1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Programs & Degrees
  4. Marine Science

Marine Science, B.S.

Empowering tomorrow’s marine scientists with unparalleled training to preserve and promote healthy ocean habitats.

A marine science student in the lab with a sample

Encompassing focal areas ranging from marine ecology and biology to oceanography and geology, the Marine Science program will prepare you to embark on a vibrant, active career promoting and preserving the ocean habitats that are vital to virtually every aspect of human life.

Empowering You to Excel in Your Chosen Profession

The knowledge, skills, and scientific training you’ll gain will prepare you for a successful career improving lives and communities by applying cutting-edge technologies to promote and sustain healthy marine ecosystems.

Our graduates go on to become leaders in their fields and find success at top organizations across an expansive range of business and industry, including:

  • Apple Computers
  • Aquarium of the Pacific
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • California Ocean Protection Council
  • California Ocean Science Trust
  • Fishwise
  • Florida Aquarium
  • Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
  • National Association of Underwater Instructors
  • New England Aquarium
  • NOAA Corps
  • North Carolina Aquarium
  • Oceana
  • Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Partnership for the Interdisciplinary Study of the Coastal Ocean (PISCO)
  • Reef Check California
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

The program’s interdisciplinary scientific foundation prepares students to thrive and excel in a variety of professional roles in which their skills and abilities can be applied, including:

  • Aquarists
  • Conservationists
  • Diving safety officers
  • Environmental scientist
  • Federal and state scientists
  • GIS analysts
  • Marine biologist
  • Marine conservation biologist
  • Marine ecologist
  • Oceanographer (biological, chemical, physical)
  • Research divers
  • Research technicians

You’ll find alumni of our program taking their preparation to even greater heights in graduate programs in marine biology, marine ecology, oceanography, environmental science, and marine policy at elite institutions, including: 

  • Boston University
  • Florida State University
  • Moss Landing Marine Labs
  • Oregon State University
  • Stanford University
  • UC Berkeley
  • UC Davis
  • UC Los Angeles
  • UC San Diego/Scripps Institute of Oceanography
  • UC Santa Barbara
  • UC Santa Cruz
  • University of Maryland
  • University of Miami
  • University of Oregon
  • University of San Diego
  • University of Washington
  • Western Washington University
Aerial Image of Campus

Public University Price, Private University Experience

A Lifetime of Value

Tuition & Fees Financial Aid
Click to play the video
Click to close the video
Person sitting on a beach wearing bright orange pants facing the camera

Branden Clarin

Marine Science

All of my professors know me. In the sciences, connections are everything, and they’ve helped me grow my network. It just opens up so many doors.

Request Information Visit Our Coastal Campus Apply to CSU Monterey Bay

Marine Science, B.S.

As a program in Marine Science – and not Marine Biology like at other institutions – you’ll engage in a distinctive array of hands-on learning intentionally designed to heighten your skills in marine ecology, biology, oceanography, and geology. 

 

Educational Objectives

Our close proximity to the Monterey Bay’s living laboratory will position you to utilize our vibrant natural environment for active learning in weekly class meetings, capstone research, and extramurally-funded research, among many other opportunities.

Our abundance of scientific hands-on learning experiences will take you into, on, and next to the ocean on a weekly basis, including sandy beaches, rocky intertidal zones, salt marshes, subtidal rocky reefs, and subtidal kelp forests. 

Our Comprehensive Research SCUBA Diving Program is the largest university program of its kind in the country and will offer you unparalleled scientific opportunities for diving certification, academic activities, research, and skills training activities and operations.

Our extensive extracurricular research opportunities will provide you with advanced knowledge and training in areas like environmental physiology, video analysis and fish ecology, predator ecology, coastal ecology, and biological oceanography, among others.

For more information, please visit the Program Catalog

Complete all of the following Marine Science Core courses with a grade of C- or above:

  • MATH 150 - Calculus I Units: 4
  • CHEM 110 - Chemistry I Units: 4
  • CHEM 110L - Chemistry I Lab Units: 1
  • CHEM 111 - Chemistry II Units: 4
  • CHEM 111L - Chemistry II Lab Units: 1
  • MSCI 270 - Introduction to Oceanography Units: 3
  • PHYS 220 - Physics I Units: 4
  • BIO 210 - Molecular and Cell Biology and Animal Physiology Units: 4
  • BIO 210L - Molecular and Cell Biology and Animal Physiology Lab Units: 1
  • BIO 211 - Ecology, Evolution, Biodiversity and Plants Units: 4
  • BIO 211L - Ecology, Evolution, Biodiversity and Plants Lab Units: 1
  • STAT 250 - Applied Stat:Sci Tech Units: 4
  • MSCI 340 - Marine Ecology Units: 3

Complete all of the following courses:

  • ENVS 332 - Intro to GIS/GPS Units: 4
  • MSCI 350 - Quantitative Marine Science Units: 4
  • MSCI 370 - Biological Physical Oceanography Units: 4
  • MSCI 345 - Marine Biodiversity and Functional Morphology Units: 3

Complete one of the following economics courses:

  • ENSTU 280 - Environmental Economics and Policy Units: 3
  • BUS 201 - Macro Economics Units: 3
  • BUS 202 - Micro Economics Units: 3

Complete one of the following Upper-Division Service Learning courses:

  • MSCI 359S - Marine Science Service Learning Units: 3
  • ENSTU 349S - Environmental Interpretation and Outreach Units: 5
  • BIO 379S - Biology Service Learning Units: 3
  • ENSTU 369S - Civic Ecology SL Units: 4
  • ENSTU 384S - Social and Ecological Justice Service Learning Units: 4

Complete one of the following Capstone course combinations:

  • MSCI 430 - Marine Experimental Physiology Units: 4 and
  • MSCI 410 - Marine Science Group Capstone Units: 1
  • MSCI 437 - Ocean Instrumentation Projects Units: 4 and
  • MSCI 410 - Marine Science Group Capstone Units: 1
  • MSCI 445 - Projects in Marine Ecology Units: 4 and
  • MSCI 410 - Marine Science Group Capstone Units: 1
  • MSCI 455 - Marine Fish Ecology Units: 4 and
  • MSCI 410 - Marine Science Group Capstone Units: 1
  • MSCI 470 - Science Policy and Management in the Marine Environment Units: 4 and
  • MSCI 410 - Marine Science Group Capstone Units: 1
  • MSCI 472 - Biological Oceanography Projects Units: 4 and
  • MSCI 410 - Marine Science Group Capstone Units: 1
  • MSCI 485 - Marine Biogeography of California Units: 4 and
  • MSCI 410 - Marine Science Group Capstone Units: 1
  • MSCI 490 - Marine Science Honors Capstone Units: 1 and 3 units from any of the following courses:
  • MSCI 394 - Marine Science Internship Units: 1-2
  • MSCI 397 - Independent Research Units: 1-2
  • MSCI 497 - Independent Research Units: 1-2

 

Complete at least ten (10) units of the following Marine Science Electives not previously taken. At least six (6) units must be from Group A, with the remainder from either Group A or Group B:

 

Group A

  • MSCI 310 - Small Boat Field Techniques Units: 1
  • MSCI 331 - Ecological Physiology Units: 4
  • MSCI 337 - Robotics for Ecological Research Units: 4
  • MSCI 341 - Conservation Genetics Units: 4
  • MSCI 380 - Scientific Diving Techniques Units: 3
  • MSCI 395 - Special Topics Units: 1-4
  • MSCI 430 - Marine Experimental Physiology Units: 4
  • MSCI 437 - Ocean Instrumentation Projects Units: 4
  • MSCI 445 - Projects in Marine Ecology Units: 4
  • MSCI 455 - Marine Fish Ecology Units: 4
  • MSCI 470 - Science Policy and Management in the Marine Environment Units: 4
  • MSCI 475 - Marine Conservation Biology Units: 4
  • MSCI 485 - Marine Biogeography of California Units: 4
  • BIO 330 - Vertebrate Physiology Units: 3
  • BIO 340 - Ecology Units: 4
  • BIO 380 - Practical Computing for Scientists Units: 4
  • BIO 420 - Marine Invertebrate Zoology Units: 4
  • STAT 210 - Statistical Computing with R Units: 1
Group B
  • MATH 151 - Calculus II Units: 4
  • PHYS 221 - Physics II Units: 4
  • MSCI 397 - Independent Research Units: 1-2
  • MSCI 497 - Independent Research Units: 1-2
  • BIO 397 - Independent Research Units: 1-2
  • BIO 394 - Biology Internship Units: 1-2
  • RSCH 300 - Undergraduate Research II Units: 1-4
  • RSCH 301 - Undergraduate Research III Units: 2
  • RSCH 394 - Intermediate Undergraduate Research Experience Units: 1
  • MSCI 394 - Marine Science Internship Units: 1-2
  • MSCI 283 - SCUBA III: Occupational Diving Techniques Units: 2

As the only CSU campus adjacent to an extraordinary living ocean laboratory, you’ll engage in learning opportunities here that you simply won’t find at other schools. These environments include the rocky intertidal zone ranging from Monterey to southern Carmel Bay, sandy beaches from Marina through Carmel Bay, salt marshes and estuarine habitats in the Elkhorn Slough, subtidal rocky reefs and kelp forests, and open ocean habitats throughout the Bay.

Additionally, courses in the program will enable you to engage in research activities in habitats across the state, from Monterey to La Jolla.

News

Read about our student success and faculty innovation in CSUMB News

Questions? We’re Here to Help!

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you have about the Marine Science program.

Our experienced and supportive admissions staff is here to provide all the individualized guidance you need.

Study Marine Science in an inspiring coastal environment where we are truly committed to mentorship and an engaging student experience.

Find out more about the Marine Science program and other degrees offered in the College of Science.