Program Overview

Marine Sciences (BS): Geology Concentration

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Marine Science may be obtained by selecting one of five concentrations: Biological Oceanography, Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology, or Physics. The degree of Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources is available with a concentration in Marine and Coastal Resources.

Marine scientists explore all aspects of the seas and coastal regions, seeking to understand how the oceans, their biological communities, the solid earth, and the atmosphere interact. As professionals with interdisciplinary training, marine scientists are needed to advise business, industry, and governments on the potential impact of human activities and the wise use of marine resources. Marine scientists work for consulting firms; regulatory agencies; the mass media; business and industry; federal, state, and local governments; academic laboratories; research and education organizations; and nonprofit environmental watchdog groups.

Plan Requirements

• Core Courses/Marine Science:
  • MEA 100: Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections (4 hours)
  • MEA 200: Introduction to Oceanography (3 hours)
  • MEA 210: Oceanography Lab (1 hour)
  • MEA 250: Introduction to Coastal Environments (3 hours)
  • MEA 251: Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory (1 hour)
  • MEA 459: Field Investigation of Coastal Processes (5 hours)
  • MEA 460: Principles of Physical Oceanography (3 hours)
  • MEA 462: Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics (3 hours)
  • MEA 495: Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences (1 hour)
• Geology Concentration:
  • MEA 101: Geology I: Physical (3 hours)
  • MEA 110: Geology I Laboratory (1 hour)
  • MEA 202: Geology II: Historical (3 hours)
  • MEA 211: Geology II Laboratory (1 hour)
  • MEA 410: Introduction to Mineralogy (3 hours)
  • MEA 450: Introductory Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (4 hours)
  • MEA 451: Structural Geology (4 hours)
  • MEA 570: Geological Oceanography (3 hours)
  • MEA 470: Introduction to Geophysics (3 hours)
  • or MEA 471: Exploration and Engineering Geophysics
• Advised Elective:
  • Select one of the following Restricted Electives:
    • MEA 449/549: Principles of Biological Oceanography
    • MEA 467: Marine Meteorology
    • MEA 473/573: Principles of Chemical Oceanography
• Basic Math & Sciences:
  • CH 101: Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 (3 hours)
  • CH 102: General Chemistry Laboratory (1 hour)
  • CH 201: Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 1 (3 hours)
  • CH 202: Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory (1 hour)
  • PY 205 & PY 206: Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory (4 hours)
  • PY 208 & PY 209: Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory (4 hours)
  • MA 141: Calculus I (4 hours)
  • MA 241: Calculus II (4 hours)
  • MA 242: Calculus III (4 hours)
• Statistics Elective:
  • Select one of the following:
    • ST 311: Introduction to Statistics (3 hours)
    • ST 312: Introduction to Statistics II (3 hours)
    • ST 350: Economics and Business Statistics (3 hours)
    • ST 370: Probability and Statistics for Engineers (3 hours)
    • ST 371: Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory (3 hours)
    • ST 372: Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression (3 hours)
• College Requirements:
  • COS 100: Science of Change (2 hours)
  • ENG 101: Academic Writing and Research (4 hours)
  • Select one of the following Advanced Writing courses:
    • ENG 331: Communication for Engineering and Technology
    • ENG 332: Communication for Business and Management
    • ENG 333: Communication for Science and Research
• GEP Courses:
  • GEP Humanities (6 hours)
  • GEP Social Sciences (6 hours)
  • GEP Health and Exercise Studies (2 hours)
  • GEP Elective (3 hours)
  • GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
  • GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement)
  • World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
• Total Hours: 120

Semester Sequence

The following is a sample plan of study:

• First Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • COS 100: Science of Change (2 hours)
    • MA 141: Calculus I (4 hours)
    • MEA 100: Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections (4 hours)
    • MEA 101 & MEA 110: Geology I: Physical and Geology I Laboratory (4 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • CH 101 & CH 102: Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory (4 hours)
    • ENG 101: Academic Writing and Research (4 hours)
    • MA 241: Calculus II (4 hours)
    • MEA 202 & MEA 211: Geology II: Historical and Geology II Laboratory (4 hours)
• Second Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • CH 201 & CH 202: Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory (4 hours)
    • MA 242: Calculus III (4 hours)
    • MEA 200 & MEA 210: Introduction to Oceanography and Oceanography Lab (4 hours)
    • MEA 410: Introduction to Mineralogy (3 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • MEA 250: Introduction to Coastal Environments (3 hours)
    • MEA 251: Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory (1 hour)
    • MEA 450: Introductory Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (4 hours)
    • PY 205 & PY 206: Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory (4 hours)
    • GEP Elective (3 hours)
• Third Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • MEA 460: Principles of Physical Oceanography (3 hours)
    • MEA 451: Structural Geology (4 hours)
    • GEP Health and Exercise Studies (1 hour)
    • PY 208 & PY 209: Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory (4 hours)
    • GEP Social Sciences (3 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • Advanced Writing Elective (3 hours)
    • Computer Science Option Elective (3 hours)
    • GEP Health and Exercise Studies (1 hour)
    • MEA 462: Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics (3 hours)
    • Statistical Science Option Elective (3 hours)
    • MEA 495: Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences (1 hour)
• Summer:
  • MEA 459: Field Investigation of Coastal Processes (5 hours)
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • GEP Humanities (3 hours)
    • MEA 570: Geological Oceanography (3 hours)
    • MEA Restricted Elective (3 hours)
    • Advised Elective (4 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • Advised Elective (4 hours)
    • MEA 470 or MEA 471: Introduction to Geophysics or Exploration and Engineering Geophysics (3 hours)
    • GEP Humanities (3 hours)
    • GEP Social Sciences (3 hours)

Career Opportunities

MEAS undergraduate degree programs provide talented students with the foundation of scientific knowledge required for careers in government, industry, or academia. Many students pursue graduate degrees after completion of an undergraduate degree in Marine Science.

Marine Sciences graduates go on to become oceanographers, to manage our coastal resources, model air-sea interaction, and explore global climate change. They conduct basic and applied research, serving as environmental consultants for industry and governmental agencies, policy and management experts for governmental agencies, and environmental science educators. Graduates with a Natural Resources degree are versed in the fundamental processes and interdisciplinary nature of the coastal zone. As scientists, managers, administrators, and regulators, they make decisions regarding use and conservation of coastal and marine resources.

Career Titles

• Chief Scientist
• Coastal Geologist
• Conservation Scientist
• Contact Diver
• Environmental Consultant
• Environmental Protection Specialist
• Environmental Research Scientist
• Environmental Scientist
• GIS and Geological Oceanography Specialist
• Marine Eco-toxicologist
• Marine Geophysicist
• Natural Science Manager
• Ocean Mapper
• Oceanographer
• Sensory Biophysicist
• Undersea Specialist
• Wildlife Biologist
• Zoologist