Marine Biology BS

Overview

The Marine Biology major is designed for students who wish to specialize in the area of marine sciences. Completion of this major provides students with both an excellent background in biology and specialization in various disciplines such as oceanography, subtidal and intertidal ecology, and physiology of marine organisms. Graduates are well prepared for postgraduate opportunities in the marine sciences, many other areas of biology, and medicine. The major provides valuable field experience with concomitant individual research opportunities in marine biology.

Capstone Major

The Marine Biology major is a designated capstone major. Students apply theory and technique learned through four years of classroom and laboratory experience to their own independent projects. The main purpose of the capstone is to provide a unique field experience that involves designing and executing a research project. Students are aided in the scientific process of learning about a new ecosystem, developing relevant questions, designing conceptually based projects, troubleshooting and completing the work, and writing a publication-ready manuscript. They are also expected to exhibit strong teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Learning Outcomes

Demonstrated broad knowledge of fundamentals of ecology, behavior and evolution, or marine biology acquired through coursework

Development of skills in library research, data interpretation, synthesis, and scientific writing

Use of current primary scientific literature, including database searches, identification of appropriate sources, and reading and understanding papers

Understanding of key questions and hypotheses, interpretation of results and conclusions, and discrimination of quality through critique

Use of knowledge gained for conception and execution of student project that includes self-developed questions and hypotheses, design of appropriate theoretical or empirical/experimental approach, execution of that approach, and analysis and interpretation of data

Communication of original scientific work to colleagues and mentors through capstone scientific paper

Demonstrated communication skills through oral or poster presentation at a symposium

Display of strong teamwork and problem-solving skills

Entry to the Major

Transfer Students

Transfer applicants to the Marine Biology major with 90 or more units must complete the following introductory courses prior to admission to UCLA: one year of general biology with laboratory for majors, preferably equivalent to Life Sciences 7A, 7B, and 7C, one year of calculus, one year of general chemistry with laboratory for majors, and one semester of organic chemistry with laboratory. A second semester of organic chemistry or one year of calculus-based physics is strongly recommended but not required for admission.

Refer to the UCLA transfer admission guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

Major Requirements

Preparation for the Major

Life Sciences Core Curriculum

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences or Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences

Chemistry

Select one series from:

Chemistry 14 series

Chemistry 20 and 30 series

Life Sciences

Mathematics

Select one series from:

Life Sciences 30 series

Mathematics 3 series

Mathematics 31series

Statistics

Physics

Select one series from:

Physics 1 series

Physics 5 series

The Major

Complete 10 to 11 courses as follows: two required courses, 4 units of laboratory, 4 units of marine organismic biology or physiology, 4 units of ecology and behavior, 4 units of evolution, 12 to 16 units of capstone field quarter, one additional physical, chemical, or geological oceanography course.

Laboratory

Marine Organismic Biology or Physiology

Select at least 4 units of marine organismic biology or physiology (one course) from following list. Courses applied toward the laboratory requirement may not be applied. Students with credit for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 170 cannot also take Physiological Science 166.

Ecology and Behavior

Select at least 4 units of ecology and behavior (one course) from:

Evolution

Select at least 4 evolution units (one course) from following list. Students with credit for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 120 cannot also take course 185. Students with credit for Life Sciences 4 cannot also take course 107.

Capstone Field Quarter

Physical, Chemical, or Geological Oceanography

Select one additional physical, chemical, or geological oceanography course from:

Field Biology

The department offers three quarter-long programs of advanced courses in field biology: the Field Biology Quarter (FBQ), the Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ), and the joint Field Marine Biology Quarter (FMBQ). These programs focus on the biology of organisms living in their natural environments, emphasize independent student research projects, and take place at field sites away from the UCLA campus. The course composition varies somewhat from year to year, but each program always carries 16 units of course credit. The Field Biology Quarter involves some combination of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 113B, 114B, 118, 124A, 124B, 125, C126, 132, 134B, and 151B. The Marine Biology Quarter includes some combination of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 102, 106, 123A, 123B, 147, 148, 163, 164, 165, and 182. The Field and Marine Biology quarters may occur during fall, winter, or spring quarter, depending on location and faculty participation. To participate, students must enroll in all courses in the respective program. Participants in both programs are selected by personal interview. Information and applications are available in the Undergraduate Advising Office.

Field Biology Quarter (FBQ)

The Field Biology Quarter involves some combination of the following courses:

Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ)

The Marine Biology Quarter involves some combination of the following courses:

Honors Program

An overall grade-point average of 3.4 and a 3.4 in the major are required for graduation with honors. Highest honors are awarded to majors who have a GPA of 3.6 overall and a 3.6 in the major at graduation and who have successfully completed Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 198A and 198B. Students do not need to apply for departmental honors. All students are reviewed for honors.

Computing Specialization

Majors may select a specialization in Computing by satisfying all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in the specified major and completing the following requirements. A grade of C– or better is required in each course, with a combined grade-point average in the specialization of at least 2.0. Students must petition for admission to the program and are advised to do so after completing Program in Computing 10B (petitions should be filed in the Undergraduate Advising Office). Students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in their major and a specialization in Computing.

Program in Computing

Additional Course

Policies

Preparation for the Major Policies

The Major Policies

Credit for 199 courses from other departments may not be applied.

With consent of the instructors and department, students may enroll in 200-level courses and apply them toward major requirements.

Each course applied toward requirements for preparation for the major and the major must be taken for a letter grade. Marine Biology majors must earn a C– or better in each course taken as preparation for the major, and at least a 2.0 (C) overall average in all courses applied toward the major. Courses applied to upper-division major requirements must have a minimum of 4 units. A 6-unit course counts as one course on the requirements for the major.

As requisites for the Marine Biology Quarter, students must have a 3.0 overall grade-point average and have taken Statistics 13 or equivalent. Preference for the Marine Biology Quarter is given to Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution majors, and Marine Biology majors. Students must complete Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 109 and 109L prior to participating in the Marine Biology Quarter. Contact the Undergraduate Advising Office for all requirements for the Marine and Field Biology quarters.