Marine Sciences (BS): Geology Concentration
The degree of Bachelor of Science in Marine Sciences may be obtained by selecting one of five concentrations: Biological Oceanography, Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology, or Physics. The concentrations are designed to facilitate minoring or double majoring in the science cognates.
Marine scientists explore all aspects of the seas and coastal regions, seeking to understand how the oceans, their biological communities, the solid earth and the atmosphere interact. Geological oceanographers are concerned with plate tectonics and how new crust is formed below the ocean, with the formation and evolution of marine sediments and coastlines, and with reconstruction of ancient environments from fossils and minerals found in the seafloor.
As professionals with interdisciplinary training, marine scientists are needed to advise business, industry and governments on the potential impact of human activities and the wise use of marine resources. Marine scientists work for consulting firms; regulatory agencies; the mass media; business and industry; federal, state and local governments; academic laboratories; research and education organizations; and nonprofit environmental watchdog groups.
Contact
For more information about our marine science programs, visit our website or contact:
Maggie Puryear
Associate Director of Undergraduate Programs
mwpollar@ncsu.edu
919.513.1093
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses/Marine Science | ||
| MEA 100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections 2 | 4 |
| MEA 200 | Introduction to Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| MEA 210 | Oceanography Lab 2 | 1 |
| MEA 250 | Introduction to Coastal Environments 2 | 3 |
| MEA 251 | Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| MEA 459 | Field Investigation of Coastal Processes 2 | 5 |
| MEA 460 | Principles of Physical Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| MEA 462 | Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics 2 | 3 |
| MEA 495 | Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences | 1 |
| Geology Concentration | ||
| MEA 101 | Geology I: Physical 2 | 3 |
| MEA 110 | Geology I Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| MEA 202 | Geology II: Historical 2 | 3 |
| MEA 211 | Geology II Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| MEA 410 | Introduction to Mineralogy 2 | 3 |
| MEA 450 | Introductory Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 2 | 4 |
| MEA 451 | Structural Geology 2 | 4 |
| MEA 570 | Geological Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| MEA 470 | Introduction to Geophysics 2 | 3 |
| or MEA 471 | Exploration and Engineering Geophysics | |
| Advised Elective 2, 5 | 8 | |
| Select one of the following Restricted Electives: | 3 | |
| Principles of Biological Oceanography 2 | ||
| Marine Meteorology 2 | ||
| Principles of Chemical Oceanography 2 | ||
| Basic Math & Sciences | ||
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 3 | 1 |
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 3 | 1 |
| PY 205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 4 |
| PY 208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II 3 | 4 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III 3 | 4 |
| Statistics Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Select one of the following Computer Science electives: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Computing and Data Science with AI - Python 3 | ||
| Introduction to Computing-FORTRAN 3 | ||
| Introduction to Computing - MATLAB 3 | ||
| Introduction to Computing - Java 3 | ||
| Introduction to GIS 3 | ||
| Introduction to Scientific Computing 3 | ||
| College Requirements | ||
| COS 100 | Science of Change 4 | 2 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| Select one of the following Advanced Writing courses: | 3 | |
| Communication for Engineering and Technology | ||
| Communication for Business and Management | ||
| Communication for Science and Research | ||
| GEP Courses | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Grade of C- or higher is required in CH 101, 201; ENG 101; MA 141, 241; PY 205.
- 2
No more than one D will be accepted in MEA core courses and concentration courses.
- 3
No more than one D will be accepted in other basic math or science courses.
- 4
COS 100 is for new freshmen only. Transfer students will need to select a course from the GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives course list.
- 5
Any MEA course at the 300 level or higher. Select in consultation with your advisor.
Advised Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MEA 300 | Environmental Geology 2 | 4 |
| MEA 305 | Catastrophic Earth 2 | 3 |
| MEA 312 | Atmospheric Thermodynamics 2 | 4 |
| MEA 315 | Mathematics Methods in Atmospheric Sciences 2 | 4 |
| MEA 320 | Fundamentals of Air Pollution 2 | 3 |
| MEA 321 | Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change 2 | 3 |
| MEA 323 | Geochemistry of Natural Waters 2 | 3 |
| MEA 350 | Marine Conservation Biology 2 | 3 |
| MEA 369 | Life on Earth: Principles of Paleontology 2 | 3 |
| MEA 370 | Invertebrate Paleontology 2 | 3 |
| MEA 409 | Watershed Forensics 2 | 3 |
| MEA 412 | Atmospheric Physics 2 | 3 |
| MEA 415 | Climate Dynamics 2 | 3 |
| MEA 421 | Atmospheric Dynamics I 2 | 3 |
| MEA 422 | Atmospheric Dynamics II 2 | 3 |
| MEA 425 | Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry 2 | 3 |
| MEA 439 | Interdisciplinary Innovation in the Blue Economy 2 | 3 |
| MEA 440 | Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology 2 | 3 |
| MEA 443 | Synoptic Meteorology 2 | 4 |
| MEA 444 | Mesoscale Meteorology 2 | 4 |
| MEA 449/549 | Principles of Biological Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| MEA 455 | Micrometeorology 2 | 3 |
| MEA 458 | Introduction to Tropical Meteorology 2 | 3 |
| MEA 463 | Fluid Physics 2 | 3 |
| MEA 464 | Ocean Circulation Systems 2 | 3 |
| MEA 466 | Preparatory Course for Field Camp 2 | 1 |
| MEA 467 | Marine Meteorology 2 | 3 |
| MEA 468 | Aquatic Microbiology 2 | 3 |
| MEA 469 | Ecology of Coastal Resources 2 | 3 |
| MEA 472 | Glaciology 2 | 3 |
| MEA 473/573 | Principles of Chemical Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| MEA 475 | Paleoceanography 2 | 3 |
| MEA 476 | Worldwide River and Delta Systems: Their Evolution and Human Impacts 2 | 3 |
| MEA 478 | Volcanology 2 | 3 |
| MEA 479 | Air Quality 2 | 3 |
| MEA 481 | Geomorphology: Earth's Dynamic Surface 2 | 3 |
| MEA 485 | Introduction to Hydrogeology 2 | 3 |
| MEA 488 | Meteorology for Media 2 | 3 |
| MEA 493 | Special Topics in MEAS 2 | 1-6 |
Statistics Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics 3 | 3 |
| ST 312 | Introduction to Statistics II 3 | 3 |
| ST 350 | Economics and Business Statistics 3 | 3 |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers 3 | 3 |
| ST 371 | Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory 3 | 3 |
| ST 372 | Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression 3 | 3 |
Semester Sequence
Critical Path Courses – Identify using the code (CP) which courses are considered critical path courses which represent specific major requirements that are predictive of student success in a given program/plan. Place the (CP) next to the credit hours for the course.
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| COS 100 | Science of Change 4 | 2 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I (CP) 1 | 4 |
| MEA 100 | Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections 2 | 4 |
| MEA 101 & MEA 110 | Geology I: Physical and Geology I Laboratory (CP) 2 | 4 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory (CP) 1 | 4 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| MEA 202 & MEA 211 | Geology II: Historical and Geology II Laboratory 2 | 4 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| CH 201 & CH 202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III 3 | 4 |
| MEA 200 & MEA 210 | Introduction to Oceanography and Oceanography Lab (CP) 2 | 4 |
| MEA 410 | Introduction to Mineralogy 2 | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MEA 250 | Introduction to Coastal Environments 2 | 3 |
| MEA 251 | Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| MEA 450 | Introductory Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 2 | 4 |
| PY 205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 4 |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MEA 460 | Principles of Physical Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| MEA 451 | Structural Geology 2 | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| PY 208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II 3 | 4 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| MEA 495 | Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Advanced Writing Elective | 3 | |
| Computer Science Option Elective 3 | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| MEA 462 | Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics 2 | 3 |
| Statistical Science Option Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Summer | ||
| MEA 459 | Field Investigation of Coastal Processes 2 | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| MEA 570 | Geological Oceanography 2 | 3 |
| MEA Restricted Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 2, 5 | 4 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Advised Elective 2, 5 | 4 | |
| MEA 470 or MEA 471 | Introduction to Geophysics 2 or Exploration and Engineering Geophysics | 3 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Grade of C- or higher is required in CH 101, 201; ENG 101; MA 141, 241; PY 205.
- 2
No more than one D will be accepted in MEA core courses and concentration courses.
- 3
No more than one D will be accepted in other basic math or science courses.
- 4
COS 100 is for new freshmen only. Transfer students will need to select a course from the GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives course list.
- 5
Any MEA course at the 300 level or higher. Select in consultation with your advisor.
Career Opportunities
MEAS undergraduate degree programs provide talented students with the foundation of scientific knowledge required for careers in government, industry, or academia. Many students pursue graduate degrees after completion of an undergraduate degree in Marine Science.
Marine Sciences graduates go on to become oceanographers, to manage our coastal resources, model air-sea interaction, and explore global climate change. They conduct basic and applied research, serving as environmental consultants for industry and governmental agencies, policy and management experts for governmental agencies, and environmental science educators. Graduates with a Marine Sciences degree are versed in the fundamental processes and interdisciplinary nature of the coastal zone. As scientists, managers, administrators, and regulators, they make decisions regarding use and conservation of coastal and marine resources.
MEAS graduates play a key service role for the State of North Carolina, assisting in everything from forecasting severe storms and analyzing the impact of atmospheric pollutants on agriculture and our estuaries, to determining the effects of toxic waste disposal on quality of surface and ground water.
Career Titles
- Chief Scientist
- Coastal Geologist
- Conservation Scientist
- Contact Diver
- Environmental Consultant
- Environmental Protection Specialist
- Environmental Research Scientist
- Environmental Scientist
- GIS and Geological Oceanography Specialist
- Marine Eco-toxicologist
- Marine Geophysicist
- Natural Science Manager
- Ocean Mapper
- Oceanographer
- Sensory Biophysicist
- Undersea Specialist
- Wildlife Biologist
- Zoologist
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