Program Overview

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Introduction to the Marine and Coastal Science Program

The B.S. in Marine and Coastal Science (MACS) is a cohort-based, interdisciplinary, and experiential program designed to provide students with the opportunity to engage in coastal and marine-focused research. Students and faculty at Western engage in research and education through a wide array of programs and partnerships, cooperating across fields of study, working in the lab and in the field.

Program Description

Marine and Coastal Science is a joint program of the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, and Geology, and the Shannon Point Marine Center (SPMC). Through MACS, we are advancing the state of knowledge about the oceans, coasts, and their ecosystems for the scientific community and for the communities we call home. Our students are learning to understand these systems, engage deeply with them, and become the creative problem solvers of tomorrow. The program brings together expertise on physical, chemical, geological, and biological marine science. Our courses allow students to explore and interpret fundamental observations about our coasts and oceans. Students develop an understanding of the process of science while gaining practical skills in a cohort-based learning environment.

Why Consider a Marine and Coastal Science Major?

• Study Marine Science across disciplines: The MACS program is a partnership between the WWU departments of Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Geology, and the Shannon Point Marine Center. Students have unique opportunities to study marine science in an environment of interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Learn, work, and thrive together: Participants study marine science as a cohort, beginning with research experiences in their first or second year, continuing through their third year in a core course series, and culminating with a capstone experience.
• Gain research experience: Students have opportunities to engage in mentored, hands-on research opportunities during their freshmen or sophomore year through a one-week, immersive residential experience at the Shannon Point Marine Center in Anacortes, Washington, about an hour south of Bellingham. Students have additional opportunities to participate in marine research in their upper-level MACS course work and through their capstone experience.
• Access to marine labs and research vessels: Students spend time in the field, on oceanographic vessels, and in learning laboratories.

Admission and Declaration Process

Admission to the MACS program is selective, with cohorts of about 30 students per year. Western students can apply to the major once they have completed 4 of the 8 MACS preparatory courses and have a plan to complete the remaining 4 preparatory courses before the end of the Summer Quarter of the year they apply. Students must receive a grade of a C- or better on each of these preparatory courses.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.

Program Requirements

Preparatory Courses (35-41 credits)

• BIOL 204 - Introduction to Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity w/lab (5 credits)
• Choose either:
  • CHEM 161 - General Chemistry I (5 credits)
  • and CHEM 162 - General Chemistry II (5 credits)
  • and CHEM 163 - General Chemistry III (5 credits)
  • or
  • CHEM 175 - General Chemistry I, Honors (5 credits)
  • and CHEM 176 - General Chemistry II, Honors (5 credits)
  • and CHEM 225 - General Chemistry III, Honors (5 credits)
• Choose either:
  • GEOL 211 - Physical Geology (5 credits)
  • or
  • GEOL 101 - Introduction to Geology (4 credits)
  • and GEOL 211A - Physical Geology Review (2 credits)
  • or
  • HNRS 212 - Colloquium in Geology (5 credits)
• PHYS 161 - Physics with Calculus I (5 credits)
• Choose either:
  • MATH 124 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (5 credits)
  • and MATH 125 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (5 credits)
  • or
  • MATH 134 - Calculus I Honors (5 credits)
  • and MATH 135 - Calculus II Honors (5 credits)
  • or
  • MATH 138 - Accelerated Calculus (5 credits)

MACS Core (43-46 credits)

• Choose either:
  • BIOL 205 - Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology w/lab (5 credits)
  • and BIOL 206 - Introduction to Organismal Biology w/lab (5 credits)
  • or
  • PHYS 162 - Physics with Calculus II (5 credits)
  • and PHYS 163 - Physics with Calculus III (5 credits)
• Choose one of the following options:
  • MACS 110 - Marine Habitat Diversity (3 credits)
  • and MACS 211 - Introduction to Marine and Coastal Science (3 credits)
  • or
  • MACS 210 - Introduction to Marine and Coastal Science Research (5 credits)
• MACS 301 - Integrated Marine Science Core: Marine Geologic Processes (5 credits)
• MACS 302 - Integrated Marine Science Core: Marine Chemical Processes (5 credits)
• MACS 303 - Integrated Marine Science Core: Marine Ecological Processes (5 credits)
• MACS 304 - Integrated Marine Science Core: Marine Physical Processes (5 credits)
• MACS 310 - Marine Science and Society (4 credits)
• MACS 399 - Intro to Marine and Coastal Science: Speaker Series (1 credit)
• One course from:
  • BIOL 340 - Biostatistics (5 credits)
  • ESCI 340 - Biostatistical Analysis (5 credits)
  • MACS 330 - Marine Pollution (3 credits)
  • MACS 418 - Paleoceanography (4 credits)
  • MACS 426 - Ichthyology (5 credits)

Electives (24 credits)

Choose a minimum of 24 elective credits. Courses in addition to those listed below, including selected 300-400 level BIOL, CHEM, ESCI, GEOL, MACS, MATH courses may be acceptable under advisement.

Biology

• BIOL 321 - Genetics (4 credits)
• BIOL 324 - Methods in Molecular Biology w/lab (4 credits)
• BIOL 327 - Fundamentals of Molecular Biology (4 credits)
• BIOL 328 - Cell Biology (4 credits)
• BIOL 345 - Fundamentals of Microbiology (4 credits)
• BIOL 403 - Physiological Ecology of Animals w/lab (5 credits)
• BIOL 405 - Microbial Ecology (4 credits)
• BIOL 432 - Evolutionary Biology (4 credits)
• BIOL 456 - Algae w/lab (5 credits)
• BIOL 460 - Invertebrate Zoology w/lab (5 credits)

Chemistry

• CHEM 251 - Elementary Organic Chemistry (5 credits)
• or CHEM 351 - Organic Chemistry (4 credits)
• CHEM 375 - Elements of Biochemistry (4 credits)
• CHEM 427 - Aquatic Chemistry (3 credits)

Environmental Sciences

• ENRG 342 - Problem Solving in Environmental Science (5 credits)
• or ESCI 342 - Problem Solving in Environmental Science (5 credits)
• ENVS 392 - Introduction to Climate Change (4 credits)
• or ESCI 392 - Introduction to Climate Change (4 credits)
• ESCI 393 - Our Coastal Seas and Climate Change (4 credits)
• ESCI 412 - Fisheries Science (5 credits)
• ESCI 426 - Marine Invertebrates and Their Environment (5 credits)
• ESCI 432 - Topics in Marine Ecology (4 credits)
• ESCI 459 - Aquatic Toxicology (3 credits)
• ESCI 491 - Oceanography of the Salish Sea (4 credits)
• ESCI 494 - Marine Conservation (5 credits)

Geology

• GEOL 212 - Historical Geology (4 credits)
• GEOL 213 - GIS in Geology (3 credits)
• GEOL 310 - Geomorphology (5 credits)
• GEOL 311 - Earth Materials (5 credits)
• GEOL 314 - Engineering Geology (4 credits)
• GEOL 316 - Paleontology (4 credits)
• GEOL 352 - Introduction to Geophysics (5 credits)

Marine and Coastal Science

• MACS 111 - Current Topics in Marine Science I (1 credit) (Can be repeated for a total of up to 2 credits)
• MACS 112 - Current Topics in Marine Science II (1 credit) (Can be repeated for a total of up to 3 credits)
• MACS 330 - Marine Pollution (3 credits)
• MACS 401 - Earth and Ocean Data Analysis (4 credits)
• MACS 410 - Topics in Marine and Coastal Science (1-5 credits)
• MACS 418 - Paleoceanography (4 credits)
• MACS 421 - Waves and Tides (4 credits)
• MACS 424 - Marine Fish Ecology (5 credits)
• MACS 426 - Ichthyology (5 credits)
• MACS 452 - Deep-sea Ecology (5 credits)
• MACS 491 - Teaching Practicum (1-3 credits) (Can be repeated for a total of up to 3 credits)
• MACS 492 - Marine Research Participation (1-5 credits) (Can be repeated for a total of up to 5 credits)

Mathematics

• MATH 204 - Elementary Linear Algebra (4 credits)
• MATH 224 - Multivariable Calculus and Geometry I (5 credits)
• MATH 225 - Multivariable Calculus and Geometry II (4 credits)
• MATH 331 - Ordinary Differential Equations (4 credits)

Capstone (6 credits)

Must complete 6 capstone credits. MACS 496 Communicating Marine Science, 2 credits (required for all students) and one of the three options listed for 4 credits.

• Must complete a total of 4 credits of one of the following three options:
  • Option 1:
    • MACS 493 - Advanced Marine and Coastal Science Research (4 credits) (take for a total of 4 credits)
  • Option 2:
    • MACS 494 - Independent Research Project (1-10 credits) (take at least 4 credits)
  • Option 3:
    • MACS 495 - Professional Work Experience in Marine Science (1-10 credits) (take at least 4 credits)
• MACS 496 - Communicating Marine Science (2 credits)

University Graduation Requirements

• General University Requirements
• Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
• 180 Minimum Total Credits
• 60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
• Residency Requirement
• Minimum Grade Requirements
• Final Quarter Requirement