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College of Science & Mathematics

Marine Biology

Progression and Graduation Requirements


Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

 

Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Biology

 

The requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Marine Biology consist of the following Biology, Marine Biology and related courses plus a study plan written by each candidate and their program advisor.  Study plan guidelines and procedures will be published by the Division of Science and Mathematics from time to time.  The study plan must be approved by the faculty of the Biology Program and will be submitted to the Enrollment Management Office.  Course numbering reflects the year by which courses should be completed.  Any change in the study plan must be approved by the advisor and the program prior to course registration.

 

A. Required courses in Freshman Studies (required for anyone admitted into the program with fewer than 24 credits):                                                                 

SCI 100     The Natural World: The Caribbean

SSC 100     An Introduction to the Social Sciences:  A Caribbean Focus    

FDS 100     Freshman Development Seminar          

 

B. Required Courses in Biology and Marine Biology (45 credit hours):          

BIO 141-142      General Biology I-II

MBI 220     Marine Invertebrate Zoology

MBI 222     Ichthyology

BIO 223     Ecology

MSC 239     Oceanography

BIO 245     Genetics

BIO 349     Aquatic Plant Biology

BIO 360*     Cell and Molecular Biology I

BIO 397-398     Junior Science Seminar

MBI 424     Marine Ecology

BIO 497, 498     Senior Science Seminar

 

C. Required Courses in Related Fields (22-24 credit hours):                             

CHE 151-152     General Chemistry I-II

MAT 241     Introduction to Calculus and Analytical Geometry I       

or

MAT 235     Introductory Statistics with Applications                        

PHY 211-212     Introduction to Physics I-II                                                  

or

PHY 241-242     General Physics                                                                 

or

PHY 241-212     General Physics I ,  Introduction to Physics II       

 

D.   In addition to the courses not chosen to fulfill the requirement in Section B, the following are strongly recommended for students intending to pursue graduate studies:                                       

Mathematics 241-242     Introduction to Calculus and Analytical Geometry I-II

Chemistry 253-254     Organic Chemistry I-II                                               

 

*Students matriculating before 2002 may substitute BIO 346 for BIO 360


Graduation Requirements - All B.A. Degrees

 

To qualify for a bachelor of arts degree, students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 credits (exclusive of physical education) including the general education requirements, the required courses in the major field, and such additional courses as they may select with the assistance of their faculty advisors to meet the requirements of the major.

 

The General Education requirements for graduation in the bachelor of arts degree programs are listed below.   Specific guidance about the courses that are available to meet these new General Education requirements will be provided to students in advance of registration.  Students are required to meet with their advisors in the selection of their courses.

 

I.          General Education Requirements

 

A. FRESHMAN DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR (FDS; 1 credit)*                                              

B. HUMANITIES         (36 credits)

COM 119     Interpersonal Communication and Leadership 

COM 120     Public Speaking                                                 

ENG 120     English Composition                                                      

ENG 201     Research and Applied Writing                           

ENG 261-262     World Literature I-II                                                 

SPA/FRE 131-132-231     Functional, Elementary and Intermediate French/Spanish

HUM 115     Introduction to Humanities                                             

PHI 200      Critical Thinking                                                                          

                                                           

C. MATHEMATICS      (6-8 credits)                                                                          

MAT 140   College Algebra with Applications

     OR

MAT 143  Precalculus Algebra

AND one of the following:

MAT 142  College Trigonometry

MAT 232  Calculus for Business and Social Sciences

MAT 235  Introductory Statistics with Applications

     OR

For students with advanced preparation beyond the above levels, a minimum of six (6) credits of higher level mathematics courses                                                              

 

D. NATURAL SCIENCES     (6-9 credits)

SCI  100*               The Caribbean: The Natural World

And either

SCI  200                 Changes in the Natural World

SCI  301                 Application of Principles from the Natural World

    OR

Any two laboratory courses in the Natural Sciences                                                             (NOTE:  Science majors do not need to take SCI 200 or SCI 301.)                                                     

 

 

 

 

E. SOCIAL SCIENCES (6-9 credits)                                                                                     

SSC 100*                    An Introduction to the Social Sciences: A Caribbean Focus 

and

Two other courses in the Social Sciences:

Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology

                                                                                    

TOTAL CREDITS       54-63

 

* Requirements of the Freshman Year Program for all students matriculating into the university with fewer than 24 credits.

 

II.  SUMMARY

Freshman Development Seminar       0-1 cre

Humanities      36 cre

Mathematics   6-8 cre

Natural Sciences        6-9 cre

Social Sciences          9-12 cre

TOTAL            54-63 credits

 

                                                                         

III. OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Students are required to take 0.5 credit hour in Physical Education for every semester they are full-time students up to the required two (2) credit hours. PLS 200 may also be used to meet this requirement.

                                                                                                                                     

Students must earn at least 30 of the last 36 credits at the University of the Virgin Islands.  This particular requirement may be waived by the Chancellor only in cases where the student must complete the final year(s) of studies in another institution recognized by the University of the Virgin Islands.  Course work more than ten years old must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine its appropriateness to the current University course requirements.  Appeals should be directed to the Chancellor.  In order to graduate, students must earn at least two times as many quality points as registered credits in all their courses as well as in the courses of their major.

 

A.    English Proficiency Exam (EPE)

B.    Computer Literacy Requirement (CLE)

 

 



Requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology

The requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Biology consist of the following Biology, Marine Biology and related courses plus a study plan written by each candidate and their program advisor.  Study plan guidelines and procedures will be published by the Division of Science and Mathematics from time to time.  The study plan must be approved by the faculty of the Biology Program and will be submitted to the Enrollment Management Office. Course numbering reflects the year by which course should be completed. Any change in the study plan must be approved by the advisor and the program prior to course registration.  In addition to fulfilling the General Education requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree, students must pass a Science Comprehensive Examination following completion of formal academic coursework and prior to graduation.

 

A. Required courses in Freshman Studies (required for anyone admitted into the program with fewer than 24 credits):                                                                                                                      

SCI 100           The Natural World: The Caribbean                            

SSC 100          An Introduction to the Social Sciences: A Caribbean Focus            

FDS 100                                  Freshman Development Seminar                              

 

A.    Required Courses in Biology and Marine Biology (45 credit hours):      

BIO 141-142     General Biology I-II                                      

MBI 220     Marine Invertebrate Zoology                                           

MBI 222     Ichthyology                                                                      

BIO 223     Ecology                                                                                        

BIO 245     Genetics                                                              

MSC 239     Oceanography                                                               

BIO 349     Aquatic Plant Biology                                                       

BIO 360*     Cell and Molecular Biology I                                           

BIO/MBI 397-398     Junior Science Seminar                                                            

MBI 424     Marine Ecology                                                                

BIO/MBI 497, 498     Senior Science Seminar                                                           

           

C. Required Courses in Related Fields (30-32 credit hours):                                   

CHE 151-152     General Chemistry                                                 

MAT 241-242     Introduction to Calculus and Analytical Geometry I-II        

PHY 211-212     Introduction to Physics I-II                                      

    or

PHY 241-242     General Physics I-II                                                

    or

PHY 241-212     General Physics I - Introduction to Physics II                    

MAT 235     Statistics                                                             

 

D.    Science Electives: An additional 15 credit hours minimum are required from the following:

BIO 224     Population Biology           

BIO 295     Responsible Conduct in Research                                                         

BIO 339     Vertebrate Structure        

BIO 342     Animal Physiology           

BIO 350     Terrestrial Plant Biology  

BIO 352     Plant Physiology              

BIO 353     Developmental Biology    

BIO 355-356     Biology of Microorganisms I-II                                                         

BIO 361     Bioinformatics                          

BIO 370     Evolution                          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BIO 430     Coral Reef Biology           

BIO 460**     Cell and Molecular Biology II                                                                 

BIO 465, 466     Selected Topics in Biology                                                              

BIO 495     Directed Independent Research (maximum 6 credits)                           

BIO 496     Internship/Field Studies (maximum 4 credits)                                         

Any MBI or MSC course

Any 200, 300, or 400 level Chemistry, Math, or Physics Course

SCI 100 (if taken as a freshman), The Caribbean: The Natural World

Any CSC course except CSC 111 or CSC 119

 

* Students matriculated before 2002 may substitute BIO 346 for BIO 360

** Students matriculated before 2002 may substitute BIO 421 for BIO 460

  Graduation Requirements - All B.S. Degrees

 

To qualify for a bachelor of science degree, students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 credits (exclusive of physical education) including the  general education  requirements,  the required courses in the major field, and such additional courses as they may select with the assistance of their faculty advisors to meet the  requirements of the major.

 

General Education Requirements

 

The General Education requirements for graduation in the bachelor of science degree programs are listed below.  Specific guidance about the courses that are available to meet General Education requirements will be provided to students in advance of registration.  Students are required to meet with their advisors in the selection of their courses.

 

                                                                                                                                                                         Credits

I. GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS          

 

A   FRESHMAN DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR (0-1 cre)                                            

 

B.  HUMANITIES     (18 cre)

[NOTE: While no Humanities courses are specifically mentioned, ENG201 is a pre-requisite for the EPE (unless special permission is obtained from the Chancellor), and ENG120 is a pre-requisite for ENG201. So plan to take ENG 120 and ENG201 to fulfill part of the Humanities requirements.]

 

C.  MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE (16  cre)

 

SCI 100*                      The Natural World: The Caribbean *                                     

College Algebra with Applications or Precalculus Algebra **                         

 

D.  SOCIAL SCIENCES (9-12 cre)

SSC 100*                    An Introduction to the Social Sciences: A Caribbean Focus 

 

* Requirement of the Freshman Year Program for all students matriculating into the university with fewer than 24 credits.

 

 ** A student exempted from College Algebra with Applications or Precalculus Algebra by a qualifying examination must take one semester of a more advanced mathematics course.

 

II. SUMMARY

Freshman Development Seminar 1 cre                   

Humanities     18 cre

Mathematics and Science      16 cre

Social Sciences      12 

TOTAL     46-47 credits

 

 

 

III. Other Requirements

Students are required to take 0.5 credit hour in Physical Education for every semester they are full-time students up  to the required two credit hours.  PLS 200 may also be used to meet this requirement.

 

Students must earn at least 30 of the last 36 credits at the University of the Virgin Islands.  This particular requirement may be waived by the Chancellor only in cases where the student must complete the final year(s) of studies in another institution recognized by the University of the Virgin Islands.  Course work more than ten years old must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine its appropriateness to the current University course requirements.  Appeals should be directed to the Chancellor.  In order to graduate, students must earn at least two times as many quality points as registered credits in all their courses as well as in the courses of their major.

Additionally, students must successfully pass the following examinations:

 

1)    English proficiency examination (EPE)

2) Computer Literacy Examination (CLE)

 

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