College of Science & Mathematics
Marine Science

 

 Undergraduate Index


Björn Kjerfve, Ph.D., Director
Professors
Ronald Benner, Ph.D., University of Georgia, 1984
Arthur D. Cohen, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 1968
Bruce C. Coull, Ph.D., Lehigh University, 1968
Carolina Distinguished Professor
John Mark Dean, Ph.D., Purdue University, 1962
Robert J. Feller, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1977
Madilyn M. Fletcher, Ph.D., University College of North Wales, 1974
Leonard R. Gardner, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 1968
Thomas J. Hilbish, Ph.D., State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1984
Christopher G. St. C. Kendall, Ph.D., Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, 1966
Björn Kjerfve, Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1973
James T. Morris, Ph.D., Yale University, 1979
Stephen E. Stancyk, Ph.D., University of Florida, 1974
Robert Thunell, Ph.D., University of Rhode Island, 1978
Carolina Distinguished Professor
Douglas F. Williams, Ph.D., University of Rhode Island, 1976
Sarah A. Woodin, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1972
Richard G. Zingmark, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara, 1969
Associate Professors
C. Marjorie Aelion, Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1988
G. Thomas Chandler, Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1986
Alan W. Decho, Ph.D., Louisiana State University, 1987
Charles R. Lovell, Ph.D., Purdue University, 1984
Henry N. McKellar Jr., Ph.D., University of Florida, 1975
Timothy J. Shaw, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, 1988
Richard M. Showman, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1979
Garriet W. Smith, Ph.D., Clemson University, 1981
David S. Wethey, Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1979
Assistant Professors
Claudia Benitez-Nelson, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1998
M. Carla Curran, Ph.D., MIT/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, 1992
Randall E. Cross, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1994
Miguel A. Goñi, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1992
Brian Helmuth, Ph.D., University of Washinton, 1997
Michael W. Howell, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1988
Venkat Lakshmi, Ph.D., Princeton University, 1995
Dwayne E. Porter, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1995
Joseph M. Quattro, Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1991
Raymond Torres, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1997
George Voulgaris, Ph.D., University of Southampton, Southampton, UK, 1992
Assistant Instructor
Wendy B. Allen, M.Ed., Coastal Carolina College of the University of South Carolina, 1980
Distinguished Professors Emeriti
F. John Vernberg, Ph.D., Purdue University, 1951
Winona B. Vernberg, Ph.D., Purdue University, 1951
Norimitsu Watabe, D.Sc., Tohoku University, 1960
Professors Emeriti
John R. Carpenter, Ph.D., Florida State University, 1964
Donald J. Colquhoun, Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1960
David R. Lawrence, Ph.D., Princeton University, 1966
Willard S. Moore, Ph.D., State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1969
Research Professors
Dennis M. Allen, Ph.D., Lehigh University, 1978
A. Frederick Holland, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1974
Paul A. Sandifer, Ph.D., University of Virginia, 1972
Research Associate Professor
Joan M. Bernhard, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, 1990
Research Assistant Professors
David Bushek, Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1994
Alan J. Lewitus, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1990
Douglas Stoner, Ph.D., University of Hawaii, Manoa, 1989
Adjunct Professors
Terry F. Bidleman, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1970
Jackson O. Blanton, Ph.D., Oregon State University, 1968
Margaret A. Davidson, J.D., Louisiana State University, 1978; M.M.A., University of Rhode Island, 1980
Michael Helfert, Ph.D., University of Texas/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, 1974
David Owens, Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1976
Adjunct Associate Professors
Brian E. Luckhurst, Ph.D., University of Alberta, 1977
Amy H. Ringwood, Ph.D., University of Hawaii, 1988
Hendrick W. van der Veer, Ph.D., State University, Groningen, The Netherlands, 1986
Adjunct Assistant Professors
Craig Browdy, Ph.D., University of Maryland, 1989
Gregory J. Doucette, Ph.D., University of British Columbia, 1989
William D. Heyman, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1996
Roberta L. Marinelli, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1991
Peter D. R. Moeller, Ph.D., University of California, San Diego, 1987
George Sedberry, Ph.D., College of William & Mary, 1980

Overview

The Marine Science Program provides an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the marine environment.

Degree Requirements

(128 hours)

1. General Education Requirements (43-54 hours)

The following courses fulfill some of the general education requirements and must be completed with a grade of C or better for a B.S. degree with a major in marine science: MSCI 111 and 112; mathematics through MATH 142 (Calculus II), two courses in physics (e.g., PHYS 201, 201L and 202, 202L or PHYS 211, 211L and 212, 212L) and chemistry (e.g., CHEM 111, 112), and one course in computer programming (CSCE 102 or higher).

For an outline of other general education requirements, see "College of Science and Mathematics."

2. Major Requirements (36 hours)

Approved courses in marine science and cognate subjects (including MSCI 311 and 312 and one hour of MSCI 505)

A maximum of 10 semester hours of a combination of independent study (e.g., MSCI 399, SCCC 499, BIOL 399), seminar (e.g., SCCC 390-398, BIOL 599, BIOL 645), and undergraduate research (e.g., MSCI 496, 497, 498, 499) courses may count in the 36 hours of major credit required for the Marine Science major. Senior Seminar (MSCI 505) is included in these 10 hours.

3. Cognates, see "Major Requirements"

4. Electives, see "College of Science and Mathematics"

Upon completion of the sophomore year, students will select an area of specialization consistent with their interests. Specialization may be directed toward an interdisciplinary area of study in the marine sciences, such as coastal resource management, or chosen from among the more traditional disciplines such as biology, chemistry, geography, geology, or physics. Each student will plan an individual program in consultation with a faculty advisor.

Suggested Program of Study

Freshman Year

MSCI 111, 112 (4) (4) hours
ENGL 101, 102 (3) (3) hours
MATH 115, 141, 142 (4) (4) hours
CHEM 111, 112 with labs (4) (4) hours
Total: (15) (15) hours

Sophomore Year

MSCI 311, 312 (4) (4) hours
PHYS 201, 201L, 202, 202L (3+1) (3+1) hours
Foreign Language 121, 122 (4) (3) hours
Major Course (4) (4) hours (For example: BIOL 431+431L, 510; GEOL 311; CHEM 333+331L)
HIST 101-112 (-) (3) hours
Total: (16) (18) hours

Junior Year

Major Courses (4-6) (4-8) hours (For example: BIOL 303, 570; MSCI 581, 583)
One course per term from Group III (3) (3) hours
One course per term from Group IV (3) (3) hours
Major course (3) (-) hours
Computer Science (CSCE 102 or higher) (-) (3) hours
HIST 101-112 (3) (-) hours
Total: (16-18) (14-18) hours

Senior Year

MSCI 505 (seminar) (-) (1) hours

Advanced courses in the Marine Science Program as needed to satisfy the 36 hours major requirement and the college’s 128 hours minimum. This can include one to six hours of independent study.

Courses Acceptable for Major Credit

Any course which is eligible for cognate credit in the College of Science and Mathematics 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.

BIOL 301 Ecology and Evolution (3)
BIOL 301L Ecology and Evolution Laboratory (1)
BIOL 302 Cell and Molecular Biology (3)
BIOL 302L Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory (1)
BIOL 303 Fundamental Genetics (3)
BIOL 431 Bacteriology (3)
BIOL 431L Bacteriology (1)
BIOL 510 Invertebrate Zoology (5)
BIOL 534 Animal Behavior (3)
BIOL 543 Comparative Physiology (3)
BIOL 549 Plant Physiology (4)
BIOL 570 Principles of Ecology (3)
BIOL 643 Advanced Microbiology (3)
CHEM 333 Organic Chemistry I (3)
CHEM 331L Essentials of Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)
CHEM 334 Organic Chemistry II (3)
CHEM 332L Essentials of Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)
CHEM 340 Elementary Biophysical Chemistry (3)
ECON 548 Environmental Economics (3)
GEOG 510 Systematic Geography (3)
GEOG 543 Computer Mapping (3)
GEOG 545 Meteorology (4)
GEOG 546 Applied Climatology (4)
GEOL 311 Paleontology (4)
GEOL 508 Palynology (3)
GEOL 516 Sedimentology (4)
GEOL 546 Marine Geophysics (3)
GEOL 570 Environmental Hydrogeology (3)
GINT 431 Science, Technology and World Affairs (4)
NAVY 301 Navigation and Naval Operations I (4)
NAVY 302 Navigation and Naval Operations II (3)
PHYS 212 Essentials of Physics II (3)
PHYS 212L Essentials of Physics II Lab (1)
SOCY 310 Social Demography (3)
SOCY 315 World Populations: Problems and Policies (3)

Course Descriptions (MSCI)

  • 101L--The Present-Day Marine Environment Laboratory. (1) (Prereq or coreq: MSCI 101) Laboratory and field experiences to demonstrate the functioning of the marine environment. Two laboratory hours per week. A one-day field trip is required.
  • 102L--Marine Environment Laboratory. (1) (Prereq or coreq: MSCI 102) Laboratory and field experiences to illustrate the process of evolution in the oceans and associated marine life. Two laboratory hours per week. A one-day field trip is optional.
  • 111--Evolution of the Marine Environment. (4) (Prereq: marine science major or consent of instructor) Origin/evolution of the earth, seas, and life over geologic time; fundamental processes of plate tectonics, evolution, and genetics. Three lecture and two laboratory hours per week. Scheduled field trips are required.
  • 112--Processes in the Marine Environment. (4) (Prereq: marine science major or consent of instructor) Study and analysis of interacting abiotic and biotic processes determining the nature and functioning of the marine environment. Three lecture and two laboratory hours per week. Scheduled field trips are required.
  • 210--Oceans and Man. (3) A nontechnical introduction to human interactions with the marine environment: marine organisms, marine systems, and the physical and chemical characteristics of oceans and estuaries. Not available for marine science major credit.
  • 210L--Oceans and Man Laboratory. (1) (Prereq or coreq: MSCI 210) Experiments and exercises which illustrate how specific components of marine environments are structured, function, and can be measured. Two laboratory hours per week. Not available for marine science major credit. Attendance on designated field trips may be required.
  • 215--Coastal Environments of the Southeastern U.S. {=GEOL 215} (3) Coastal zones of South Carolina and neighboring states, including geologic history, geomorphology, stratigraphy, hydrogeology, shoreline processes, environmental issues, and effect of man. Three lecture hours each week plus optional field trips. Not available for marine science major credit.
  • 215L--Coastal Environments of the Southeastern U.S. (Laboratory). {=GEOL 215L} (1) Exercises examining coastal ecology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, shoreline processes, environmental issues, and human impact. Two laboratory hours per week. Scheduled field trips required. Not available for marine science major credit.
  • 303--Computer Weather Forecasting. (3) Using color personal computer as a tool for weather forecasting. Analysis of satellite and radar imagery, surface and upper-air data. Two lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week.
  • 311--Biology of Marine Organisms. (4) (Prereq: MSCI 112 or BIOL 112) Biological concepts emphasizing adaptation to marine environments. Laboratory experiments emphasize principles and techniques of marine biological study. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. Scheduled field trips are required.
  • 312--Physical and Chemical Oceanography. (4) (Prereq: MSCI 112, MATH 142, CHEM 112, PHYS 211) Properties of seawater, mass balances, biogeochemical cycles, circulation, mixing, waves and tides, continental shelf processes, estuarine dynamics. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. Scheduled field trips are required.
  • 390--Science and Environmental Policy. (3) (Prereq: BIOL 301 or MSCI 311 or permission of instructor) Selected issues in the use of scientific information in resource management policies. Readings, invited lecturers, discussions and debate and a required field trip.
  • 399--Independent Study. (1-6) Contract approved by instructor, advisor, and department chair is required for undergraduate students.
  • 496--Undergraduate Research. (3 each) (Prereq: consent of instructor) Student research on problems of fundamental significance in collaboration with faculty mentors. Emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, proposal development, scientific writing, and professional presentation. Nine hours of laboratory, field, or library work per week.
  • 497--Undergraduate Research. (3 each) (Prereq: consent of instructor) Student research on problems of fundamental significance in collaboration with faculty mentors. Emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, proposal development, scientific writing, and professional presentation. Nine hours of laboratory, field, or library work per week.
  • 498--Undergraduate Research. (3 each) (Prereq: consent of instructor) Student research on problems of fundamental significance in collaboration with faculty mentors. Emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, proposal development, scientific writing, and professional presentation. Nine hours of laboratory, field, or library work per week.
  • 499--Undergraduate Research. (3 each) (Prereq: consent of instructor) Student research on problems of fundamental significance in collaboration with faculty mentors. Emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, proposal development, scientific writing, and professional presentation. Nine hours of laboratory, field, or library work per week.
  • 501--Principles of Geomorphology. {=GEOL 501} (3) (Prereq: GEOL 101 and 102) The process of earth denudation with emphasis on chemistry of weathering, stream and erosion hydraulics, quantitative analysis of land form evolution.
  • 505--Senior Seminar. (1) (Prereq: consent of instructor)
  • 511--Advanced Paleontology. {=GEOL 511} (3) (Prereq: GEOL 311) Systematic, ecologic, biogeographic, and evolutionary aspects of paleontology. Lectures, practical exercises, occasional field trips.
  • 515--Marine Micropaleontology. {=GEOL 515} (4) (Prereq: consent of instructor) Marine microfossils: distribution, ecology, paleoecology, and biostratigraphy; use of microfossils in marine sediments to study oceanographic history. Three lectures and two laboratory hours per week.
  • 517--Advanced Micropaleontology. {=GEOL 517} (4) (Prereq: MSCI 515 or GEOL 515 or consent of instructor) The relation of microfossils to biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental analysis. Three lecture discussion and two laboratory hours per week.
  • 521--Introduction to Geochemistry. {=GEOL 521} (3) Investigation of low temperature chemical reactions controlling the geochemistry of the earth’s surface. Emphasis on CO2, carbonates, oxidation reduction, thermodynamics, isotopes, biogeochemistry.
  • 525--Marine Botany. {=BIOL 525} (4) (Prereq: BIOL 301 or MSCI 311) Diversity, distribution, physiology, ecology, evolution, and economic importance of marine algal, seagrass, and mangrove communities. Three lectures and three laboratory hours per week. Scheduled field trips are required.
  • 536--Ichthyology. {=BIOL 536} (4) (Prereq: BIOL 301 or MSCI 311 or consent of instructor) Phylogeny, morphology, behavior, and ecology of fishes. Three lecture and three laboratory hours plus three field trips to be arranged.
  • 537--Aquaculture. {=BIOL 537} (3) (Prereq: BIOL 301 or MSCI 311) Introduction to the practical and scientific aspects of the commercial culture of freshwater and marine organisms. Three lecture hours per week. One all-day field trip required.
  • 538--Behavior of Marine Organisms. (4) (Prereq: consent of instructor) The identification of behavioral adaptations of estuarine and marine organisms: their ecology, physiology, development, and evolutionary history; field observations.
  • 545--Geological Oceanography. {=GEOL 545} (3) (Prereq: consent of instructor required for undergraduates only) A comprehensive study of the origin and development of the major structural features of the ocean basins and the continental margins. Discussion of the techniques used in obtaining geologic data and the interpretation of sedimentary processes, vulcanism, and the stratigraphy of the ocean basins.
  • 550--Sedimentary Simulations and Sequence Stratigraphy. {=GEOL 550} (4) (Prereq: GEOL 301 or consent of instructor) Problems of sequence stratigraphy resolved with graphic computer simulations. Sedimentary fill of basins by carbonates and/or clastics tracked as a function of rate of sediment accumulation, tectonic behavior and sea level. Includes laboratory.
  • 552--Population Genetics. {=BIOL 552} (3) (Prereq: BIOL 301, MSCI 311, and BIOL 303) An introduction to the principles of population genetics, with emphasis on the origin, maintenance, and significance of genetic variation in natural populations.
  • 553--Marine Sediments. {=GEOL 553} (3) (Prereq: GEOL 516 or consent of instructor) Marine sedimentary environments; physical/biological factors which control the formation and distribution of modern marine sediments.
  • 557--Coastal Processes. {=GEOL 557} (3) (Prereq: consent of instructor) Physical and geological processes controlling the formation and evolution of beach, barrier, and nearshore environments, including discussion of coastal management issues. Field trip(s) to coastal environments.
  • 566--Ecosystem Analysis. (3) (Prereq: consent of instructor) The formulation and simulation of compartment models of marine and terrestrial ecosystems with complex nutrient cycling, food chains, and energy flow. Analog and digital simulation techniques. Ecosystem stability and sensitivity. Organization, structure, and diversity of an ecosystem.
  • 568--Introduction to Micrometeorology. {=GEOL 568} (3) (Prereq: PHYS 201 and MATH 141, or consent of instructor) Small-scale processes in the atmospheric boundary layers, including energy budget, radiation, soil heat transfer, humidity, viscous flows, turbulence, momentum and heat exchanges, evaporation, and marine atmospheric boundary layer.
  • 575--Marine Ecology. {=BIOL 575} (3) (Prereq: CHEM 111 and BIOL 301 or MSCI 311) Structure, dynamics, and interactions between populations and communities in marine ecosystems. Three lecture hours per week. Attendance at designated departmental seminars is required.
  • 575L--Marine Ecology Laboratory. {=BIOL 575L} (1) (Prereq or coreq: MSCI 575) Laboratory and field exercises in coastal environments. Three hours per week plus field trips.
  • 577--Ecology of Coral Reefs. {=BIOL 577} (4) (Prereq: BIOL 301 or MSCI 311 or consent of instructor) Structure, productivity, and biodiversity of coral reefs, emphasizing their sensitivity, stability, and sustainability. Taught as an extended field experience with daily lectures and guided research activities.
  • 578--Physiological and Pollution Ecology of Marine Organisms. (3) (Prereq: MSCI 311 or equivalent) Functional adaptation of marine plants and animals to ecological stresses including pollution. Three lecture hours per week.
  • 581--Estuarine Oceanography. {=GEOL 581} (3) (Prereq: MSCI 312 or consent of instructor) Estuarine kinematics and dynamics; classification of estuaries; estuarine circulation and mixing.
  • 582--Marine Hydrodynamics. {=GEOL 582} (3) (Prereq: differential equations, PHYS 201 or 211, or consent of instructor) Basic principles of fluid statics and dynamics. Conservation of mass, momentum, and energy; viscosity, vorticity, and boundary layers with examples from the marine environment. Applications to and analysis of ocean currents and waves.
  • 583--Geology and Geochemistry of Salt Marshes. {=GEOL 583} (3) (Prereq: consent of instructor) Geological and geochemical processes in salt marshes. Methods of geological research in marshes including instrumental techniques, sampling design, and data analysis. Two lectures per week plus four weekends of project oriented fieldwork and/or equivalent lab work.
  • 585--Coastal Tropical Oceanography. (4) (Prereq: MSCI 312 or consent of instructor) Descriptive oceanography of mangrove and coral reef coasts with emphasis on physical processes. Taught as an extended field experience with daily lectures and guided research activities.
  • 599--Topics in Marine Science. (1-3) Current developments in marine science selected to meet faculty and student interests. Course content varies and will be announced by suffix and title in schedule of courses.
  • 624--Aquatic Chemistry. {=CHEM 624} (3) (Prereq or coreq: CHEM 321, MATH 142, or consent of instructor) Study of the chemical reactions and processes affecting the distribution of chemical species in natural systems. Three lecture hours per week.
  • 650--Biological Oceanography. {=BIOL 650} (3) (Prereq: MSCI 575 or MSCI 311 or permission of instructor) Processes controlling productivity in the sea, phytoplankton-zooplankton interactions, benthicpelagic coupling, the deep-sea environment, and a critical assessment of oceanographic methods. Three lecture hours per week.


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