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Academic Planning

Marine Science Minor

Marine Science Minor

This program provides an excellent opportunity for undergraduates to pursue their interests in the study of the oceans and make more informed decisions about future graduate studies in marine sciences. Although Penn State does not award degrees in this field, a number of faculty pursue research interests in the marine sciences, and a varied selection of undergraduate courses in the marine sciences is available. The student can either complete the requirements for the minor at University Park (UP) or participate in an intensive semester-long oceanography experience at the Southampton, UK, Oceanography Centre (SOC) through education abroad:

The latter option may be of particular interest to students from non-UP locations. SOC has designed a program for PSU students that provides abundant opportunity to participate in shipboard oceanographic research, including a week of day-cruises in the spring and a 2-week series of cruises in June. Students who elect to pursue that minor at UP have the opportunity to receive training as scientific scuba divers through Penn State's Science Diving Program and participate in a number of other field experiences in the marine sciences.

 

Entrance To Minor Requirements:

To be eligible for entrance to the Marine Science minor, a student must have:

  1. attained at least fourth-semester standing and earned a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.50.
  2. completed:
    • CHEM 112: Chemical Principles II (GN)
    • MATH 111: Techniques of Calculus II (GQ) or MATH 141: Calculus with Analytic Geometry II (GQ)
    • BIOL 110: Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (GN) OR BIOL 110H: Honors Biology: Basic Concepts and Biodiversity (GN) or their equivalents.

 

Careers:

A degree in Marine Sciences is excellent preparation for a career in:

  • Marine Biology and Ecology
  • Environmental Science and Conservation
  • Oceanography
  • Fisheries Science and Management
  • Marine Policy and Advocacy
  • Coastal and Marine Resource Management
  • Marine Biotechnology
  • Aquatic Health and Disease Research
  • Environmental Consulting
  • Graduate or Professional School in Marine Sciences, Environmental Science, or related fields

It is also a strong foundation for those pursuing careers in marine conservation, education, and outreach.

 

Program Requirements:

Requirements for the Minor (19 credits)

Courses offered by other institutions may be substituted for any of the required courses listed below, if accepted for transfer by the student's major department and approved by the Marine Sciences Committee. This includes up to 16 transfer credits from SOC. Upon completion of the requirements and no later than the tenth week of the semester in which the student is to graduate, he or she must verify in the Marine Sciences program office that the requirements have been met.

 

Requirements for the Minor:

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).

 

Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better

  • GEOSC 40: The Sea Around Us (GN)

 

Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better

Select at least 6 credits of field studies of the following:

Select 10 credits from the following list:

 

Students may also wish to transfer 6 credits of field-oriented course work from another institution with prior approval of the chair of the Marine Sciences minor.