This program is available at the following locations:

• Corvallis
• Ecampus

Marine Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that explores the dynamic relationship between people and the marine environment, emphasizing humanities, social sciences, and arts perspectives on the coasts and ocean. This program is for students who are seeking expertise in liberal arts methodologies to address the growing challenges and opportunities for coastal and ocean sustainability.

This degree includes:

• Foundational coursework to develop critical thinking regarding human interactions with the marine environment that is grounded in knowledge of its natural characteristics.
• Core classes that provide students with interdisciplinary training, including diverse perspectives and methodological approaches to problem solving and decision-making, in marine related fields of inquiry across the social sciences, arts, and humanities.
• Required coastal experience courses offered at Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) or offered at Corvallis or via Ecampus with significant course dimensions integrating with HMSC.
• Advanced elective coursework to gain expertise in transdisciplinary and liberal arts-based specializations such as, but not limited to: history, philosophy, environmental and social justice, politics and policy, arts and literature, global and transnational perspectives, and community development. 

Major Code: 074

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Demonstrate critical thinking regarding human interactions with the marine environment that is grounded in knowledge of its unique character and natural properties.
• Critically explore historical and contemporary issues in marine studies.
• Apply a range of social science and art/humanities methods to the study of humans in the marine environment.
• Integrate human interactions with the marine environment from a range of social science and arts/humanities-based perspectives, taking into account matters of ethical, social, and environmental justice.

• Students must earn a C- or higher in required coursework
• Students must earn a 2.0 GPA or higher in courses applied to the major

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Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)

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Writing Intensive Course (WIC)

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Core Education course. Applies only to students admitted to an OSU undergraduate degree from Summer 2025 onwards

Major Code: 074

Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.

Marine Studies BA

Marine Studies BS