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Curriculum in Marine Biology with a License Option

The Marine Biology License Option program allows the marine biology student to prepare for a career as an officer aboard a seagoing Bessel by participating in the U.S. Maritime Service Corps of Cadets. The curriculum provides the basics of marine biology as well as courses leading toward licensing as a Third Mate of any gross tonnage upon oceans, steam, or motor vessels, in the U.S. Merchant Marine.

The Marine Biology License Option curriculum is an abbreviated version of the Marine Biology curriculum and is oriented toward field activities consistent with service aboard research vessels. Students who wish to attend a biologically-oriented graduate program, or are interested in the medical professions, are advised to take additional coursework in developmental biology, genetics, biochemistry, and physiology.

Cadets who enroll in and apply to graduate under one of the license option curricula must complete the appropriate license examination for Third Mate Assistant Engineer in order to graduate from Texas A&M University. Certain USCG courses require a minimum grade of C (70%). 
 
Freshman Year  

(Th-Pr)

 Cr
Fall Semester
BIOL 111 Introductory Biology I† ............................................... (3-3) 4
CHEM 101 Fundamental Chemistry I ............................................. (3-3) 4
HIST 105 History of the US  ...................................................... (3-0) 3
MATH 106 Plane Spherical Trigonometry ....................................... (4-0) 4
NAUT 103 Maritime Orientation and Life Saving* ........................... (3-0) 3
MARB 101 Succeeding in Science  ................................................ (1-0) 1
  Total Hours  ......................................................................... 19
       
Spring Semester      
BIOL 112 Introductory Biology II† .............................................. (3-3) 4
CHEM 102 Fundamentals of Chemistry II ....................................... (3-3) 4
MATH 151 Engineering Math  ...................................................... (3-2) 4
NAUT 203 Seamanship I* ........................................................... (3-0) 3
NAUT 204 Terrestrial Navigation  ................................................. (3-0) 3
  Total Hours .......................................................................... 18
       
Summer Session - Ten weeks aboard the University Training Ship    
NAUT 200 Basic Communications, Navigation, and Seamanship* ........................................ 4
       
Sophomore Year      
Fall Semester      
CHEM 227 Organic Chemistry I .................................................... (3-0) 3
CHEM 237 Organic Chemistry Lab I .............................................. (0-3) 1
HIST 106 History of the US ....................................................... (3-0) 3
MARB 300 Scientific Methods† ................................................... (1-3) 2
PHYS 201 College Physics ......................................................... (3-3) 4
NVSC 200 Merchant Marine Officer I ............................................ (3-0) 3
  Total Hours .......................................................................... 16
       
Spring Semester      
CHEM 228 Organic Chemistry II ................................................... (3-0) 3
CHEM 238 Organic Chemistry Lab II ............................................. (0-3) 1
ENGL 104 Composition and Rhetoric ............................................ (3-0) 3
PHYS 202 College Physics ......................................................... (3-3) 4
NAUT 301 Seamanship II* .......................................................... (2-3) 3
NAUT 303 Celestial Navigation* ..................................................

(3-0)

 3
  Total Hours .......................................................................... 17
       
Summer Session - Ten weeks aboard the University Training Ship    
NAUT 300 Intermediate Communications, Navigation, and Seamanship* .............................. 4
       
Junior Year      
Fall Semester      
KINE 198 Health and Fitness Activity .......................................... (0-2) 1
MARB 315 Nat. History of the Vertebrates† .................................... (3-3) 4
MART 302 Marine Cargo Operations I* ......................................... (3-3) 4
NAUT 305 Ship Construction and Stability ..................................... (3-3) 4
POLS 206 American and National Government ...............................

(3-0)

 3
  Total Hours .......................................................................... 16
       
Spring Semester      
MART 321 Maritime Law I* ........................................................ (2-0) 2
MART 406 Marine Cargo Operations II .......................................... (3-2) 4
METR 302 Weather Reports and Forecasting  .................................

(3-0)

 3
NAUT 304 Electronic Navigation*  ...............................................

(2-2)

 3
NAUT 307 Global Maritime Distress  Safety System ........................

(3-3)

 4
Elective in Humanities ........................................................................................... 3
  Total Hours .......................................................................... 19
       
Shoreside Summer      
ECON 203 Principle of Economics ................................................ (3-0) 3
ENGL 301 Technical Writing ...................................................... (3-0) 3
KINE 199 Required Physical Activity** ....................................... (0-2) 1
Elective in Humanities ........................................................................................... 3
  Total Hours ........................................................................... 10
       
Senior Year      
Fall Semester      
MARB 303 Biostatistics†  ............................................................ (2-2) 3
MARB 310 Cell Biology† ............................................................ (3-3) 4
MARB 311 Ichthyology†  ............................................................ (3-3) 4
NAUT 406 Bridge Watchstanding*  .............................................. (1-3) 2
Elective in Humanities

...............................................................................

(3-0)

 3
  Total Hours .......................................................................... 16
       
Spring Semester      
MARB 435 Invertebrate Zoology†  ................................................ (3-3) 4
MARB 425 Marine Ecology† ........................................................ (3-3) 4
OCNG 401 Introduction to Oceanography ......................................

(3-0)

 3
POLS 207 State and Local Government  ........................................

(3-0)

 3
Elective in Comp. Science ........................................................................................... 3
  Total Hours .......................................................................... 17
Summer Session - Ten weeks aboard the University Training Ship  
NAUT 400 Advanced Communications, Navigation and Seamanship* ................................... 4
     
 

Total Curriculum Hours◘

 160
       
 

Note: All electives must be chosen in consultation with, and approved by, the student’s academic advisor. See Core Curriculum for a listing of course options for humanities and social sciences electives. The 6-hour Core Curriculum requirement for international and cultural diversity may be met with courses used to satisfy other degree requirements. Please consult with your academic advisor.

† - Indicates required courses in the Marine Biology License Option major. These courses will be used to compute the major GPR.

* - Indicates license courses leading to a USCG license endorsement or sea time credit accrual which require a         minimum grade of C (70%) or better to earn the endorsement or accrual. Cadets will be required to repeat the course until they earn a grade of C (70%) or better. NAUT 307 requires a grade of 75% or better.

* - Must be taken S/U.

◘ - The total hours may be increased if the student is required to take remedial math, remedial English, foreign   language or international and diverse cultures courses.

 

 

Department of Marine Biology · Texas A&M University at Galveston · PO Box 1675 · Galveston, TX 77553
Phone: 409-740-4531 · Email: witterp@tamug.edu

This site was last updated on December 18, 2005