Marine Sciences Minor (Geosciences)

The minor in Marine Sciences provides experiences in oceanographic sciences that enhance an individual’s ability to understand the interdisciplinary nature of Earth’s past and present oceans. Emphasis is placed on atmospheric, biologic, geologic couplings with the global ocean and its coastal environments. The Marine Sciences minor also promotes experiential learning through field based and data analysis approaches.

Minor Requirements

The minor in Marine Sciences consists of at least 21 credit hours of the following courses.

BIOL 130 - Foundations of Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Diversity Credit(s): 4
BIOL 340 - Introduction to Marine Biology Credit(s): 3
GEOS 150 - Introduction to Oceanology Credit(s): 4
GEOL 315 - Principles of Oceanography Credit(s): 3
At least one* of the following courses:
GEOL 350 - Principles of Paleontology Credit(s): 4
OR
ZOOL 315 - Invertebrate Zoology Credit(s): 4
At least one* of the following courses with a field component:
BIOL 475 - Field Investigations in Biology Credit(s): 3
OR
GEOL 415 - Marine Geology Credit(s): 3
Students may substitute the field component courses listed above with 3 credit hours of marine-focused equivalents from the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, GEOL 485 (Special Topics in Geology), GEOL 475 (Travel Study in Geology or similar marine science programming. Students interested in the Marine Sciences are encouraged to complete BIOL 140 and GEOS 140 for their Laboratory Science Bachelor of Science sequence requirements.

*Students must have six GEOL 300+ and six BIOL 300+ from the courses listed above to satisfy the requirements.