Program Overview

Course Overview

The Marine Biology course, denoted as MB, is a foundation course at level I, offering 7.5 credits. It is scheduled to start in the Spring of 2026 and spans one semester. The language of instruction is Norwegian, and the course is located in 儻esund.

Course Details

Course Content

The subject covers various marine biological topics, including an introduction to marine science and research, ocean chemistry, oceanography, and marine geology. It also introduces fundamental biology and systematics, providing knowledge about different groups of marine plants and animals, their development, structure, and anatomy, as well as their physiological adaptations to life in the ocean. The course discusses the commercial utilization of different groups of marine organisms and the potential sustainability challenges of this exploitation. Emphasis is placed on the marine environment in Norway, including knowledge about the most common species of invertebrates, fish, and marine mammals.

Learning Outcome

• Knowledge: The student will have a basic understanding of ocean chemistry, oceanography, and marine geology. They will gain knowledge about common biological terms, the different taxonomic Phylums and Classes of marine organisms, anatomy and physiology of some groups of marine organisms, the life cycle of selected groups of marine organisms, and the commercial utilization of different groups of marine species and the sustainability of these fisheries. Additionally, they will have knowledge about the most important marine algae and animals in Norwegian waters.
• Skills: The student will be able to acquire knowledge about different topics within marine biology, work with biological material in the field and the laboratory, use selected field equipment for marine biological sampling, perform dissection of fish to learn about their anatomy, and write a simple scientific report.
• Competence: The student will have a general knowledge about life in the ocean and be capable of presenting and discussing marine biological topics and the sustainable harvest of marine resources.

Learning Methods and Activities

The pedagogical methods include lectures (about 50 hours), 2 laboratory exercises, and 1-2 days of fieldwork. Attendance at laboratory exercises and fieldwork is compulsory. The total workload, including self-studies, is 200 hours.

Compulsory Assignments

• Mandatory assignment

Evaluation

Candidates must have attended mandatory activities, and reports from field and laboratory work must be approved in order to take the final exam. Approved mandatory activities are valid for four terms. The final evaluation is based on a written exam (100%). Re-sit exams might be changed to an oral examination.

Specific Conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required, specifically the Biomarine Innovation (298BMI) programme.

Recommended Previous Knowledge

Introduction to chemistry (MK)

Course Materials

• Castro & Huber: Marine biology, Twelfth edition (McGrawHill Education). ISBN: 978--4. MHID -1

Credit Reductions

The course has academic overlap with BI2060. If overlapping courses are taken, a credit reduction will be applied to the course with the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Examination

Examination Arrangement

The examination arrangement includes a school exam. For re-sit examinations, there might be an oral exam instead.

Ordinary Examination - Spring 2026

• School Exam: Grade based on letter grades, weighting 100/100, with examination aids allowed (Code E). The exam takes place at 09:00, lasts 4 hours, and uses the Inspera Assessment exam system.
• Location: The specified room can be changed, and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. The room location can be found on Studentweb, currently scheduled for Gnisten/Fagskolen, Room G132.