OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120
Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0
Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: Marine Science Majors must have a 2.0 GPA overall in all required classes. Required classes include the core curriculum and upper-level electives.
Other GPA requirements to graduate: None.
Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: SMS 400 and SMS 404
Field Experience Requirement: All students must complete 42 hours of field experience (these hours are clock hours, not credit hours). This requirement can be met by our Semester-by-the-Sea program, field-based courses, internships and/or study-abroad programs. Contact the School of Marine Sciences for details.
Contact Information: William Ellis, Associate Professor of Oceanography and Associate Director, 360 Aubert Hall, 207-581-4360, william.ellis@maine.edu
Marine science is a rich discipline that combines studies from a variety of subjects in order to understand the marine environment, marine life, and their interactions. Basic knowledge in biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, and physics is essential for students to analyze the workings of marine systems and to appreciate the processes affecting marine life. Studies in marine biology are broad, spanning organisms from bacteria to whales, and spanning perspectives from entire marine communities to the biochemistry of molecules. Marine science plays a pivotal role in the continuing quest to understand our world and to manage its resources. The interdisciplinary nature of the Marine Science curriculum will prepare students to analyze critically such contemporary issues as environmental change, human impacts on the ocean, and biodiversity.
Students seeking the BS degree in Marine Science can complete the degree without a concentration, or they may select one of three concentrations: marine biology, oceanography, or aquaculture. The biological concentration emphasizes ecology, behavior, physiology, genetics, and population and community structure of marine animals, plants, and microbes. The oceanography concentration is oriented toward physical, chemical, and geological ocean science. The aquaculture concentration focuses on the biology, nutrition, and production of finfish and shellfish. Students also learn about aquaculture engineering and the economic issues related to aquaculture. Students in each concentration learn to appreciate the oceanographic perspective, that is, the oceans as systems of interacting components. Each concentration shares common courses designed to provide an interdisciplinary science background. Where appropriate, courses take advantage of the many ecological and oceanographic regimes found along the Maine coast. Students in each concentration are encouraged to spend a fall Semester-by-the-Sea taking hands-on courses in residence at the University’s Darling Marine Center. Students are counseled to seek opportunities for independent research, internships, and part-time employment with marine faculty. Students in the Marine Science program are provided with a strong general foundation in the sciences suitable for advanced study in one of the marine sciences or in other scientific fields. The BS in Marine Science also provides a solid preparation for immediate employment in marine-related industries, governmental agencies, education, and the nonprofit sector. Students may consult with their academic advisors to achieve specific goals, such as professional certification as an Associate Fisheries Scientist by the American Fisheries Society. More information about Marine Science can be found on our web site.
The School of Marine Sciences has administrative offices in Aubert Hall on the Orono campus. Faculty offices and research laboratories are located on the Orono campus and at the Darling Marine Center. The approximately 40 faculty that comprise the School have expertise in numerous marine fields, and they teach and conduct research and outreach in both basic and applied sciences, such as aquaculture. Most have teaching and research interests of relevance to the State of Maine, e.g. population biology and culture of important marine species, and also of relevance to other geographic areas and scientific questions, e.g. the biology and oceanography of the Antarctic Ocean.
Facilities for teaching and research in marine science on the Orono campus are numerous and diverse. They are found in several buildings that house School faculty. Special instrumentation and facilities include: a scanning and electron microscopy laboratory; instrumentation for molecular biology and microbiology, including a central DNA sequencing facility; aquatic holding and recirculation systems; an oceanographic satellite receiving laboratory; and comprehensive computing support. The Orono campus also houses the Aquaculture Research Center, which contains several salt-water recirculation systems for rearing marine organisms and a wave-generation tank.
The Darling Marine Center is the marine laboratory of the University of Maine and functions as a research and teaching facility for University of Maine students and faculty and for visiting investigators from throughout the world. The Center is located near the mouth of the Damariscotta Estuary about 100 miles south of Orono. A shuttle provides transportation between the Orono and Darling campuses during the academic year. Facilities include modern laboratories, classrooms, conference rooms, a marine library, flowing seawater laboratories a dormitory and dining hall, and cottage housing. A fleet of boats up to 42 feet long provides access to nearby estuarine and coastal waters. Several undergraduate and graduate courses are offered at the Darling Center each year, in addition to the Semester-by-the-Sea program.
Bachelor of Science in Marine Science
Requirements of the Marine Science major
- Satisfy university-wide general education requirements
- Earn at least 120 credits
- College: ELH 117 (marine emphasis)
- Biology: BIO 100 , BMB 280 (or SMS 430 )
- Chemistry: CHY 121 /CHY 122 , CHY 123 /CHY 124
- Mathematics: MAT 126 (or MAT 116 ) and STS 132
- Physics: PHY 111 , PHY 112 , or PHY 121 , PHY 122
- Earth Science: SMS 108 or ERS 101 or ERS 102
- Marine Policy: SMS 230
- Core SMS marine science courses: SMS 100 , SMS 201 , SMS 203 , SMS 302 (or SMS 484 or SMS 487 )
- Senior Capstone Experience: SMS 400 and SMS 404 (Senior Capstone seminar) for a total of 4 credits taken either or both semesters of the senior year.
- Plus three Marine Science Practicum (MSP) courses, one from each of the following three categories: a. Observational and Experimental Methods, b. Data Analysis, Interpretation and Modeling, c. Synthesis and Communication (see below for a listing of classes in each category).
- Plus 6 additional credits of upper-level SMS electives (300-level or higher).
Group A: Observational and experimental methods. Students completing these courses will develop and reinforce their skills in collecting and documenting field and laboratory measurements, and operating laboratory equipment. In these courses, students will also be introduced to concepts of sampling and experimental design.
Taught in Orono:
SMS 204 (physical concepts in marine science)
SMS 303 (IMS III: Oceanography)
SMS 304 (IMS IV: Comparative Physiology, Cell & Molecular Biology)
SMS 416 (Marine Engineering Literacy)
Taught at the Darling Marine Center:
SMS 352 (SBS: Marine Ecology)
SMS 479 (SBS: Microbial Ecology)
SMS 480 (SBS: Biology of Marine Invertebrates)
SMS 487 (SBS: Marine Environmental Change)
SMS 491 (SBS: Marine Fisheries Ecology)
SMS 491 (SBS: Coastal and Estuarine Oceanography)
Group B: Data analysis, interpretation and modeling. Students completing these courses will develop quantitative and logical skills for the analysis and interpretation of data. Areas of emphasis could include data mining and working with databases, computer programming, and development and operation of models that simulate marine systems.
Taught in Orono:
SMS 204 (physical concepts in marine science)
SMS 303 (IMS III: Oceanography)
SMS 304 (IMS IV: Comparative Physiology, Cell & Molecular Biology)
SMS 321 (Intro. to Fisheries Science)
SMS 354 (The Arctic Ocean)
SMS 375 (Intro to Marine Science Data Analysis and Computer Programming)
SMS 416 (Marine Engineering Literacy)
SMS 430 (Microbes in the Marine Environment) Currently can be used a core course
SMS 491 (Contemporary Issues in Marine Policy)
Taught at the Darling Marine Center:
SMS 352 (SBS: Marine Ecology)
SMS 479 (SBS: Microbial Ecology)
SMS 487 (SMB: Marine Environmental Change)
SMS 491 (SBS: Marine Fisheries Ecology)
SMS 491 (SBS: Coastal and Estuarine Oceanography)
Group C: Synthesis and Communication. Students completing these courses will develop and reinforce skills related to understanding, synthesizing, and communicating scientific knowledge in written and oral formats.
Taught in Orono:
SMS 303 (IMS III: Oceanography)
SMS 304 (IMS IV: Comparative Physiology, Cell & Molecular Biology)
SMS 354 (The Arctic Ocean)
SMS 375 (Intro to Marine Science Data Analysis and Computer Programming)
SMS 430 (Microbes in the Marine Environment) Currently can be used a core course
SMS 491 (Contemporary Issues in Marine Policy)
Taught at the Darling Marine Center:
SMS 352 (SBS: Marine Ecology)
SMS 479 (SBS: Microbial Ecology)
SMS 491 (SBS: Marine Fisheries Ecology)
Concentration in Marine Biology:
Students who wish to declare a concentration in marine biology must meet the requirements of the Marine Science major (above) in addition to the following:
- The 6 credits of upper-level SMS electives (mentioned above) should be chosen from the list of SMS Marine Biology electives* (see below). It is strongly recommended that students take at least 3 credits of marine ecology and include courses that cover primary producers, vertebrate and invertebrate organisms.
- Organic chemistry or biochemistry: BMB 221 /BMB 222 or CHY 251 / CHY 253
- Complete an additional 6 credits at the 300+ level either from the SMS Marine Biology elective list below or selected from the following list of courses:BIO 336 , BIO 250 , BIO 353 , BIO 265 , BIO 452 , BIO 453 , BIO 480 , BMB 300 /BMB 305 , BMB 322 , BMB 490
* SMS Marine Biology electives include:
SMS 300 , SMS 306 , SMS 308 , SMS 321 , SMS 322 , SMS 350 , SMS 352 , SMS 354 , SMS 374 , SMS 375 , SMS 422 , SMS 423 , SMS 425 , SMS 480 , SMS 484 , SMS 487
Concentration in Oceanography :
Students who wish to declare a concentration in Oceanography must meet the requirements for the Marine Science major (above) in addition to the following:
- Mathematics: MAT 127
- Physics: PHY 121 , PHY 122
- The 6 credits of upper-level SMS electives (mentioned above) should be chosen from the list of SMS Oceanography electives* (see below).
* SMS Oceanography electives include:
SMS 300 or SMS 352 , SMS 350 , SMS 375 , SMS 430 , SMS 460 , SMS 479 , SMS 484 , SMS 487 , SMS 491 , SMS 520, SMS 560
4. Complete an additional 6 credits either from the SMS Oceanography electives list or selected from the following list of courses: CHY 342 , CHY 251 , CHY 252 , CHY 461 , ERS 315 , ERS 534, MAT 228 , MAT 258 , STS 332 , STS 434 , STS 437 , PHY 451
Concentration in Aquaculture:
Students who wish to declare a concentration in aquaculture must meet the requirements of the Marine Science major (above) in addition to the following courses:
AVS 411 , SMS 211 , SMS 422 , SMS 425 , SMS 449
The University of Maine The University of Maine