Available Course Listing
Core Marine Biology Courses
The new degree program includes a required series of two core courses that provide a comprehensive overview of the many abiotic and biotic processes that influence the dynamics of biological systems in marine environments. The courses are BIO 601 “Marine Biology - Environments and Organisms” and BIO 602 “Marine Biology - Processes and Impacts”. These courses will involve formal lectures, guest speakers and rigorous examinations. Students will also participate in a concurrent laboratory section that will provide practical exposure to a diversity of marine organisms, relevant research methods and field experience.
These core courses will also serve an important assessment function for student advancement in the program. Written exams will be considered as "Qualifying Exams" that are used to determine the performance and writing proficiency of each student. At the end of the spring semester, the performance of each student will be assessed by a Marine Biology assessment committee that consists of participating faculty and the two course instructors. Graduate course requirements will also be designed so that students can complete the majority of their formal coursework by the end of the first year of study. The committee will assess each student's performance according to pre-defined criteria, and recommend advancement on either the Master's or Ph. D. track at the conclusion of their first year of study. Students who fail to pass these courses at the Master's level will be dismissed from the program.
Additional courses
There are several other courses regularly offered by departments and faculty that will serve as supplemental course work for the marine biology graduate degree and help fill out the course requirements. In addition, there are many research faculty and agency partners who will participate in the teaching efforts of this program.
More information on the additional qualifying courses will be posted as soon as they are available.