Master of Science                  Undergraduate Course Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Marine Sciences

The Bachelor of Science in Marine Science degree program provides coursework and a curriculum designed to meet the needs of individuals who desire an undergraduate degree that will prepare them for a career addressing marine resource and coastal environmental issues through research, education, and outreach. The program takes advantage of SSU’s location on a salt marsh by incorporating field and laboratory opportunities into courses. SSU is the only instructional unit in the University System of Georgia with direct ocean access and marine laboratory facilities.

SSU was approved to offer a B.S. degree in marine biology in 1979. On March 13, 1998, administrative approval was granted to change the name of the B.S. degree program major in Marine Biology to Marine Sciences. The change was made as a result of growth in the degree program, growth of supporting co-curricular research and outreach activities, and as a result of curriculum changes related to semester system conversion which aligned it more closely programs of that name elsewhere in the country. The new name more accurately reflects the broad-based academic training that students have always received in mathematics, physics, chemistry, geology, biology as well as specialized curricular elements related to understanding the oceans as a unified dynamic system (oceanography) and the study of living marine resources (marine biology). It is important to recognize that the change does not dilute the program's traditional, practical strengths (e.g. laboratory, boat/ship-based and inquiry-based instruction; linkages and collaboration with marine laboratories, oceanographic institutions, and professional societies and the opportunities for students that arise as a result).

There have been more than 100 graduates of the program since it was approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in 1979 and there are more than 70 students currently enrolled in the program. Facilities include a 6,000-square-foot instructional wet-laboratory facility, dock, boats (up to 35-foot twin diesel) all of which are on campus providing exceptional capabilities for hands-on marine science instruction.

The SSU Application for Admission and associated information can be obtained from the Admissions Office (P.O. Box 20209, phone 356-2181 and http://www.savstate.edu/admis.htm); scholarship applications from the Office of Institutional Advancement (P.O. Box 20482, phone 356-2434, http://www.savstate.edu/alumni/Scholar/scholar.htm), and information on financial aid from the Financial Aid Office (P.O. Box 20509, phone 356-2253 and http://www.savstate.edu/fin_aid.htm).

The faculty senate recommended and the administration approved that the Marine Science program be designated a center of excellence. The total annual budget from external funded projects in 2004-2005 including undergraduate research internships, graduate fellowships earned by marine science faculty totaled $789,000.