Maine Maritime Academy > Undergraduate Catalog > Curricula > Oceanography

Oceanography

The Oceanography major prepares students in the field of oceanography, with an emphasis on problem solving and decision making in an ocean setting. This broad-based oceanography curriculum encompasses the study of chemistry, biology, physics, geology, writing and communications, computer science, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences. Graduates of the program may pursue employment in the various fields of ocean sciences (resource management, aquaculture, research, environmental protection, science education, or oceanography) or graduate education.

In addition to meeting the college requirement for graduation with at least a 2.0 grade point average for the B.S. degree, graduating students are required to have a minimum grade point average of 2.25 in the Oceanography program core courses. For the Oceanography program, core courses are defined as courses with the prefixes BI, CH, OS, as well as the courses GE221 and EN202.

The sequence of courses shown below will be taken by candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Oceanography.

2025/Fall – Undergraduate/Bachelor of Science/Oceanography

Major Requirements

Credits : 121.00 Min  |  124.00 Max
2.250 Core GPA Minimum
2.000 Overall GPA Minimum
First Year Semester 1
Courses : 5 Min  |  6 Max Credits : 15.00 Min  |  15.00 Max
Course Name Credits
BI101 And General Biology I 4.00
FY100 And First Year Experience 1.00
MS101 Or Pre-Calculus Mathematics 4.00
( MS102 And Pre-Calculus, Part I 2.00
MS103 And ) Pre-Calculus, Part II 2.00
OS000 And OS Seminar O 2.00
OS101 Int. to Oceanography and Env. Science 4.00
Total : 17.00
First Year Semester 2
Courses : 5 Min  |  5 Max Credits : 16.00 Min  |  16.00 Max
Course Name Credits
BI102 General Biology II 4.00
CH210 Ocean Studies Chemistry I 4.00
HC111 Composition 3.00
MS150 Calculus I 4.00
OS001 OS Seminar I 1.00
Total : 16.00
Sophomore Semester 1
Courses : 6 Min  |  6 Max Credits : 18.00 Min  |  18.00 Max
Course Name Credits
CH220 Ocean Studies Chemistry II 4.00
HC220 Humanities I 3.00
NS101 Introduction to Nautical Science 2.00
OS002 OS Seminar II 1.00
OS204 Physical Geology 4.00
OS210 Physical Oceanography 4.00
Total : 18.00
Sophomore Semester 2
Courses : 5 Min  |  5 Max Credits : 16.00 Min  |  16.00 Max
Course Name Credits
CH310 Introduction to Organic Chemistry 4.00
OS003 OS Seminar III 1.00
OS203 Design & Applied Stat In Science 4.00
OS211 Geological Oceanography 3.00
PS102 Technical Physics I 4.00
Total : 16.00
Soph Sem 2 Swim PE
Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 0.50 Min  |  0.50 Max
Course Name Credits
PE102 Basic Water Skills  (Optional) 0.50
PE103 Skin & Scuba Diving  (Optional) 1.00
PE113 Lifeguard Training  (Optional) 1.00
PE114 Ocean Survival  (Optional) 0.50
PE123 Water Polo  (Optional) 0.50
Total : 3.50
Junior Semester 1
Courses : 4 Min  |  4 Max Credits : 12.00 Min  |  12.00 Max
Course Name Credits
OS004 OS Seminar IV 1.00
OS212 Chemical Oceanography 4.00
OS213 Biological Oceanography 3.00
PS301 Technical Physics III 4.00
Total : 12.00
Junior Sem1 Free Elective
Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 3.00 Min  |  3.00 Max
Course Name Credits
% Any Course
Junior Sem1 PE Elective
Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 0.50 Min  |  0.50 Max
Course Name Credits
PE% Any PE Course  (Optional)
Junior Semester 2
Courses : 2 Min  |  2 Max Credits : 5.00 Min  |  5.00 Max
Course Name Credits
OS005 OS Seminar V 1.00
OS400 Prep for Research in Marine Science 4.00
Total : 5.00
Junior Sem2 Dept Elective
Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 3.00 Min  |  4.00 Max
Course Name Credits
BI% Any BI Course
OS% Any OS Course
Junior Sem2 Hum-SS
Courses : 2 Min  |  2 Max Credits : 6.00 Min  |  6.00 Max
Course Name Credits
EC% Any EC Course
GE% Any GE Course
HC% Any HC Course
HMSS% Any Hum/SS Transfer Course
HY% Any HY Course
PO% Any PO Course
PY% Any PY Course
Senior Semester 1
Courses : 3 Min  |  3 Max Credits : 8.00 Min  |  8.00 Max
Course Name Credits
HC230 Humanities II 3.00
OS006 OS Seminar VI 1.00
OS401 Research Project 4.00
Total : 8.00
Senior Sem1 Dept Elective
Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 3.00 Min  |  4.00 Max
Course Name Credits
BI% Any BI Course
OS% Any OS Course
Senior Sem1 Hum-SS Elective
Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 3.00 Min  |  3.00 Max
Course Name Credits
EC% Any EC Course
GE% Any GE Course
HC% Any HC Course
HMSS% Any Hum/SS Transfer Course
HY% Any HY Course
PO% Any PO Course
PY% Any PY Course
Senior Sem2 Dept Elective
Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 3.00 Min  |  4.00 Max
Course Name Credits
BI% Any BI Course
OS% Any OS Course
Senior Sem2 Free Elective
Courses : 3 Min  |  3 Max Credits : 9.00 Min  |  9.00 Max
Course Name Credits
% Any Course