For an up-to-date description of marine sciences major requirements, courses, and course sequences please refer to the program webpage at https://marine.rutgers.edu/main/academics/undergraduate.
SEBS UNDERGRADUATE CORE CURRICULUM (39 credits)
Contemporary Challenges
(6 credits) Two courses, one in each of the Contemporary Challenges areas: Diversities and Social Inequalities [CC-D] and Our Common Future [CC-O]
Experiential Learning (3 credits) Students must participate in a certified experience that meets this goal [EL]
Natural Sciences (6 credits) Students must take two courses, one each in two of the following areas: physical, biological, or environmental sciences [NS]
Historical Analysis (3 credits) Students must take one course [HST]
Social Analysis (6 credits) SEBS students must complete two courses, one in either social/cultural analysis or economic analysis, and one in governmental and regulatory analysis [SCL]
Arts and Humanities (3 credits) Students must complete one course [AH]
Writing and Communication (6 credits) Students must take 01:355:101 or its equivalent [WC] and one course that fulfills the learning goal, communicate effectively in modes appropriate to a discipline or area of inquiry [WCD].
Quantitative and Formal Reasoning (6 credits) Students must take two courses [QQ; QR]
Major Requirements For All Students Regardless of Matriculation Date
A. REQUIRED COURSES (12)
Professional Ethics
Ethical issues in marine sciences are addressed throughout the program in both introductory and advanced courses, especially within the framework of the experience-based education requirement.
- 01:960:401 Basic Statistics for Research (3)
- 11:628:120 Introduction to Oceanography (3)
- 11:628:320 Dynamics of Marine Ecosystems (3)
- 11:628:363 Oceanographic Methods and Data Analysis: Biol/Chem (3) OR 11:628:364 Oceanographic Methods and Data Analysis: Biol/Physical (3)
B. OPTIONS (63-78)
1. Marine Biology/Biological Oceanography (70-74)
Required Courses (58-59)
- 01:119:115-116 General Biology I&II (4+4)
- 01:119:117 Biological Research Lab (2)
- 01:447:380 Genetics (4) OR 11:776:305 Plant Genetics (4)
- 01:160:161-162 General Chemistry I&II (4+4)
- 01:160:171 Introduction to Experimentation (1)
- 01:160:307-308 Organic Chemistry I&II (4+4) OR
- 01:160:209 Elementary Organic Chemistry (3) AND 01:694:301/11:115:301 Introductory Biochemistry (3) AND 01:694:313/11:115:313 Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory (1)
- 01:640:135-136 Calculus I&II (4+4)
- 01:750:193-194 Physics for the Sciences I&II (4+4)
- 11:628:461 Biology of Living in the Ocean: Water Column Ecosystems (3)
- 11:628:462 Biology of Living in the Ocean: Boundary Ecosystems (3)
- Experiential Learning (6)
One of the following (3-4):
- 01:146:356 Systems Physiology (3) AND 01:146:357 Systems Physiology Lab. (1)
- 11:216:360 Animal Physiological Ecology (3)
- 11:680:481 Microbial Physiology (3)
- 11:776:382 Plant Physiology (4)
One of the following (3-4):
- 11:628:321 Ichthyology (4)
- 11:680:390 General Microbiology (4)
- 11:216:323 Ornithology (4)
- 11:216:324 Invertebrate Zoology (4)
- 11:216:325 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
- 11:776:400 Fungi in the Environment (3)
One of the following (3-4):
- 11:628:405 Molecular Microbial Oceanography (3)
- 11:628:410 Biophysical Interactions: Barnacles to Jellyfish (3)
- 11:628:476 History of the Earth System (3)
- 11:670:451 Remote Sensing of the Ocean and Atmosphere (3)
- 11:216:240 Behavioral Biology (4)
- 11:216:351 Principles of Ecology (3)
- 11:216:486 Principles of Evolution (3)
At least 3 credits from the following:
- 11:628:201-203, 205-210 Topics in Marine Science (1.5)
- 11:628:309 Fishery Science (3)
- 11:628:317 Aquaculture (3)
- 11:628:340 Identification of Marine Invertebrates (2)
- 11:628:341 Hydrothermal Vents (3)
- 11:628:451 Physical Oceanography (4)
- 11:628:472 Chemical Oceanography (3)
- 11:628:402 The Role of Polar Regions in the Earth System
- 11:628:474 Coastal Biogeochemical Cycles in a Changing World
2. Marine Chemistry (66-68)
Required courses (60)
- 01:119:115-116 General Biology I&II (4+4)
- 01:119:117 Biological Research Lab (2)
- 01:160:161-162 General Chemistry I&II (4+4)
- 01:160:171 Introduction to Experimentation (1)
- 01:160:251 Analytical Chemistry (3)
- 01:160:307-308 Organic Chemistry I&II (4+4)
- 01:160:311 Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2)
- 01:160:348 Instrumental Analysis (3)
- 01:640:151-152 Calculus for Mathematical and Physical Sciences I&II (4+4)
- 01:750:203-204 General Physics I&II (3+3)
- 01:750:205-206 General Physics Laboratory I&II (1+1)
- 11:628:472 Chemical Oceanography (3)
- Experiential Learning (6)
One of the following (3-4)
- 01:460:101 Introductory Geology (3)
- 01:460:304 Introduction to Geochemistry (4)
- 01:460:417 Environmental Geochemistry (3)
- 11:375:202 Chemical Principles Environmental Science (3)
- 11:375:340 Environmental Applications of Organic Chemistry (3)
- 11:375:360 Soils and Water (4)
- 11:375:444 Water Chemistry (3)
- 11:670:323 Thermodynamics of the Atmosphere (3)
- 11:670:451 Remote Sensing of the Ocean and Atmosphere (3)
At least 3 credits from the following (3-4):
- 11:628:201-203, 205-210 Topics in Marine Science (1.5)
- 11:628:309 Fishery Science (3)
- 11:628:317 Aquaculture (3)
- 11:628:340 Identification of Marine Invertebrates (2)
- 11:628:341 Hydrothermal Vents (3)
- 11:628:402 The Role of Polar Regions in the Earth System
- 11:628:405 Molecular Microbial Oceanography (3)
- 11:628:410 Biophysical Interactions: from Barnacles to Jellyfish (3)
- 11:628:451 Physical Oceanography (4)
- 11:628:461 Biology of Living in the Ocean: Water Column Ecosystems (3)
- 11:628:462 Biology of Living in the Ocean: Boundary Ecosystems (3)
- 11:628:474 Coastal Biogeochemical Cycles in a Changing World
3. Marine Geology (71-74)
Required Courses (59)
- 01:119:115-116 General Biology I&II (4+4)
- 01:119:117 Biological Research Lab (2)
- 01:160:161-162 General Chemistry I&II (4+4)
- 01:160:171 Introduction to Experimentation (1)
- 01:460:101 Intro Geology (3)
- 01:460:330 Sedimentary Geology (4)
- 01:460:451 Marine Geology (3)
- 01:750:203-206 General Physics I+II and Lab I+II (4+4)
- 01:640:151-152 Calculus for Mathematical and Physical Sciences I&II (4+4)
- 01:750:203-204 General Physics I&II (3+3)
- 01:750:205-206 General Physics Laboratory I&II (1+1)
- Experiential Learning (6)
One of the following (3-4)
- 11:628:402 The Role of Polar Regions in the Earth System
- 11:628:451 Physical Oceanography (4)
- 11:628:461 Biology of Living in the Ocean: Water Column Ecosystems (3)
- 11:628:462 Biology of Living in the Ocean: Boundary Ecosystems (3)
- 11:628:472 Chemical Oceanography (3)
- 11:628:474 Coastal Biogeochemical Cycles in a Changing World
One of the following (3-4)
- 01:450:321 Geographic Information System (3)
- 01:460:303 Paleontology (4)
- 01:460:304 Introduction to Geochemistry (4)
- 01:460:407 Structural Geology (4)
- 01:460:414 Hydrological Processes (3)
- 01:460:453 Paleoecology (3)
One of the following (3-4)
- 01:450:403 Advanced Physical Geography (3)
- 01:460:306 Introduction to Geophysics (4)
- 01:460:417 Environmental Geochemistry (3)
- 11:628:476 History of the Earth Systems (3)
- 11:670:451 Remote Sensing of the Ocean & Atmosphere (3)
4. Physical Oceanography (63-64)
Required Courses (51-52)
- 01:119:103 Principles of Biology (3)
- 01:160:161-162 General Chemistry I&II (4+4)
- 01:160:171 Introduction to Experimentation (1)
- 01:640:151-152 Calculus for Mathematical and Physical Sciences I&II (4+4)
- 01:640:251 Multivariable Calculus (4)
- 01:640:252 Differential Equations (3) OR 01:640:244 Differential Equations/Engineers & Physics (4)
- 14:440:127 Intro Computers/Engineers (3) OR 11:670:212 Computational Methods Meteorology (3)
- 01:640:373 Numerical Analysis (3) OR 01:198:323 Numerical Analysis & Computing (3)
- 01:750:203-204 General Physics I&II (3+3)
- 01:750:205-206 General Physics Laboratory I&II (1+1)
- 11:628:451 Physical Oceanography (4)
- Experiential Learning (6)
Four of the following with at least one from Group A and at least one from Group B:
Group A
- 01:640:250 Introduction Linear Algebra (3)
- 01:640:421 Advanced Calculus/Engineers (3)
- 14:650:312 Fluid Mechanics (3)
Group B
- 11:628:402 The Role of Polar Regions in the Earth System
- 11:628:410 Biophysical Interactions: from Barnacles to Jellyfish (3)
- 11:628:461 Biology of Living in the Ocean: Water Column Ecosystems (3)
- 11:628:462 Biology of Living in the Ocean: Boundary Ecosystems (3)
- 11:628:472 Chemical Oceanography (3)
- 11:628:474 Coastal Biogeochemical Cycles in a Changing World
- 11:670:324 Atmospheric Thermodynamics (3)
- 11:670:451 Remote Sensing of the Ocean & Atmosphere (3)
5. Directed Marine Studies (74-78)
Required Courses (44)
- 01:119:115-116 General Biology I&II (4+4)
- 01:119:117 Biological Research Lab (2)
- 01:447:380 Genetics (4) OR 11:776:305 Plant Genetics (4)
- 01:160:161-162 General Chemistry I&II (4+4)
- 01:160:171 Introduction to Experimentation (1)
- 01:640:135 Calculus I (4)
- 01:750:193-194 Physics for the Sciences I&II (4+4)
- 11:628:461 Biology of Living in the Ocean: Water Column Ecosystems (3)
- 11:628:462 Biology of Living in the Ocean: Boundary Ecosystems (3)
- Experiential Learning (3)
One of the following (3-4):
- 01:146:356 Systems Physiology (3) AND 01:146:357 Systems Physiology Lab. (1)
- 11:216:360 Animal Physiological Ecology (3)
- 11:680:481 Microbial Physiology (3)
- 11:776:382 Plant Physiology (4)
One of the following (3-4):
- 11:628:321 Ichthyology (4)
- 11:680:390 General Microbiology (4)
- 11:216:323 Ornithology (4)
- 11:216:324 Invertebrate Zoology (4)
- 11:216:325 Vertebrate Zoology (4)
- 11:776:400 Fungi in the Environment (3)
One of the following (3-4):
- 11:628:405 Molecular Microbial Oceanography (3)
- 11:628:410 Biophysical Interactions: Barnacles to Jellyfish (3)
- 11:628:476 History of the Earth System (3)
- 11:670:451 Remote Sensing of the Ocean and Atmosphere (3)
- 11:216:240 Behavioral Biology (4)
- 11:216:351 Principles of Ecology (3)
- 11:216:486 Principles of Evolution (3)
At least 3 credits from the following:
- 11:628:201-203, 205-210 Topics in Marine Science (1.5)
- 11:628:309 Fishery Science (3)
- 11:628:317 Aquaculture (3)
- 11:628:340 Identification of Marine Invertebrates (2)
- 11:628:341 Hydrothermal Vents (3)
- 11:628:402 The Role of Polar Regions in the Earth System
- 11:628:451 Physical Oceanography (4)
- 11:628:472 Chemical Oceanography (3)
- 11:628:474 Coastal Biogeochemical Cycles in a Changing World
Completion of an approved Minor or Certificate Program (~ 18 credits)
Professional Writing Certificate (355), the minor in Education (300), the Certificate in Environmental Geomatics (372), the minor in Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior (374), the minor in Fisheries Science (392), the minor in Sustainability (374), or a program approved by the Undergraduate Program Director.
