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, including nine 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

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

Note: It is recommended that students take a marine breadth course during sophomore year in preparation for the marine semester in semester I of junior year. Examples of marine semester pre-requisite courses can be found here.

Pre-Medical and pre-veterinary students are strongly advised to take CAS BI 108. Pre-medical and pre-veterinary 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 pre-medical students taking the MCAT exam. Students planning to attend medical school or veterinary school should consult with their marine science academic advisor and advisors in the Pre-Professional 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 
  • Natural Sciences Laboratory requirement*
• Marine Science major requirements
• CAS requires a minimum of 128 credits, excluding PDP, ROTC, and CAS FY and SY courses.

*Note: The CAS Natural Sciences Laboratory Requirement is met through completion of College of General Studies Program of Study.