CAS: Marine Science

Students with questions about the Marine Science major may contact Chris McMullen (cmcmull@bu.edu), Associate Director of Academic Advising at CAS, with any questions.

Upon completion of the CGS program, students must have earned credit towards the following 10 courses:

• Humanities: 3 courses
  • Choose two from CGS HU 103, CGS HU 201, or CGS HU 202
  • CGS HU 104*
• Natural Sciences: 2 courses
  • CGS NS 201 and CAS BI108**
• Rhetoric: 2 courses
  • CGS RH 103 and CGS RH 104*
• Social Sciences: 3 courses
  • Choose two from CGS SS 103, CGS SS 201, or CGS SS 202
  • CGS SS 104*

*Required course taken during the Summer term.
**CGS NS 201 fulfills the CAS BI 107 requirement. Marine Science majors in good standing will take CAS BI 108 in place of CGS NS 202. Please note that students who are exempt from CGS NS 202 must enroll in at least one CGS course in Term 2 of sophomore year.

The major in marine science is 17 courses. The major requires eight related courses in chemistry, biology, physics, calculus, and statistics. All students take Introductory Oceanography (CAS EE 144), Marine Biology (CAS BI 260), three “marine breadth” courses, and the marine semester. All courses for the major must be completed with a grade of ‘C’ or higher. For required courses, please see the CAS Bulletin.

One semester of Calculus 1, one semester of Statistics 1, and one semester of either Calculus 2, Statistics 2, or Computer Science is required. Students must take:

• 1 class in: CAS MA 121 or CAS MA 123
• 1 class in: CAS MA 115 or CAS MA 213
• 1 class in: CAS MA 122, CAS MA 124, CAS MA 116, CAS MA 214, CAS CS 105, CAS CS 108, or CAS CS 111

CAS CH 109 and CAS CH 110, or CAS CH 111 and CAS CH 112, or CAS CH 171 and either CAS CH 172 or CAS CH 174 may be taken in place of CAS CH 101 and CAS CH 102. The CAS CH 101/102 sequence is recommended for marine science majors.

The marine science major requires participation in at least one marine semester. For more information, please see: Marine Science Department webpage.

Note: A marine breadth course should be taken during sophomore year to participate in the marine semester in semester I of junior year. At least one marine breadth course must be completed prior to the marine semester. 

Pre-Medical students are strongly advised to take CAS BI 108. Pre-medical students are required to take CAS CH 101, CAS CH 102, CAS CH 203, and CAS CH 204. One year of physics (with laboratory) is required. Courses in biochemistry, psychology, and sociology are required for the new MCAT exam. Students planning to attend medical school should consult with advisors in the marine science department and in the pre-medical advising office (100 Bay State Road, Room 428) for information on the selection and sequencing of courses.

• Completion of the CGS required courses and appropriate electives
• Cumulative GPA greater than or equal to 2.00

Boston University students completing a degree in CAS must also complete the following requirements. 

• BU Hub requirements
  • Students who take the specific CGS courses noted on the pathway above will fulfill all BU Hub requirements except the units listed below. These remaining Hub units will be fulfilled through the following courses:
  • Quantitative Reasoning II (1 requirement) fulfilled by CAS BI 108
  • Teamwork/Collaboration (1 requirement) fulfilled by CAS BI 108
  • You will fulfill the remaining Hub units – Creativity/Innovation (1 requirement), Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy (1 requirement), Teamwork/Collaboration (1 requirement), and Writing-Intensive Course (1 requirement) – through the courses you take for your CAS major and/or other electives
• CAS requirements:
  • Second Language requirement 
• Marine Science major requirements
• CAS requires a minimum of 128 credits, excluding PDP, ROTC, and CAS FY and SY courses.