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Natural Sciences and Mathematics - Marine Science Program Description
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Introduction

The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey is located within 10 minutes of an extensive barrier-beach back-bay estuarine system and is one of a few undergraduate institutions in the U.S. that offers a degree program in marine science. Stockton’s Marine Science (MARS) program encompasses four general areas of study: marine biology, marine resource management, marine education, and oceanography (including marine geology). A number of field courses, laboratory courses, seminars, independent studies and tutorials are offered, with a strong emphasis on teaching in the field. The Marine Science and Environmental Field Station is a valuable teaching and research resource for the program. The program is interdisciplinary and requires student competence in several areas of science. Upper-level students have the opportunity to design and implement their own independent study projects on local marine organisms and physical and chemical processes. They are encouraged to study the relevant original literature, identify research problems, collect data, analyze it, synthesize the information, and interpret it in the light of previously published studies. One of the major objectives of Stockton’s Marine Science program is to demonstrate that undergraduate students can become actively involved in research and make contributions to the field.

Program Organization

The following diagram illustrates the overall structure of the Marine Science program curriculum.

Graphical Chart

All students in the Marine Science program must complete the core requirements. Students must also complete the marine biology track requirements, the marine resource management track requirements marine education track requirements, or the oceanography track requirements. Then, in consultation with their preceptor, they select appropriate elective (cognate) courses to form a track in either marine biology, marine resource management, marine education or oceanography. Students have much latitude to develop their own program of study within their track, and the listed required courses are the minimum requirements. Students should also take many of the courses listed as electives. The electives and the course sequence for each student should be determined with the assistance of individual preceptors. Elective courses can be chosen from offerings in marine science, biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, applied physics, environmental studies, and information and computer sciences.
The program also has occasional course offerings such as “Behavior of Marine Animals,” “Marine Larvael Biology” and “Underwater Archeology,” which are taught by visiting or adjunct faculty. Students should inquire about the availability of such offerings.
Students in other programs may earn a minor in Marine Science.

Graduation Requirements

The minimum requirement for the Bachelor of Arts in Marine Science is 64 credits of marine science and cognate courses. The Bachelor of Science degree requires a minimum of 80 credits in marine science and cognate courses. These program credits, in combination with the College’s General Studies requirement, constitute the minimum of 128 credits necessary for a Stockton degree. In order to be able to graduate, a student must meet College criteria, which include a minimum grade point average of 2.0 overall. In addition, a student must satisfy the Marine Science Program course distribution requirements, and have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in program and cognate courses.
   The transfer student who wishes to major in Marine Science should contact the program coordinator prior to first registration at Stockton. Some students may require an extra year to fulfill degree requirements, particularly if they lack a science background.

CORE REQUIREMENTS
MARS 2201   Introduction to Marine Biology
MARS 2202   Introduction to Oceanography
MARS 3351   Methods in Oceanography
GEOL 2101/ Physical Geology and
             2105   Laboratory*

Two CHEM courses:
     CHEM 2110/2115 and 2120/2125 (Chemistry I and II and Laboratories), or
     CHEM 2110/2115 and CHEM 2140/2145 (Chemistry I and IV and Laboratories)**

Two PHYS courses:
     PHYS 2110/2115 and 2120/2125 (Physics for Life Sciences I and II and Laboratories), or
     PHYS 2220/2225 and 2230/2235 (PHYS I and II and Laboratories)**

*For students seeking a B.A. degree with either the marine biology or marine education tracks, GEOL 2101 and GEOL 2105 are not considered core requirements.

**CHEM 2140/2145 and PHYS 2220/2225 and 2230/2235 are required of those students who plan to complete the oceanography track or the marine education (earth science certification) track..

MARINE BIOLOGY TRACK REQUIREMENTS
BIOL   1100/  Organisms and Evolution and
            1105   Laboratory
BIOL   1200/  Cells and Molecules and
            1205   Laboratory
BIOL 2100   Ecology
MARS 3335   Marine Botany
MARS 3300   Invertebrate Zoology
A course in vertebrate biology (for the B.A. degree, one of the five courses below or Invertebrate Zoology is required):
BIOL   2130   Vertebrate Zoology or
MARS 3340   Introduction to Ichthyology or
BIOL   3130   Ornithology or
BIOL   3125   Herpetology or
ENVL 3450   Mammalogy
Two math courses:
     Math 2215 (Calculus I), and either MATH 2216 (Calculus II) or a statistics course.

Students are strongly urged to complete the Math requirements earlier rather than later in their academic career.

MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRACK REQUIREMENTS
BIOL   1100/ Organisms and Evolution and
            1105   Laboratory
BIOL   1200/ Cells and Molecules and
            1205   Laboratory
BIOL   2110/ Genetics and Laboratory
            2115
MARS 3306   Aquaculture
MARS 3307   Fisheries Science and Management

Any statistics course at the 2000-level or above, and either an additional statistics course at the 2000-level or higher or Math 2215 (Calculus I).

Students are strongly urged to complete the Math requirements earlier rather than later in their academic career.

MARINE EDUCATION TRACK REQUIREMENTS

FOR ALL MARINE EDUCATION STUDENTS
statistics (BIOL/MARS 3105, ENVL 2400, CSIS 1206 or a suitable substitute)
GSS 3241       Special Education
PSYC 1100     Introduction to Psychology
PSYC 2201     Adolescence or
PSYC 3323     Developmental Psychology
PSYC 3391    Educational Psychology (a “B” or better grade is required)
PSYC 3515     Families, Schools and Commun.
EDUC 3610    Technologies for Educators

FOR STUDENTS SEEKING CERTIFICATION IN EARTH SCIENCES
GEOL 2102/2106   Historical Geology and Laboratory
MARS 3310             Marine Geology or a suitable GEOL substitute
MARS 3396             Chemical Oceanography or
MARS 3397             Physical Oceanography
MATH 2215             Calculus I
MATH 2216             Calculus II
GNM 2226               General Meteorology
GNM 2227               The New Solar System or
GNM 2228               Stars and Galaxies

FOR STUDENTS SEEKING CERTIFICATION IN BIOLOGY
BIOL   1100/              Organisms and Evolution and
            1105               Laboratory
BIOL   1200/              Cells and Molecules and
            1205               Laboratory
BIOL   2100               Ecology
MARS 3335               Marine Botany or
MARS 3415/3416     Preparation for Tropical Marine Biology and Tropical Marine Biology
MARS 3300               Invertebrate Zoology or
MARS 3340               Ichthyology
MATH 1100               Precalculus

Students interested in teaching at the secondary level must pass the NJ State health test, or complete one of the following: GEN 1406, GEN 2715, GNM 2151, GNM 2336, PSYC 2212, or PUBH 2432; students interested in teaching at the elementary level MUST complete one of these courses.
   After the student has completed at least 96 credits toward the Marine Education BA, with at least a 2.5 GPA, and a “C” or better in all program and cognate courses, the student must apply to the Education (EDUC) program for admission.
   Students are strongly urged to complete the Math requirements earlier rather than later in their academic career.

OCEANOGRAPHY TRACK REQUIREMENTS
MATH 2215   (Calculus I), and either MATH 2216 (Calculus II) or a statistics course at the 2000-level or above
MARS 3310   Marine Geology, or GEOL 4361 Geochemistry of Natural Waters, or another approved GEOL course
MARS 3396   Chemical Oceanography
MARS 3397   Physical Oceanography

Students are strongly urged to complete the Math requirements earlier rather than later in their academic career.

RECOMMENDED ELECTIVE COURSES
The following groups of recommended courses are examples of courses appropriate as track electives. These lists are not comprehensive, and students can substitute additional courses in consultation with their preceptor.

MARINE BIOLOGY TRACK AND MARINE EDUCATION (BIOLOGY CERTIFICATION) ELECTIVES
MARS 3303    Invertebrate Reproduction
MARS 3304    Invertebrate Physiology
MARS 3309    Tropical Marine Ecology
MARS 3330    Coastal Ecology
MARS 3336    Marine Plant Ecology
MARS 3345   Environmental Physiology of Marine Animals
MARS 3416    Tropical Marine Biology
MARS 4801    Carolina Field Trip
BIOL    2110/   Genetics and Laboratory
             2115
BIOL    3110    Animal Behavior
BIOL    3170    Microbiology
CHEM 2130/   Chemistry III and
             2135   Laboratory, or additional MARS, BIOL, ENVL, or CHEM courses

MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRACK ELECTIVES
MARS 3308    Coastal Zone Management
MARS 3340    (=BIOL 3340)
                          Introduction to Ichthyology
BIOL    2100    Ecology
BIOL    3300    (=MARS 3300)
                          Invertebrate Zoology
BIOL    2140    Vertebrate Embryology
BIOL    2150    Vertebrate Physiology
BIOL    3132    (=MARS 3304)
                          Invertebrate Physiology
BIOL    3133    (=MARS 3303)
                          Invertebrate Reproduction
BIOL    3250    (=CHEM 3250)
                          Biochemistry
BIOL    4210    Molecular Genetics
BIOL    4220    Endocrinology
ENVL   3302    Geographic Information Systems
ENVL   3406    Environmental Chemistry Methods
ENVL 4330    Groundwater Hydrology

OCEANOGRAPHY TRACK AND MARINE EDUCATION (EARTH SCIENCE CERTIFICATION) ELECTIVES

Physical/Chemical Oceanography Electives
MARS   3305    Coastal Processes: Beaches
CHEM  3321   Thermodynamics
CHEM 3410    Physical Chemistry
CHEM 3530    Environmental Chemistry
ENVL   3422    Hydrology
GEOL  4361    Geochemistry of Natural Waters
CSIS    1180    Microcomputers and Applications
MATH   2217    Calculus III
MATH   3323    Linear Algebra
MATH   3328    Differential Equations
PHYS   1400    Meteorology
PHYS   3220    Mechanics, or additional approved CHEM, MATH, PHYS, INFO, or GEOL courses

MARINE GEOLOGY ELECTIVES
MARS  3305    Coastal Processes: Beaches
GEOL 3211    Mineralogy
GEOL 3212    Petrology
GEOL 3221    Field Geology
GEOL 3222    Structural Geology
GEOL 3231    Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
GEOL 4361    Geochemistry of Natural Waters

MINOR IN MARINE SCIENCE
Students in other Programs may earn a minor in Marine Science. The requirements for such a minor are:
MARS 1100   Survey of Ocean Life
or
MARS 2201    Introduction to Marine Biology
                          (Student cannot take both)
MARS 2202 Introduction to Oceanography
            At least 12 more elective MARS course credits, eight of which must be at the 3000- or 4000-levels.

   Students must complete all prerequisites for any MARS courses selected as electives. Selection of a suite of electives that correspond to the interests of the student should be made with the help of the student preceptor and/or a MARS program faculty member.

Graduation with Distinction

A Bachelor of Science degree with distinction in marine science will be awarded to students who meet College criteria, who maintain at least a 3.50 grade point average, whose course work is of outstanding quality and who complete an outstanding senior project. The senior project will be reviewed for evidence of initiative and ability to apply critical intellectual skills to a particular problem. Students who expect to graduate with distinction must be sure that their proposed project is approved by the appropriate Marine Science faculty preceptor(s) and that copies of their final written report are available to all marine science faculty before they meet to consider awarding such a degree. The award will be conferred by the Marine Science program faculty.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Marine Science program seek employment directly with their B.A. or B.S. degrees, or go on to graduate school to work for M.S. or Ph.D. degrees. There are a number of employment opportunities in this field, both in the private and in the public sectors.

MARINE BIOLOGY
Stockton graduates in Marine Biology have been very successful in obtaining entry-level positions in their field with local, state, and Federal agencies. Such positions have involved laboratory work, fieldwork on marine habitats, data analysis and law enforcement. Some have gone on to consulting jobs with private firms, and some have entered postgraduate study and have attended major universities. Examples of student studies are: marine plant ecology, tropical fish ecology, marine parasitology, heavy metal pollution of mud flat habitats, micro-nutrient analysis of open ocean communities, fish population biology and chemical defenses of marine algae.

MARINE EDUCATION
Science teachers at the primary and secondary levels are in constant demand. Because marine science students receive such a broad science training, they are excellent candidates for teaching positions. Students completing this program leave the College with two degrees and a certification to teach in NJ (which is recognized in most other states as well). Depending on the courses selected, the graduate will be certified to teach at either the primary or secondary level, either as a biology or an earth science instructor.

MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
An increasing world population of humans, coupled with decreasing stocks of fish and shellfish, will mean an increased future attention to fisheries management and aquaculture. Fisheries management is largely a government venture aimed at maintaining a large sustained harvest from the seas and freshwater systems. Aquaculture involves both government and the private sector. Fisheries management is analogous to hunting while aquaculture is analogous to farming.

OCEANOGRAPHY
The pending energy shortage will necessitate an increased search for petroleum deposits on the continental shelf, additional offshore ports, and an increased need for coastal sites for power plants. This will mean employment opportunities for a number of marine engineers and marine geologists on offshore oil surveys and marine construction projects. At the same time, many of these energy-related activities can be expected to disturb the natural balances of beaches, estuaries, and shallow coastal waters by thermal pollution from power plants, oil spills from offshore drilling operations or accidents during the unloading of super-tankers, and disruption of the bottom by dredging and the disposal of dredge spoils. These, in addition to problems caused by sludge from coastal sewage outfalls, chemical pollutants from various industrial processes, pesticides from agricultural run-off, and even photochemical smog purged from the atmosphere by rain, will, when coupled with more stringent water quality control standards imposed by the federal government, mean jobs for water chemists, physical oceanographers, and marine biologists with consulting firms to prepare environmental impact statements and with state and federal agencies to monitor sources of pollution.

Special Opportunities

There are many opportunities to carry out research at the undergraduate level at Stockton. Many marine habitats are available for field projects: sandy beaches, pilings, and breakwaters with varying degrees of exposure; eroding peat deposits; sheltered bays with mud and shell bottoms; salt marsh ponds, creeks and grass flats; and low-salinity creeks and rivers that are at the upper reaches of local estuaries.
   The Marine Science and Environmental Field Station is located on an eight-acre waterfront site in the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve and is just 10 minutes from the Stockton campus. A chemical and biological laboratory provides a well-equipped teaching area, five faculty research areas, computer facilities, and an aquarium greenhouse with seawater connections to the main aquarium-wet laboratory. The aquarium-wet laboratory provides seawater facilities for maintaining live organisms for research and teaching and on the second floor houses the Coastal Research Center. Extensive field and laboratory equipment, as well as four 21-to-24-foot research vessels, allows faculty to conduct research and instructional exercises utilizing the latest technology. The Field Station also provides part-time work and volunteer opportunities for MARS students.
   Students may propose their own field, laboratory, or library research projects to prospective faculty sponsors, and/or work on suitable internships. Student interns have been placed locally in field/laboratory positions, including at Adventure Aquarium (formerly the New Jersey State Aquarium) in Camden, Rutgers University marine laboratories in Tuckerton and Port Norris, and the Brigantine Marine Mammal Stranding Center. Through the Washington Internship program, MARS majors have been placed at the National Aquarium, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Institute/Natural History Museum.
   For research projects which necessitate the processing of larger quantities of numerical data, students can make use of the College Computer Center, which is tied into the statewide Educational Computer Network. Stockton is a member of the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium and has access to Consortium marine stations, boats, and equipment. Stockton students can take, with the approval of the MARS program, summer courses at the NJMSC facilities at Sandy Hook.

Information about the Program

Marine Science Program Coordinator
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
PO Box 195
Pomona, NJ 08240-0195
Phone: (609) 652-4546

Dean of Enrollment Management
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
PO Box 195
Pomona, NJ 08240-0195
Phone: (609) 652-4261