Major and Certificate

Undergraduates and Marine Science Option and Courses

Students interested in marine sciences select an option within the biology major, specializing in this area.

The Marine & Freshwater Science option allows biology majors to focus on oceanography, the consequences of human-induced alteration of the marine environment, and in-depth analysis of physical, chemical, geological and biological processes in marine systems. Students have the opportunity to complete course credits at the UT Marine Science Institute campus in Port Aransas, which provides students and researchers immediate access to a variety of marine and freshwater habitats. This is also known as Biology, Option 3.

Marine Science Certificate

A transcript-recognized certificate enables students to explore the field of marine science further, regardless of whether they are pursuing the major above. The certificate provides foundation in the fundamentals of marine science, along with specialized upper-division coursework in aquatic science that can be helpful for future careers and graduate study.

For more options, please see All Undergraduate Programs

Marine Science Courses

Get a sense for some of the courses that many of our majors take below. A more complete list for the transcripted certificate and for your year of entry and catalog may be found when you search for your degree option by the year of entry or catalog.

  • Math: Differential and Integral Calculus
    (M 408C) 
  • Chemistry: Principles of Chemistry I
    (CH 301); Principles of Chemistry II (CH 302); Introduction to Chemical Practices (CH 204)
  • Biology: Introductory Biology I (BIO 311C);  Introductory Biology II (BIO 311D); Genetics (BIO 325); Evolution (BIO 370); Introduction to Lab Experiments in Biology (BIO 206L) 
  • Physics: General Physics I / Laboratory (PHY 317K / PHY 117M);  General Physics II / Laboratory (PHY 317L / PHY 117N)
  • Statistics and Data Sciences: Elements of Statistics (SDS 320E)
  • Additional Science: 6 Hours of Cellular, Developmental, and Molecular Biology; 6-7 Hours of Genetics, Genomics, and Computational Biology; 6-7 Hours of Physiology, Neurobiology, and Behaviour; 6-7 Hours Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity; 2-8 Hours of Laboratory Courses; 12 Hours of Upper-division Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Marine Science, and Statistics