Program Overview

Environmental & Marine Science, B.S. - Coastal & Marine Science

The Environmental & Marine Science program at Southern Connecticut State University is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles of sustainability, global climate change, and geographic information systems. The program requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a total of 120 credits to graduate.

General Education Requirements (46 Credits)

All bachelor's degree programs include liberal education (LEP) and writing (W) course requirements. The general education requirements for this program are outlined below.

Major Requirements (46 Credits)

The major requirements for the Environmental & Marine Science program include:

• Core Requirements (20 Credits)
  • ENV 204 Principles of Sustainability
  • ENV 220 Global Climate Change (GI)
  • GEO 290 Research Methods in Geography and Environmental Sustainability
  • GEO 360 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
  • GEO 490 Capstone Seminar
  • MAR 140 The World Ocean (PR)
• Coastal and Marine Sciences Concentration (26 Credits)
  • GEO 357 Coastal and Marine Geography
  • MAR 210 Coastal Marine Studies (LE)
  • MAR 250 Introduction to Coastal and Marine Pollution
  • MAR 340 Coastal Processes
  • MAR 460 Field and Laboratory Techniques in Marine Studies
• Select 9 credits from the following courses:
  • BIO 210 Environmental Biology and Conservation
  • BIO 430 Marine Biology
  • ENV 400 Social Science Perspectives on Environment
  • ENV 404 Applied Sustainability Science
  • ESC 220 Physical and Chemical Oceanography (PR)
  • GEO 305 Environmental Economic Geography
  • GEO 397 Internship
  • GEO 405 Environmental Justice
  • GEO 460 GIS II
  • GEO 461 Environmental GIS
  • GEO 470 Field Techniques
  • GEO 481 Spatial Analysis
  • MAR 270 Aquaculture I
  • MAR 280 Aquaculture II
  • MAR 398 Special Topics in Marine Studies
  • MAR 498 Special Topics; Field and Laboratory
  • MAR 499 Independent Study

Cognate Requirements (3 Credits)

• MAT 107 Elementary Statistics (QR)

Accelerated Pathway Option (12 Credits)

Students with a 3.0 GPA and at least 90 credits may be eligible to complete an accelerated pathway during their senior year to earn dual credit towards both their current undergraduate program and future graduate program of interest. Approval to start graduate coursework does not guarantee admission to the graduate program. Students will meet with their faculty advisor to prepare a Graduate Course Plan (500-level courses or higher), with a maximum of 6 credits per semester, based on their graduate program of interest. Approval from both the Program Department Chairperson and the Graduate Coordinator is required. Courses completed with a grade of 'C' or higher will earn dual credit for both undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Graduate programs may have higher grade requirements in place for certain courses which may require the student to retake the course for a higher grade letter.