommended for students who anticipate going to graduate school.
Major Requirements
The major is made up of a core of marine science and environmental studies courses and a concentration of courses in a particular discipline (called the “pathway”).
The Marine Science Core
| 18 units of upper-division courses in marine science are required. | |
| MARS 300 MARS 450 MARS 451W (= BIOL 451W) MARS 452 |
Marine Environment (3) Geological Oceanography (4) Biological Oceanography (4) Physical and Chemical Oceanography (4) |
Capstone Experience |
|
The Pathways
The pathways associated with this major are biology and earth systems. Each pathway offers a concentration of courses, providing depth in the particular pathway; the units differ slightly according to the specific pathway.
1. Biology Pathway (22-23 units) |
|
| BIOL 225/225L BIOL 300 CHEM 301/301L |
Introduction to Cell Processes (4) Genetics (3) Organic Chemistry (4) |
| Upper-division Electives (11-12 units) Choose at least one course from each category; at least two courses with laboratory: |
|
Ecology: |
Ecology (4) Marine Community Ecology (4) Deep-Sea Biology (3) Marine Ecology (3) |
| Organismal Biology: | |
| BIOL 342 BIOL 350 MARS 462 MARS 465 |
Microbiology (4) Invertebrate Zoology (4) Biology of Fishes (3) Marine Mammals (3) |
| Physiology / Molecular Biology: | |
| BIOL 312 BIOL 376 BIOL 382 BIOL 477/477L BIOL 478W/478L BIOL 480/480L |
Molecular Methods in Evolutionary Biology (4) Animal Development (4) Techniques in Molecular Biology (4) Invertebrate Physiology (4) Vertebrate Physiology (4) Cell Physiology (4) |
Note: Certain courses offered abroad may satisfy upper-division elective requirements. 2. Earth Systems Pathway (18-22 units) |
|
| ENVI 314 MATH 120 MARS 474/474L |
Introduction to Maps and Spatial Data Analysis (3) Introduction to Statistics (3) History of the Earth and Climate (4) |
| Upper-division Electives (8-12 units) Choose at least one course from each category; at least two courses with laboratory: Methods in Earth System Science: |
|
| ENVI 315 ENVI 420 |
Geographic Information Systems (3) Introduction to Remote Sensing (4) |
| System Interactions: | |
| ENVI 471 ENVI 485 ENVI 487 MARS 473 |
Near Shore Processes (3) Environmental Geology (4) Surface Water Hydrology (4) Climatology (4) |
| Elective: BIOL 361 CHEM 301/301L CHEM 355 |
Ecological Communities of San Diego County (2) Organic Chemistry (4) Environmental Chemistry (3) |
Upper-division elective in Marine Science or Environmental Studies (3-4)
A maximum of three units in addition to capstone requirements of MARS 496, 497, and 498 may be used in any combination to satisfy course requirements of the major.
Certain additional prerequisites are required for upper-division core courses.
Marine Science Minor
Because of the prerequisites and orientation of the courses in marine science, this minor is intended for students majoring in the natural sciences. A minimum of 19 units are required, eleven of which are upper-division units, including:
Lower-division Preparation
| MARS 120 AND ENVI 110 |
Introduction to Physical Oceanography (4) Introduction to Earth Systems (4) |
| Certain additional prerequisites are required for upper-division core courses. Upper-division Core |
|
| MARS 300 | Marine Environment (3) |
| and take two of the following: | |
| MARS 450 MARS 451W MARS 452 |
Geological Oceanography (4) Biological Oceanography (4) Physical and Chemical Oceanography (4) |
Marine Science Courses (MARS)
MARS 101 Physical Aspects of the Ocean (3)
The chemistry and physics of sea water, its circulation and physical properties; tides; currents; waves; and shoreline processes will be studied. The topography and geology of the ocean basin and the distribution and nature of marine sediments will also be studied. This course will satisfy the core curriculum requirement for a physical science and, when a laboratory is offered as a part of the course, for a core curriculum laboratory course, but will not satisfy the requirements of the marine science major without the consent of the chair of marine science and environmental studies. Two lectures and one laboratory or field experience per week; may be taught without laboratory. Every semester.
MARS 120 Introduction to Physical Oceanography (4)
The chemistry and physics of sea water, its circulation and physical properties; tides; currents; waves; shoreline processes; and the topography of the ocean basin will be studied. This course is intended for students majoring or minoring in marine science or minoring in environmental studies. Three lectures and one laboratory per week. Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment in CHEM 111 or 151/151L, or consent of instructor. Every semester.
MARS 294 Special Topics in Marine Science (2-4)
Topics of special interest and/or unique opportunity at the lower-division level. Prerequisites: Dependent on topic or consent of the instructor.
MARS 300 Marine Environment (3)
A study of how humans threaten the stability of our oceans. Topics include ocean-climate interactions, marine pollution, utilization of marine resources, and marine conservation. Students participate in at least one weekend community service project. Three lectures per week. Fall semester. Prerequisites: ENVI 104/104L or ENVI 109 or ENVI 110 or MARS 120, and BIO 221/221L or ENVI 112 or ENVI 121 or consent of instructor.
MARS 450 Geological Oceanography (4)
The origin and geologic history of the ocean basin, with a detailed investigation of the theory of plate tectonics, sedimentation processes in the oceans, and paleoceanography. Three lectures and one laboratory per week; some weekend field trips may be required. Fall semester. Prerequisites: BIOL 221/221L, ENVI 110, MARS 120, and MATH 115.
MARS 451W Biological Oceanography (4)
An integrated study of marine organisms and their environments, stressing ecological, behavioral, and physiological relationships. Near shore, deep sea, and open ocean environments will be covered. A weekend field trip may be required. Three lectures and one laboratory per week. Fall semester. Prerequisites: BIOL 190, 221/221L, and 300. Cross-listed as BIOL 451W.
MARS 452 Physical and Chemical Oceanography (4)
An interdisciplinary, in-depth study of the physics and chemistry of ocean water, ocean circulation, waves, and tides. Three lectures and one laboratory per week. Spring semester. Prerequisites: CHEM 152/152L, MARS 120, MATH 150, and PHYS 137 or 271.
MARS 464 Marine Community Ecology (4)
This course is intended to introduce students to the fundamentals of marine community ecology, provide students with field experiences so that they may become familiar with various ecological sampling designs and methods, and expose students to the diversity of coastal marine environments in the San Diego area. Students will read and discuss classic marine ecology papers, and conduct marine ecological studies in field and laboratory settings. Students will also be required to participate in a semester-long research project. Spring semester. Prerequisites: BIOL 190, 221/221L, and 300.
MARS 468 Marine Ecology (3)
Discussions of the ecological relationships within the sea, including such topics as production, community structure, and biogeography. Communities discussed may range from the coast to the deep sea, and cover plankton, nekton, and benthic communities. Three hours per week consisting of lectures and seminars. Spring semester.
MARS 471 Near Shore Processes (3)
Physical and chemical processes which influence coastal sediment and water mass distribution, and chemical composition. Topics include currents and ocean circulation patterns on the continental shelf, coastal erosion and deposition, river flux and its influence on the chemical composition of seawater, sediment transport, and chemical reactions in estuaries and bays. The impact of human activities on coastal areas will also be covered. Three lectures per week. Prerequisites: CHEM 152/152L, MARS 120, and PHYS 136 or 270.
MARS 473 Climatology (4)
A course to cover principles of climatology and methods of climatic data analysis. The fundamentals of climatology, methods and technologies used in acquiring and analyzing climatic data, and current issues such as human-induced climatic changes will be discussed. This course will cover the Earth’s energy budget and temperature, moisture in the atmosphere and precipitation, winds and the general circulation, and climates in different regions of the world. Three lectures and one laboratory a week. Prerequisites: ENVI 110 OR ENVI 170 and MATH 120, or consent of instructor.
MARS 474 History of the EARTH and Climate (3)
A survey of the history of the earth system focusing on ocean-atmosphere-ice sheet dynamics and their interaction on past global climate change. Topics include geologic record of past climate cycles, causal mechanisms of past climate change, and the scientific basis of global warming. Three lectures per week. Prerequisites: ENVI 110 and MARS 120, or consent of instructor.
MARS 474L History of the EARTH and Climate Laboratory (1)
A laboratory course designed to introduce students to methods and techniques used in historical geology and paleoclimatology including: a) identification of depositional environments; b) identification of invertebrate fossils and modes of fossilization; correlation and sequence stratigraphy; d) radiometric dating, and e) isotopic proxies of climate. The laboratory may include field trips. Prerequisite: ENVI 110, MATH 115 or higher and concurrent registration in MARS 474, or consent of instructor
MARS 478 Boundary Layer Flow (3)
The interactions between fluid dynamic processes in the oceans and the organisms that live in different habitats. The main objective is to provide a descriptive and conceptual understanding of boundary layer fluid dynamics at several scales from whole ocean basins to flow around organisms. Examples will illustrate physical aspects of fluid dynamics; biological fluid dynamics with an emphasis on feeding, locomotion, and dispersal; and geological and geochemical aspects of sediment-sea water interactions. Three lectures per week. Prerequisites: PHYS 136 and 137, or consent of instructor.
MARS 493 Methods in Marine Science (1-3)
Training and practice in the gathering, analysis, interpretation, and communication of marine scientific data. Designed to extend and integrate the sampling and analytical procedures of marine science. Selected instrumentation and techniques, field experience, and laboratory time will be emphasized. Shipboard experiences, weekend, or extended field trips may be required. Course may be repeated for credit only upon approval of the chair of marine science and environmental studies.
MARS 494 Special Topics in Marine Science (2-4)
Topics of special interest and/or unique opportunity. Prerequisites: Upper-division standing and consent of the instructor or pathway advisor.
MARS 495 Senior Seminar (1)
The techniques of seminar presentation will be studied by preparing and presenting individual seminars on topics of interest with emphasis from their pathway. Enrollment for credit is limited to, and required of all, senior students majoring in marine science. Every semester.
MARS 496 Research (1-3)
Students develop and/or assist in research projects in various fields of marine science. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Every semester.
MARS 497 Undergraduate Laboratory Assistant (1)
Assist laboratory instructor in all aspects of a Marine Science laboratory. Unit counts toward graduation, but not toward the major/minor. Pass/fail only. Every semester.
MARS 498 Internship (1-3)
Experience in the practical and experimental application of marine science. Students will be involved in projects conducted by agencies and institutions outside the university, such as state parks, government agencies, research facilities, or marine industries. Enrollment is arranged on an individual basis according to a student’s interest and background, and is dependent on positions available and faculty approval. A maximum of 3 upper-division units can be earned toward fulfillment of the requirements of the major. Pass/fail only. Every semester.
MARS 499 Independent Study (1-2)
Independent study designed for individual student needs. Prerequisite: consent of the chair of marine science and environmental studies. Every semester.
