Marine Biology is for majors who plan to enter graduate school or have careers in marine biology research, environmental assessment, or education. The department is an active member of Alabama’s Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium. Summer study at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab is required.
The requirements for the major in Biology are:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman Biology Sequence | ||
| BY 101 | Introductory Biology I | 3 |
| BY 102 | Introductory Biology II | 3 |
| BY 103 | Introductory Biology Lab I | 1 |
| BY 104 | Introductory Biology Lab II | 1 |
| Biology Core Courses | ||
| BY 322 | Genetics (WI) | 4 |
| BY 324 | Introduction to Evolutionary Biology | 3 |
| BY 332 | Ecology | 4 |
| BY 373 | Cell Biology | 4 |
| Biology concentration (see requirements below) | 15 | |
| Senior Seminar | ||
| BY 496 | Senior Seminar (WI) | 1 |
| Freshman Chemistry Sequence | ||
| CY 105 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CY 106 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CY 107 | General Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| CY 108 | General Chemistry Laboratory II | 1 |
| Organic Chemistry sequence | ||
| CY 231 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| CY 232 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| Mathematics | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Precalculus Trigonometry | ||
| Calculus I | ||
or higher | ||
| Computer Science | ||
| CS 201 | Introduction to Information Technology | 3 |
| Physics Sequence | ||
| PHS 201 & PHS 203 | College Physics I and College Physics Laboratory Techniques I | 4 |
| PHS 202 & PHS 204 | College Physics II and College Physics Laboratory Techniques II | 4 |
| Total Hours | 69-70 | |
In addition to the requirements for the BS in Biology, the Marine Biology concentration requires 16 credit hours of marine biology courses which are offered during the summer only at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL). The following courses are required:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MBY 411 | Marine Ecology | 4 |
| or MBY 461 | Marine Behavioral Ecology | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Marine Mammals | ||
| Marine Vertebrate Zoology | ||
| Marine Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Marine Botany | ||
| Marsh Ecology | ||
| Coastal Wetlands Ecology | ||
| Select four hours of Marine Biology at the 300 or 400 level | 4 | |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
Marine Biology electives must be approved by the JSU marine biology advisor. Students interested in marine biology must consult with the Biology Department’s marine biology advisor for information about the concentrations, actual summer offerings at DISL, JSU Sea Lab Scholarships, application, and registration. Special fees and course availability are determined by DISL. Registration for DISL courses occurs during February each year.
In addition to courses noted below, candidates for graduation must successfully complete all JSU Academic Regulations. More information about general education requirements can be found in the Summary of Degrees/Requirements section of the catalog.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| EH Composition sequence | 3 | |
| BY 101 & BY 103 | Introductory Biology I and Introductory Biology Lab I | 4 |
| CY 105 & CY 107 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I | 4 |
| MS 112 | Precalculus Algebra (or higher) | 3 |
| SSC 101 | First Year Experience | 0 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| EH Composition sequence | 3 | |
| BY 102 & BY 104 | Introductory Biology II and Introductory Biology Lab II | 4 |
| CY 106 & CY 108 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II | 4 |
| MS 113 | Precalculus Trigonometry (or higher) | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| Literature | 3 | |
| History sequence | 3 | |
| Biology Core | 4 | |
| CY 232 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Literature | 3 | |
| History sequence | 3 | |
| Biology Core | 4 | |
| CY 231 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| EH 141 | Speech | 3 |
| Biology Core | 4 | |
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| PHS 201 & PHS 203 | College Physics I and College Physics Laboratory Techniques I 1 | 4 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Biology Core | 3 | |
| CS 201 | Introduction to Information Technology (or higher ) | 3 |
| PHS 202 & PHS 204 | College Physics II and College Physics Laboratory Techniques II 1 | 4 |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Summer | ||
| In Residence at Dauphin Island Sea Lab | ||
| MBY 411 or MBY 461 | Marine Ecology or Marine Behavioral Ecology | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Marine Mammals | ||
| Marine Vertebrate Zoology | ||
| Marine Invertebrate Zoology | ||
| Hours | 8 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| BY 496 | Senior Seminar (WI) | 1 |
| Electives | 5 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| In Residence at Dauphin Island Sea Lab | ||
| Marine Biology Elective 2 | 4 | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Marine Botany | ||
| Marsh Ecology | ||
| Coastal Wetlands Ecology | ||
| Hours | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
| 1 | Students may elect to take calculus-based PHS 221 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I w/Lab (4)/PHS 222 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II w/Lab (4) in place of PHS 201 College Physics I (3)/PHS 202 College Physics II (3). |
| 2 | Marine Biology elective (see marine biology program advisor for current list of approved courses). |