Marine Sciences: Undergraduate Minor Courses

The Department of Marine Sciences provides instruction and conducts research in biological, chemical, geological, and physical oceanography. Although it emphasizes graduate training, the Department offers basic coursework, opportunities for supervised practical experience, and an academic minor to advanced undergraduates. Introductory courses are also offered for all undergraduates, regardless of major, who are interested in marine sciences. These courses are available through the regular University, Continuing Studies, and the Summer School.

Learn More About...

• The Marine Sciences Minor
• The Faculty

Recommended Courses:

Biology Majors

• Oceanography (MASC 401/BIOL 350/GEOL 403/ENVR 417)
• Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science (MASC 470/ENST 222)
• Biological Oceanography (MASC 504/BIOL 657/ENVR 520)
• Marine Ecology (MASC 440/ BIOL 462)
• Invertebrate Zoology (BIOL 475)
• Marine Biology (MASC 442/BIOL 457)
• Coastal Processes (MASC 436)
• Special Problems in Marine Biology (MASC 141/BIOL 562)
• Ecology and Population Biology (BIOL 201)
• Comparative Biomechanics (BIOL 551)
• One other Oceanography course depending on interest, i.e., Physical, Chemical, or Geological Oceanography (MASC 506, 505, and 503, respectively)
• Allied courses should include Organic Chemistry (CHEM 261, 262), Physics (PHYS 104, 105) and MATH 231, 232.

Chemistry Majors

• Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science (MASC 470/ENST 222)
• Oceanography (MASC 401/BIOL 350/GEOL 403/ENVR 417)
• Analytical Research Techniques (CHEM 441, 442)
• Biochemistry (BIOC 100/BIOL 107/CHEM 430)
• Chemical Oceanography (MASC 505/ENVR 418/GEOL 505)
• Organic Geochemistry (MASC 552/GEOL 552)
• Biogeochemical Cycling (MASC 550/GEOL 550)
• Biogeochemical Techniques (MASC 551)
• Geochemistry (MASC 553/GEOL 512)
• Earth Processes in Environmental Systems (MASC 410/ENST 410/GEOL 410)

Geology Majors

• Oceanography (MASC 401/BIOL 350/GEOL 403/ENVR 417)
• Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science (MASC 470/ENST 222)
• Geological Oceanography (MASC 503/GEOL 503)
• Earth Processes in Environmental Systems (MASC 410/ENST 410/GEOL 410)
• Geologic and Oceanographic Applications of Geographical Information Systems (MASC 483/GEOL 483).
• One other Oceanography course depending on interest, i.e., Physical, Chemical, or Geological Oceanography (MASC 506, 505, and 503, respectively)
• One or more of the following: GEOL 57 (Stratigraphy), GEOL 133 (Micropaleontology), GEOL 138 (Geomorphology), GEOL 142 (Geo-physics), GEOL 151 (Geodynamics).

Physics Majors

• Oceanography (MASC 401/BIOL 350/GEOL 403/ENVR 417)
• Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science (MASC 470/ENST 222)
• Physical Oceanography (MASC 506/GEOL 506)
• Fluid Dynamics ( MASC 560/ENVR 452/PHYS 660/GEOL560)
• Environmental Systems Modeling (MASC 415/ENVR 461/GEOL415)
• Marine Modeling (MASC 480/ENVR 460/GEOL 480)
• Time Series and Spatial Data Analysis MASC 561
• Turbulent Boundary Layers (MASC 562).
• Descriptive Physical Oceanography (MASC 563/GEOL 563)
• Special Topics in Physical Oceanography (MASC 896)
• The students' mathematics training should lean toward applied mathematics courses (e.g., MATH 524, 528, 529, etc.)

Minor in Marine Sciences

The Department of Marine Sciences offers an undergraduate minor that provides UNC-CH undergraduate students with an opportunity to develop academic specializations in the marine aspects of their major fields and to prepare for postgraduate study in oceanography, marine sciences or a related field.

What are the required courses?
To fulfill the requirements for the Marine Sciences minor, a student should take a total of four courses; one from each of the categories listed below:

1) A course emphasizing global oceanic processes (choose one of the following):

• MASC 101 The Marine Environment (GEOL 103)
• MASC 401 Oceanography (GEOL 403/BIOL 350/ENVR 417)

2) A course emphasizing the coastal ocean (choose one of the following):

• MASC 411 Oceanic Processes in Environmental Systems (ENST 411/GEOL 411)
• MASC 430 Coastal Sedimentary Environments (GEOL 430)
• MASC 436 Coastal Processes
• MASC 472 Barrier Island Ecology and Geology
• MASC 470 Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science (ENST 222)

or equivalent course emphasizing the coastal ocean)

3) A course featuring practical experience in marine science (choose one of the following):

-a field course

• MASC 504 Biological Oceanography (BIOL 657/ENVR 520)
• MASC 4013 Marine Carbonate Environments (GEOL 1033)
• MASC 472 Barrier Island Ecology and Geology

or equivalent field course

-a laboratory course

• MASC 504 Biological Oceanography (BIOL 657/ENVR 520)
• MASC 410 Earth Processes in Environmental Systems
• MASC 431 Micropaleontology (GEOL 431)
• MASC 551 Biogeochemical Techniques

or equivalent laboratory course

-a mathematical modeling course or data analysis course

• MASC 415 Environmental Systems Modeling (ENST 415/ENVR 461/GEOL 415)
• MASC 483 Geologic and Oceanographic Applications of Geographical Information (GEOL 483)
• MASC 480 Marine Systems Modeling (ENVR 460/GEOL 480)
• MASC 561 Time Series and Spatial Data Analysis or equivalent

or equivalent mathematical modeling or data analysis course

- a supervised special topics course

• MASC 896 Special Topics in Physical Oceanography
• MASC 490 Special Topics in Marine Science

or equivalent supervised special topics course

4) A fourth Marine Sciences course of the student’s choosing.

Advising for minors and approval of equivalent courses is provided through the Department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Marc Alperin (962-5184). Other faculty in the Department of Marine Sciences provide additional advice to minors and help arrange and supervise practical experiences.