Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology
Program Overview
Introduction to the Marine Biology Program
The University of West Florida offers a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology, a program provided through the Department of Biology. This degree is one of the few of its kind in the United States, offering students a comprehensive education in marine biology.
Program Overview
The Marine Biology program includes a series of seven core courses fundamental to all areas of biology. Elective courses emphasize theoretical and practical aspects of aquatic/marine biology. The university's location, with its proximity to wetlands, estuarine marshes, and the Gulf of Mexico, provides living specimens for study and serves as laboratories supporting elective courses.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Marine Biology program may seek careers in marine biology, fisheries management, aquaculture, pollution biology, and marine toxicology. They may find employment in local, state, and federal departments of environmental regulation and education, as well as the private sector. Graduates are also well-prepared to pursue advanced degrees.
Program Requirements
In addition to general University requirements, students seeking the B.S. in Marine Biology must meet the requirements listed below. A minimum grade of "C-" or better is required in all courses in the program, including Major-Related, Elective, and Common Prerequisites.
General Education Requirements
- Communication:
- ENC 1101 English Composition I (Core)
- ENC 1102 English Composition II (Breadth)
- Communication Elective Options:
- CRW 2001 Introduction to Creative Writing
- MMC 2000 Principles of Mass Communication
- SPC 2608 Public Speaking
- Humanities:
- Choose one course from the Humanities Core and one additional course from either the Humanities Core or the Humanities Breadth.
- Humanities Core Options:
- ARH 1000 Art Appreciation
- HUM 2020 Introduction to Humanities
- HUM 2020H Honors Introduction to Humanities
- LIT 2000 Introduction to Literature
- MUL 2010 Music Appreciation
- PHI 2010 Introduction to Philosophy
- THE 2000 Theatre Appreciation
- Humanities Breadth Options:
- AML 2010 American Literature I
- AML 2020 American Literature II
- AMS 2010 Civil Discourse and the American Political Order
- ARH 2050 Western Survey I: Prehistory to the Medieval Period
- ARH 2051 Western Survey II: Renaissance to Contemporary
- ART 1015C Exploring Artistic Vision
- ENL 2010 History of English Literature I
- ENL 2020 History of English Literature II
- LIT 2030 Introduction to Poetry
- MUH 2004 The Music Experience - Concerts
- PHI 2103 Critical Thinking
- PHI 2603 Ethics in Contemporary Society
- REL 1300 World Religions
- THE 2300 Survey of Dramatic Literature
- Mathematics:
- Choose one course from the Mathematics Core and one additional course from either the Mathematics Core or the Mathematics Breadth.
- Mathematics Core Options:
- MAC 1105 College Algebra
- MAC 1105C College Algebra with Lab
- MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
- MGF 1130 Mathematical Thinking
- STA 2023 Elements of Statistics
- Mathematics Breadth Options:
- MAC 1114 Trigonometry
- MAC 1140 Precalculus Algebra
- MAC 1147 Precalculus with Trigonometry
- MAC 2233 Calculus with Business Applications
- MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II
- MGF 1131 Mathematics in Context
- STA 2360 Introduction to Data Science
- Natural Sciences:
- Choose one course from the Natural Sciences Core and one additional course from either the Natural Sciences Core or the Natural Sciences Breadth.
- Natural Sciences Core Options:
- AST 1002 Descriptive Astronomy
- BSC 1005 General Biology for Non-Majors
- BSC 1085 Anatomy and Physiology I
- BSC 2010 Biology I
- CHM 1020 Concepts in Chemistry
- CHM 2045 General Chemistry I
- ESC 2000 Introduction to Earth Science
- EVR 2001 Introduction to Environmental Science
- GLY 2010 Physical Geology
- PHY 1020 Conceptual Physics
- PHY 2048 Calculus-Based Physics I
- Natural Sciences Breadth Options:
- ANT 2511 Biological Anthropology
- AST 2037 Life in the Universe
- BOT 2010 General Botany
- BSC 1050 Fundamentals of Ecology
- BSC 1086 Anatomy and Physiology II
- BSC 2011 Biology II
- BSC 2311 Introduction to Oceanography and Marine Biology
- CGS 2020 Introduction to Machine Learning
- CHM 2046 General Chemistry II
- MCB 1000 Fundamentals of Microbiology
- PHC 2082 Informatics and Your Health
- PHY 2049 Calculus-Based Physics II
- Social Sciences:
- Choose one course from the Social Sciences Core and one additional course from either the Social Sciences Core or the Social Sciences Breadth.
- Social Sciences Core Options:
- AMH 2010 United States to 1877
- AMH 2020 United States Since 1877
- ANT 2000 Introduction to Anthropology
- ECO 2013 Principles of Economics Macro
- POS 2041 American Politics
- PSY 2012 General Psychology
- Social Sciences Breadth Options:
- ANT 2100 Introduction to Archaeology
- CCJ 2002 Survey of Crime and Justice
- CIS 2530 Introduction to Cybersecurity
- COM 2023 Death and Communication
- CPO 2002 Comparative Politics
- DEP 2004 Human Development Across the Lifespan
- EUH 1000 Western Perspectives I
- EUH 1001 Western Perspectives II
- FIN 2104 Personal Finance
- GEA 2000 Nations and Regions of the World
- GEB 1011 Introduction to Business
- HIS 2050 Explore History
- HSC 2100 Personal, Family and Community Health
- INR 2002 International Politics
- PLA 2013 Survey of American Law
- SPM 2010 Sport in Global Society
- SYG 2000 Introduction to Sociology
- General Education Electives:
- Choose an additional course from two of the five areas of Communication Electives, Mathematics, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Natural Sciences.
Civic Literacy Requirement
The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy by passing an assessment or taking AMH 2020 United States Since 1877 or POS 2041 American Politics.
Mathematics Pathway
Students are advised to complete the following courses to fulfill the mathematics pathway that aligns with the mathematics skills needed for success in their program and their career goals.
Common Prerequisites
State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program.
Major Required Courses
- BOT 4404C Aquatic Botany
- BSC 2844B Biology Skills (Recommended in 1st year)
- MCB 4631 Molecular Aquatic Microbial Ecology
- OCE 3007 Concepts of Oceanography and Marine Biology (Recommended in 2nd year)
- PCB 3063 & 3063L Genetics and Genetics Lab
- PCB 3043 & 3043L Ecology and Ecology Lab
- PCB 4673 Principles of Evolution
- PCB 4723 Comparative Animal Physiology
- STA 4173 Biostatistics
- ZOO 4254C Marine Invertebrate Zoology
- ZOO 4304C Marine Vertebrate Zoology
Major GPA Calculation
The upper-division courses (3000 level and above) with the following prefixes will be used in calculating the major grade point average: BCH, BOT, BSC, MCB, PCB, and ZOO.
Major Related
Students must take one of the following courses that are not completed as part of the Common Prerequisites in the lower division.
Upper-Division Electives
Choose from the following list of electives.
Conclusion
The Marine Biology program at the University of West Florida provides students with a comprehensive education in marine biology, preparing them for careers in marine biology, fisheries management, aquaculture, pollution biology, and marine toxicology, as well as for advanced degrees.