Marine Science and Conservation (BS)

Program Code: U-MSC-BS
Degree Designation: Bachelor of Science
Department: Marine Science & Conservation
Website: nicholas.duke.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/marine-science-conservation 

Program Summary

The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees are offered with a major in Marine Science and Conservation, or in an individually designed interdepartmental concentration approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies in Marine Science and Conservation. Information may be obtained in the office of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. These degree programs are offered through Duke University’s Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, North Carolina. Course offerings are available in Durham and Beaufort. Full programmatic details are available on our website.

The Marine Science and Conservation majors and minor are offered through the Division of Marine Science and Conservation in the Nicholas School of the Environment. The majority of the Division of Marine Science and Conservation faculty are resident at the Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, NC. Additional courses in marine science are offered in Biology and Global Health in the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences; in the Divisions of Environmental Science and Policy and Earth and Climate Science in the Nicholas School of the Environment; and in the Pratt School of Engineering.

The Duke University Marine Lab provides students with a unique experiential opportunity to live and study in Beaufort for a full academic semester (fall or spring) or during two summer terms. The program emphasizes small class sizes, independent research projects, and integrated classroom, laboratory, and field experiences. Students have daily access to the surrounding marine environment and to modern scientific equipment including a shared-use molecular laboratory, and the Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing (MARSS) Lab.

Residential undergraduate courses are offered year-round (fall, spring, and summer sessions I and II) at the Duke Marine Lab. Fall and spring courses include travel courses that offer students opportunities for extended travel with Duke faculty to locations which could include Australia, Belize, Canada, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands. Small class sizes and an island setting facilitate rewarding student-faculty interactions.

This BS degree is designed for students wishing to pursue a career in ocean sciences including graduate studies.

Go to Programs by Department to view all related programs.

Academic Requirements

At least 15 units total to complete the major. At least 34 units total to earn a degree.

• Co-requisites (5 units)

  • Complete any 4 of the following Sciences areas:

    • Chemistry I: CHEM 101DL, or CHEM 110DL

    • Chemistry II: CHEM 201DL, or CHEM 210DL

    • Biology: BIOLOGY 201L, or BIOLOGY 202L, or BIOLOGY 203L

    • Physics: PHYSICS 121L, or PHYSICS 151L, or PHYSICS 161D

    • Economics: ENVIRON 155, or ECON 101D & 201D, or PUBPOL 155D & 303D

  • Math and Statistics: MATH 122L, or MATH 111L & 112L, or MATH 111L & 1 of: STA 101L, STA 102L, or STA 199L

• Gateway (1 unit)

  • MARSCI 201

• Core (3 units)

  • MARSCI 202

  • MARSCI 203

  • MARSCI 204A

• Capstone (1 unit)

  • MARSCI 350S

  • Graduation with Distinction

• Electives (5 units)

  • Any 5 MARSCI courses numbered 205 and above

Graduation with Distinction in Marine Science and Conservation

The Marine Science and Conservation degree offers a Graduation with Distinction option. Interested students with a 3.0 grade point average overall and a 3.2 grade point average in the Marine Science and Conservation major should apply by the beginning of their senior year. The application should include a written request to the Director of Undergraduate Studies describing the research project and identifying the faculty advisor who has agreed to supervise the research. At least one research independent study is required as part of the Graduation with Distinction process, although more than one is encouraged. The student will write a thesis describing their research. The thesis will be evaluated by the faculty advisor. The student will also present their results to fellow students and faculty before the end of their final semester.