Marine Biology Option
This option is offered within the following major(s):
The Marine Biology option is designed to give students a strong background in the biology of marine organisms and their habitats. The core biological sciences background of the Biology major is coupled with field and laboratory course work in marine biology, ecology, conservation, and oceanography. The option emphasizes research and includes experiential courses completed in residence at the OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon. Additional research or internship experience is strongly recommended for option students, and three credits can be applied to the option electives. The Marine Biology option provides excellent preparation for graduate programs in marine biology. Students completing the Marine Biology option cannot seek the Marine Biology and Ecology minor.
Option Code: 572
Options in the Biology major require 15 or fewer additional credits (one term) beyond the basic Biology major, and most students can complete the additional Marine Biology option course work in four years. Courses used to satisfy the Marine Biology option also satisfy the Biology and Society, Organismal Biology, Physiology, Writing Intensive Course. Physics/Computer Science and Quantitive Applications, and Experiential Learning or Intergrative Biology electives in the Biology major.
At least one term in residence at Hatfield Marine Science Center is required (spring or summer). The 15-credit BI 450 Marine Biology and Ecology course is taught each spring term at Hatfield Marine Science Center and is by application only. The course covers marine invertebrates, algae and fishes, as well as sections on marine ecology, conservation and policy. It also includes an undergraduate research project. Students apply to, and are accepted, the fall term before the spring they plan to attend. Applications are available in the Integrative Biology Office, Cordley Hall 3029. The summer term at Hatfield does not require an application and includes a variety of courses.
BI 111 is an optional weekend experiential course at Hatfield Marine Science Center that complements other option coursework, particularly for students with little or no previous marine experience.
For further information, see MyDegrees or the Integrative Biology website.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| BI 150 | INTRODUCTION TO MARINE BIOLOGY (or select an additional upper-division marine elective below) | 3 |
| BI 347 | *OCEANS IN PERIL | 3 |
| OC 201 | *OCEANOGRAPHY | 4 |
| Z 423 | ENVIRONMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY | 3 |
| Hatfield Marine Science Center Tracks | ||
| Select one of the following tracks: | 15-18 | |
| Spring Track admission by application only | ||
| ^MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY (taught at Hatfield Marine Science Center) | ||
| Summer Track not all courses are taught in summer | ||
| MARINE ECOLOGY | ||
| PACIFIC NORTHWEST COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS (taught at Hatfield Marine Science Center) | ||
| ^FIELD METHODS IN MARINE ECOLOGY | ||
| AQUATIC BOTANY | ||
or FW 315 | ICHTHYOLOGY | |
| MARINE AND ESTUARINE INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY (taught at Hatfield Marine Science Center) | ||
| Experiential Learning or Marine Elective Courses | ||
| Select one of the following tracks: 1 | 3 | |
| Track I Experiential Learning Credits | ||
| Select any combination of three credits from the following: | ||
| RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP (by approval) | ||
| PROJECTS: CURATORIAL ASSISTANT (by approval) | ||
| INTERNSHIP (by approval) | ||
| Track II Marine Elective | ||
| Select one course from the following: | ||
| PACIFIC NORTHWEST COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS (if not used for requirements above - taught at Hatfield Marine Science Center) | ||
| SYMBIOSES AND THE ENVIRONMENT | ||
| MONSTER BIOLOGY | ||
| AQUATIC BOTANY (if not used for requirements above) | ||
| BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF MARINE MAMMALS (taught at Hatfield Marine Science Center) 2 | ||
or FW 315 | ICHTHYOLOGY | |
or FW 316 | SYSTEMATICS OF FISHES | |
or FW 331 | ECOLOGY OF MARINE AND ESTUARINE BIRDS | |
or FW 421 | AQUATIC BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS | |
| ESTUARINE ECOLOGY | ||
or FW 469 | METHODS IN PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR OF MARINE MEGAFAUNA | |
or FW 476 | FISH PHYSIOLOGY | |
| AQUATIC MICROBIOLOGY (MB 422 is optional) | ||
| BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY (taught at Hatfield Marine Science Center) | ||
| Total Hours | 31-34 | |
| * | Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC) |
| ^ | Writing Intensive Course (WIC) |
| 1 | If you did not complete BI 150, select a Marine Elective Course to replace it |
| 2 | FW 302, FW 331, FW 421 and FW 469 are all taught at Hatfield Marine Science Center FW 315 may only be selected if not used for the summer track requirement |
Option Code: 572