Department of Biological Sciences

Curriculum in Marine Biology

Here is a summary of the requirements for the undergraduate Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Biology. The official listing of requirements (which should be the same as this unofficial list) can be found in the URI catalog. Please note that the requirements below are for students entering in 2003 and after. If you entered URI before 2003, you may follow either these requirements or the requirements set out in the catalog of the year you entered.

For updates, contact Dr. J. Webb: urimbio@etal.uri.edu.

CORE REQUIREMENTS:

You must take all of the following introductory courses:

• Topics in Marine Biology (BIO 130) (waived for transfer students)
• Principles of Biology I and II (Bio 101, 102)
• Marine Biology (BIO 360)

Next, choose one course from four of the following six areas (at least 12 credits):

• Organismal Diversity: BIO 304, 321, 323, 354, 366, 432 or 465
• Ecology and Evolution: BIO 262 or 250
• Physiology: BIO 201 or 346
• Genetics: BIO 352
• Cell and Development: BIO 302, 311, 341 or 453
• Molecular Biology: BIO 437

Marine Biology Electives

Choose a minimum of 11 credits from the following list:

• Marine Environmental Physiology (BIO 345)
• Marine Invertebrates (BIO 355)
• Biology of Marine Plants (BIO 418)
• Deep Sea Biology (OCG 420)
• Environmental Physiology of Animals (BIO 441)
• Marine Ecology (BIO 455)
• Marine Ecology Laboratory (BIO 457)
• Freshwater Ecology (BIO 458)
• Biology of Fishes (BIO 463)
• Directed Research (BIO 491, 492) (no more than 3 cr)
• Tropical Marine Invertebrates (BIO 469)*
• Coral Reef Ecology (BIO 475)*
• Tropical Marine Biology Research (BIO 495)*
• Marine Microbiology (OCG 576)

* Given at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Chemistry:

• General Chemistry I and II with lab (CHM 101, 102; 112, 114)

                                   AND

           Two semesters of organic chemistry:

• Organic Chemistry I and II with lab (CHM 226, 227, 228)

                                   OR

• Intro to Organic Chem. and Biochemistry (CHM 124, 126; BCH 311)

Mathematics:

• Applied Calculus I and II (MTH 131, 132)

                                   OR

• Calculus with Analytic Geometry (MTH 141, 142)

                                   OR

• One semester of calculus & one of statistics (MTH 131 or 141 & STA 308)

Oceanography:

• General Oceanography (OCG 401)

                                   OR

• Oceanographic Science (OCG 451)

Physics:

• General Physics I and II with lab (PHY 111, 112; 185, 186)

Language:

• Modern language through intermediate level (104)

                                   OR

• 6 credits in one language (note that study abroad and culture clusters do not fulfill this requirement)

Students must take at least 2 lab courses in Biology in addition to BIO 101, 102, and 360, excluding BIO 491, 492, and 495. No more than 3 credits of research/special problems (491,492, 495) may be used towards the major. In addition you must complete all the General Education requirements. A total of 130 credits are required to graduate. A total of 36 credits in BIO courses are required

Minor in Marine Biology

Requirements: Students who declare a Minor in Marine Biology must take BIO 101, 102, and 360. In addition they must select at least 8 credits from the following: Bio 345, 355, 418, 441,455, 457, 458, 465, 469, 475, 495, 491/492 (no more than 3 credits) or 563; OCG 420, 576.

For more information about this site, contact biosci@etal.uri.edu