Marine and Environmental Sciences, B.S.

STEM Designation: This program is STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math)-designated by the Department of Homeland Security. For more information, please see https://www.newhaven.edu/admissions/stem-designated-programs.php

This multidisciplinary program prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to study complex systems of the natural world, the impacts of challenges facing these systems, and the roles humans play in the use and management of their resources. Students will tailor their program to their own future career goals by choosing from three concentrations: Marine Biology, Marine Policy, or Environmental Science. Because of this broad training, this program is designed for students who wish to pursue careers in a range of fields including aquaculture, marine biology, veterinary sciences, resource management, marine ecology, fisheries, environmental science, conservation, marine and estuarine policy, marine and environmental law, and other areas in conservation and governance including science communication and education. Experiential learning is a hallmark of this major, with students selecting either a thesis or non-thesis track, giving the choice between a year-long senior research thesis or coursework with experiential designation such as study abroad, service learning, or internship. Students who graduate from this program are fully prepared to attend graduate and professional schools in marine and environmental sciences and other related fields. 

The B.S. program in Marine and Environmental Sciences requires the completion of 123-127 credits. Students in this major must complete 50 credits of core program courses, 15 credits of free electives, and a selection of one of the following: a 19-22 credit concentration in Environmental science, a 19-22 credit concentration in Marine Biology, or a 18-19 credit concentration in Marine Policy. Students must also complete 40 credits of University Core with the restrictions listed below.

Program Outcomes

By the end of the B.S. in Marine and Environmental Sciences degree program, students will be able to:

1. Communicate clearly in writing and orally within the disciplines.
2. Use both field and lab methods to collect data related to marine and environmental sciences.
3. Analyze scientific data.
4. Critically evaluate journal articles from the discipline literature.