Marine Sciences Minor

Degree Requirements

Undergraduate Minor in Marine Sciences

Seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is occupied by oceans. This dominance means that oceans exert a major influence on atmospheric dynamics and terrestrial ecology. The societal and economic importance of healthy ocean ecosystems cannot be overstated or ignored. The Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences welcomes qualified students who wish to better focus their academic training towards oceanography and marine biology. The undergraduate minor in marine sciences is designed to complement many science and non-science majors offered at USA. Ocean-related science is relevant to many contemporary environmental issues and problems and central to understanding earth-system evolution, dynamics, climate and sustainability. The minor consists of courses and research opportunities offered primarily by faculty and researchers in the Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

Requirements for a Minor in Marine Sciences include a minimum of 18 hours in Marine Sciences related classes. The student must take MAS 134 Ocean Science and MAS 134L Ocean Science Lab. In addition to these core requirements, students must take 14 credit hours of coursework at South or at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Up to 6 hours required by a student’s major may be applied toward the minor. The Marine Science minor places a strong emphasis on a rigorous natural science foundation. Students planning the minor should check catalog course descriptions carefully and should meet with advising staff in the Marine and Environmental Sciences Program office.

If a minor is required in your degree program, at least 9 (lower and/or upper-division) hours of courses in the minor must be completed at the University.

Required Courses
MAS 134
& 134L		Ocean Science
and Ocean Science Lab		4
Electives
Select courses (14 credits needed) from the following:14
MAS 371
Shark and Ray Biology
MAS 367
Marine Biology
MAS 426
Ocean Talk: Mastering Marine Science Communication
MAS 430
Marine Botany
MAS 451
Marine Vertebrate Zoology
MAS 471
Marine Invertebrate Zoology
MAS 475
Marine Ecology
MAS 477
Coral Reef Biology & Ecology
MAS 478
Marine Mammal Hlth/Strd Resp
MAS 488
Field Marine Science II
MAS 490
Special Topics
MAS 494
Directed Studies
MAS 499
Honors Research in Marine Sciences
Other DISL offered courses will be considered for elective
Total Hours18

Course of Study

  1. Freshmen/Sophomore
    On Campus- MAS 134 Ocean Science (3 cr) and MAS 134L (1 cr)
  2. Junior/Senior Level
    MAS listed electives at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) or at USA main campus.