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Lancaster Campus    
2015-2016 USC Lancaster Bulletin (Archived Copy) 
    
 
  Mar 28, 2024
 
2015-2016 USC Lancaster Bulletin (Archived Copy) [Archived Catalog]

Marine Science, B.S.


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Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate that they understand the scientific process by testing hypotheses related to Marine Science in an inquiry based, hands on setting.
  • Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills using the scientific method.
  • Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research.
  • Students will demonstrate effective oral communication of Marine Science topics by giving an oral presentation.
  • Students will communicate and summarize their research findings effectively in writing (such as on a poster or in an abstract) on Marine Science topics.

Basic Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Science Degrees (128 Hours)


Note: Bachelor of Science degrees with majors in Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, Geography, Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology or Statistics, and the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a major in Chemistry require 120 hours. All other Bachelor of Science degrees require a minimum of 128 hours.

  1. Carolina Core Plus General Education Requirements
  2. Major
  3. Cognate or Minor Requirements
  4. Electives

1. Carolina Core Plus General Education Requirements


CMW: Carolina Core Effective, Engaged and Persuasive Communication: Writing (6 Hours)


  • Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

ARP: Carolina Core Analytical Reasoning and Problem-Solving (A Minimum of 12 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

Bachelor of Science degrees require a minimum of 12 hours, as specified by the major program, to include:

SCI: Carolina Core Scientific Literacy (8 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

  • Two 4-credit hour laboratory science courses.

GFL: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Communicate Effectively in More than One Language (0-9 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

  • Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required for all baccalaureate degrees. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.

It is strongly recommended that students continuing the study of a foreign language begin college-level study of that language in their first semester and continue in that language until their particular foreign language requirement is completed.

GHS: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (6 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

  • Two courses in History (HIST), at the 100 level, one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History

GSS: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (6 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

AIU: Carolina Core Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 Hours)


Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements:

  • Up to two of these requirements may be met in overlay courses. At least one of these requirements must be satisfied by a course not applied elsewhere in general education. (3-9 hours)

CMS: Carolina Core Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Speech (3 Hours)


INF: Carolina Core Information Literacy (0-3 Hours)


VSR: Carolina Core Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility (3 Hours)


Other Required General Education Courses for the College of Arts and Sciences


Fine Arts and Humanities Requirements (3 Hours)


  • Bachelor of Science degrees require 3 Hours in the fine arts. (May be taken as Carolina Core Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding.)
  • Bachelor of Science degrees require an additional 3 Hours in the fine arts or humanities.

2. Marine Science Major


Major Requirements (36 hours)


Required Courses (13 Hours)


    Required Field Experience


    All MSCI majors are required to undertake a minimum of three weeks of field effort. Possibilities include MSCI 460 , semester or summer internship, REU, semester at sea, or faculty-sponsored field research or cruise. Students must submit to their advisor a short (2-3 page minimum) description of the experience; if the advisor approves the experience to be used in lieu of MSCI 460 , the advisor must forward the report and approval to the Undergraduate Director. The Undergraduate Director will review and notify the Dean’s office of the substitution. Students will not normally receive course credit hours for their field experience but may combine this requirement with independent study credit as appropriate.

    Marine Science Electives (23 Hours)


    • Select 23 hours of Marine Science electives in consultation with faculty advisor.

    Note:


    Independent Study, Seminar, and Undergraduate Research Courses


    A maximum of 10 semester hours of a combination of independent study, seminar, and undergraduate research courses may count in the 36 hours of major credit required for the Marine Science major. Such courses include the following:

    Independent Study


      Seminar


        Undergraduate Research


          Courses Acceptable for Major Credit


          Any course which is eligible for cognate credit in the College of Arts and Sciences can potentially be a major course in marine science. The determination of major courses in this interdisciplinary program is the result of consultation between the student and an advisor. The partial list below shows some examples of courses available for major credit in other departments. Please note that some courses are cross-listed with MSCI.

          Notes:


          1 Credit for a degree will not be given for both CHEM 340  and CHEM 541 .

          2 PHYS 212  may be used for both program requirement and major courses.

          Progression Requirement


          Marine Science majors may enroll in the following courses a maximum of twice to earn the required grade of C or higher: MATH through MATH 142 , CHEM 111 , CHEM 112 PHYS 201 /PHYS 201L  OR PHYS 211 /PHYS 211L , PHYS 202 2/PHYS 202L  or PHYS 212 /PHYS 212L . For the purposes of this standard of progression, withdrawal with a W does not constitute enrollment. These courses must be completed before the beginning of the student’s third academic year (fifth major semester) as a marine science major.

          Transfer Requirement


          Any student applying for transfer to the marine science major from other programs within the University, or from other accredited colleges and universities, is required to have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale.

          Areas of Emphasis


          Students may elect to have an Area of Emphasis specified directly on their academic transcript upon graduation from the Marine Science Program. In order to earn Area of Emphasis certification, students must take the following courses, with an additional course to be decided upon by the student and his or her Faculty Advisor. These courses may also be included in the 36 major credit hours required for graduation.

          Plus any two of the following courses:


          Courses are taught alternate years. Please check teaching schedule.

            Geological Oceanography


            12 credits total, + 1 more course at the 300-level or above

              Select one of the following:


                Select one of the following:


                  Coastal Resource Management & Marine Policy


                  9 credits total, + 1 more course at the 400-level or above

                    Note:


                    * Students should consider taking ECON 224  (not required) prior to enrollment in ENVR 548 . Note that ECON 224  will count for general social science (Group IV) distribution requirements.

                    3. Cognate or Minor Requirements (12-18 Hours) for B.S. Degrees


                    Cognate


                    The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve (12) hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of but related to the major. The cognate may be taken in one or more departments or programs, depending on the interests of the student and the judgment of the advisor.

                    Courses offered by departments and programs that are acceptable for cognate credit are outlined in the section titled Courses Acceptable for Cognate Credit in Degree Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences .

                    For cognate course offerings in other colleges, consult the appropriate sections of this bulletin. Some major programs have specific cognate requirements.

                    It should be emphasized that the cognate is not a second set of elective courses to be chosen at random by the student. The cognate must be approved by the major advisor as being related to the major field of study. Students are urged to consult their major advisors for specific requirements in their major.

                    Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the cognate.

                    For Bachelor of Science degrees, grades of D are acceptable for completion of the cognate requirement, except where restricted by the major program.

                    Minor


                    In place of the cognate a student in the College of Arts and Sciences may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. (Some minors in the sciences require a minimum of16 hours.) The subject area of the minor may be related to the major. Students pursuing interdisciplinary minors who wish to use courses in their major department for minor credit must petition the College Committee on Scholastic Standards and Petitions for permission to do so.

                    The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. It differs from the cognate inasmuch as the courses must be concentrated in one area and must follow a structured sequence. Interdisciplinary minors can be designed with the approval of the assistant dean for academic affairs and advising.

                    Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University

                    A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z .

                    4. Electives for B.S. Degrees


                    No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification of inapplicable courses can be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences.

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