School of Marine Science: Undergraduate Program

An undergraduate minor in marine science (18 credit hours) is jointly offered and administered by the School of Marine Science (SMS) and Arts & Sciences. The minor provides interested students with an interdisciplinary introduction to the marine sciences that supplements the strong education they receive in a disciplinary science major. Courses are offered both at the VIMS campus in Gloucester Point and the William & Mary main campus in Williamsburg. The undergraduate minor in marine science addresses the growing national demand for undergraduate education in the earth and environmental sciences in general, and in the marine sciences specifically.

Advanced undergraduates (juniors and seniors) who receive permission of the instructor may also participate in some SMS graduate level courses. For instance, biology, chemistry, and physics majors may enroll in suitable 500-level marine science courses for credit towards the bachelor’s degree and to fulfill the  requirements of the undergraduate minor in marine science provided certain conditions are met (see William & Mary Undergraduate Program Catalog for more details). Undergraduates also may enroll for credit to conduct research projects in marine science. The student is responsible for making the necessary arrangements with an individual SMS faculty member, and the consent of the chairperson of the student’s major department is also required.