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Marine Science and Conservation Minor

Program Code: U-MSC-MIN
Plan Type: Minor
Department: Marine Science & Conservation
Website: nicholas.duke.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/marine-science-conservation 

Program Summary

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 the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and in the Divisions of Environmental Science and Policy and Earth and Climate Science in the Nicholas School of the Environment, and 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 which offer students opportunities for extended travel with Duke faculty to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Singapore, the US Virgin Islands, or other domestic or international locations. Small class size and an island setting facilitate rewarding student-faculty interactions.

Go to Programs by Department to view all related programs.

Academic Requirements

Five courses

  • Gateway: MARSCI 201  The Future of the Oceans: From Science to Policy

  • Core (complete any)

    • MARSCI 202  Marine Biology and Ecology: Fantastic Sea Creatures and Where to Find Them

    • MARSCI 203 Marine Social Science

    • MARSCI 204A  Integrative Oceanography

  • Electives (complete 3 courses): MARSCI 205 to MARSCI 599

    • Only one independent study with MARSCI faculty can be used toward the minor

    • A maximum of one non-MARSCI Duke course can be used toward the minor