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Program checklist · BS

Marine Sciences, BS

Stony Brook University · Stony Brook, NY

A checklist is the list of requirements to complete this program and receive the award, as the college publishes it in its catalog. It is the same for everyone. It does not say what you have completed; that comes from applying your own record.

Program
Award
BS
Credential class
ceterms:BachelorDegree
Catalog edition
Fall 2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Checklist type
degree-program
Description
Marine Sciences is a highly interdisciplinary field requiring an understanding and application of basic science, including biology, physics, and chemistry. In particular, the Marine Sciences major provides students with a solid background in basic biology as well as in the physics and chemistry of the ocean. Upper-division electives permit each student to gain a deeper understanding of particular groups of organisms (microorganisms, algae, marine invertebrates, fish, and marine mammals) and of habitats (salt marshes, rocky intertidal, barrier islands, dunes, estuaries, and the open ocean).
Identifiers
IPEDS UNITID
196097
CourseShelf checklist
CK_196097_cda8c911
CollegeTransfer.Net
Institution Transfer Profile
Source
CourseShelf publish 61

Requirements to complete

Every course or condition the catalog lists, in the catalog's order.

Degree Requirements

0 items

    Foundation Courses (40 credits)

    16 items
    1. AMS 102
      Elements of Statistics 3 credits
      Not resolved to a course
      or: AMS 110 - Probability and Statistics in the Life Sciences 3 credits
    2. ATM 201
      Introduction to Climate and Climate Change 3 credits
      Not resolved to a course
    3. BIO 201
      Fundamentals of Biology: Organisms to Ecosystems 3 credits
      Not resolved to a course
    4. BIO 202
      Fundamentals of Biology: Molecular and Cellular Biology 3 credits
      Not resolved to a course
      or: BIO 203 - Fundamentals of Biology: Cellular and Organ Physiology 3 credits
    5. CHE 131
      As published: “General Chemistry IB 4 credits (see Note 1)”
    6. CHE 133
      As published: “General Chemistry Laboratory I 1 credit (see Note 1)”
    7. CHE 132
      General Chemistry II 4 credits (see Note 1)
      Not resolved to a course
    8. CHE 134
      General Chemistry Laboratory II 1 credit (see Note 1)
      Not resolved to a course
    9. GEO 122
      Physical Geology 4 credits
      Not resolved to a course
      or: GEO 102 - The Earth 3 credits
    10. GEO 112
      Physical Geology Laboratory 1 credit
      Not resolved to a course
    11. MAR 104
      Oceanography 3 credits
      Not resolved to a course
    12. MAR 105
      Introduction to Oceanography Laboratory 1 credit
      Not resolved to a course
    13. MAT 125
      Calculus A 3 credits
      Not resolved to a course
      or: MAT 130 - Trigonometry and Logarithms 1 credit,
    14. MAT 125
      Calculus A
      Not resolved to a course
      3
    15. MAT 126
      Calculus B 3 credits (see Note 2)
      Not resolved to a course
    16. ENS 119
      Physics for Environmental Studies 4 credits (see Note 3)
      Not resolved to a course
      or: PHY 119 - Physics for Environmental Studies 4 credits (see Note 3)
      or: PHY 121 - Physics for the Life Sciences I 4 credits (see Note 3)

    Note

    0 items

      Core Courses (20 credits)

      7 items
      1. MAR 349
        Introduction to Biological Oceanography 4 credits
        Not resolved to a course
      2. MAR 351
        Introduction to Ocean Chemistry 3 credits
        Not resolved to a course
      3. MAR 352
        Introduction to Physical Oceanography 3 credits
        Not resolved to a course
      4. MAR 354
        Introduction to Geological Oceanography 3 credits
        Not resolved to a course
      5. ATM 320
        Problem Solving with Python 3 credits
        Not resolved to a course
      6. GSS 313
        GIS Design and Application I 3 credits
        Not resolved to a course
      7. GSS 314
        GIS Laboratory 1 credit
        Not resolved to a course

      Focus Area (Choose one, 9 credits minimum)

      0 items

        Marine Ecology & Conservation

        20 items
        1. BIO 342
          Invertebrate Zoology 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        2. BIO 343
          Invertebrate Zoology Laboratory 2 credits
          Not resolved to a course
          or: BIO 351 - Ecology 3 credits
        3. BIO 353
          Marine Ecology 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        4. MAR 301
          Environmental Microbiology 4 credits
          Not resolved to a course
          or: MAR 302 - Marine Microbiology and Microbial Ecology 3 credits
        5. MAR 303
          Long Island Marine Habitats 4 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        6. MAR 305
          Experimental Marine Biology 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        7. MAR 315
          Marine Conservation 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        8. MAR 320
          Limnology 4 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        9. MAR 370
          Marine Mammals 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        10. MAR 373
          Marine Apex Predators: Ecology and Conservation 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        11. MAR 375
          Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rehabilitation 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        12. MAR 376
          Biology and Conservation of Sea Turtles 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        13. MAR 377
          Biology and Conservation of Seabirds 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        14. MAR 380
          Ichthyology 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        15. MAR 384
          Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        16. MAR 385
          Principles of Fishery Biology and Management 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        17. MAR 386
          Ecosystem Science for Fisheries Management 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        18. MAR 388
          Tropical Marine Ecology 4 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        19. SUS 326
          Conservation Genetics 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        20. MAR 487
          Research in Marine Sciences 0-6 credits (maximum of three credits for the major)
          Not resolved to a course
          or: MAR 488 - Internship 0-6 credits, (maximum of three credits for the major)

        Environmental Health

        11 items
        1. CHE 321
          Organic Chemistry I 4 credits (see Note 4)
          Not resolved to a course
        2. ENV 320
          Chemistry for Environmental Scientists 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        3. MAR 301
          Environmental Microbiology 4 credits
          Not resolved to a course
          or: MAR 302 - Marine Microbiology and Microbial Ecology 3 credits
        4. MAR 308
          Environmental Instrumental Analysis 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        5. MAR 336
          Marine Pollution 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        6. MAR 340
          Environmental Problems and Solutions 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        7. MAR 384
          Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        8. MAR 392
          Waste Management Issues 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        9. MAR 393
          Waste Treatment Technologies 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        10. MAR 394
          Environmental Toxicology and Public Health 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        11. MAR 487
          Research in Marine Sciences 0-6 credits (maximum of three credits for the major)
          Not resolved to a course
          or: MAR 488 - Internship 0-6 credits, (maximum of three credits for the major)

        Coastal Processes

        7 items
        1. ENV 316
          Coastal Zone Management 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        2. GSS 325
          GIS Design & Applications II 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        3. GSS 354
          Geospatial Science for the Coastal Zone 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        4. MAR 304
          Waves, Tides, and Beaches 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        5. MAR 333
          Coastal Oceanography 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        6. MAR 334
          Remote Sensing of the Environment 3 credits
          Not resolved to a course
        7. MAR 487
          Research in Marine Sciences 0-6 credits (maximum of three credits for the major)
          Not resolved to a course
          or: MAR 488 - Internship 0-6 credits, (maximum of three credits for the major)

        Other courses may be substituted with department approval.

        0 items

          Upper-Division Writing Requirement

          0 items

            Notes

            4 items
            1. CHE 129
              As published: “/CHE 130 may be substituted for CHE 131 . CHE 152 may be substituted for CHE 131 +CHE 132 .”
            2. MAT 131
              As published: “MAT 132 or MAT 141, MAT 142 or MAT 171 may be substituted for MAT 125 , MAT 126”
              4
            3. The first semester of any calculus-based Physics with lab can be substituted, such as PHY 131 /PHY 133 or PHY 141 or PHY 142 .
              Not resolved to a course
            4. CHE 331
              may be substituted for CHE 321 .
              Not resolved to a course

            Marine Sciences Honors Program

            3 items
            1. Students are eligible to participate in the Honors Program if they have a 3.50 GPA in all courses for the major by the end of the junior year. Students should apply to the SoMAS undergraduate director for permission to participate.
              Not resolved to a course
            2. Students must prepare an honors thesis based on a research project written in the form of a paper for a scientific journal. A student interested in becoming a candidate for honors should submit an outline of the proposed thesis research project to the SoMAS undergraduate director as early as possible, but no later than the second week of classes in the last semester. The student will be given an oral examination in May on his or her research by his or her research supervisor and the undergraduate research committee. The awarding of honors requires the recommendation of this committee and recognizes superior performance in research and scholarly endeavors. The written thesis must be submitted before the end of the semester in which the student is graduating.
              Not resolved to a course
            3. If the student maintains a GPA of 3.5 in all courses in their major through senior year and receives a recommendation by the undergraduate research committee, he or she will receive departmental honors.
              Not resolved to a course

            BS Degree in Marine Sciences/MS Degree in Marine and Atmospheric Sciences

            0 items

              SBC Courses

              3 items
              1. Freshmen who matriculate in the Fall of 2019 or later
                Not resolved to a course
              2. Transfer students who matriculate in the Spring of 2020 or later
                Not resolved to a course
              3. Students who rematriculate in the Fall of 2019 or later
                Not resolved to a course

              Sample Course Sequence

              0 items
                Source. Stony Brook University, catalog Fall 2026 Undergraduate Catalog — https://catalog.stonybrook.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=11&poid=1495&returnto=1134. Captured page pages/0242.html.gz. Assembled from the institution's published catalog as captured; every record names its captured page and source URL. Assembled, not asserted.