Marine Biology (BA/BS)

What if your classrooms were tidepools and mudflats? Situated on 130 acres of coastal property along Coos Bay, the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB) is a vast, living classroom where students in biology, marine biology, general science, and environmental science study marine organisms in their natural habitat.

Marine biology majors study physiology, ecology, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics on campus in Eugene. During junior or senior year, undergraduates immerse themselves in three terms of intensive field and lab classes at OIMB covering diverse topics of marine biology, with opportunities for independent research and internships. With courses such as Invertebrate Zoology, Oceanography, Marine Birds and Mammals, and Tropical Marine Biology in Panama, it is little wonder our majors consider their time at OIMB to be the highlight of their college experience.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Understand the process and application of scientific inquiry; the ability to develop well-reasoned hypotheses and to design experiments by which to test them.
• Apply mathematical and statistical approaches to understanding biological information; an ability to interpret graphical representations of biological information.
• Have a broad-based knowledge of biology at multiple levels and in interdisciplinary contexts; competency in reading, understanding, and critically evaluating scientific information across major areas of the curriculum, from molecules to ecosystems.
• Communicate scientific ideas clearly, both orally and in writing to both general and professional audiences.
• Understand the relationship between science and modern society as well as the potential impact of scientific discovery on the future.
• Be aware of biological diversity in the marine environment and the mechanisms that shape this diversity.
• Understand the mechanisms that influence the structure and function of marine communities and ecosystems, and an appreciation for the bathymetric and biogeographic distributions of organisms in the sea.
• Be aware of both global and local environmental challenges in the marine environment.

Fundamental Concepts: 

• Evolution and biological diversity: all living organisms are genetically related; the diversity of life evolved over time by processes of mutation and selection. 
• Structure and function: Basic units of structure give rise to the function of all living things. 
• Information flow, exchange, and storage: Properties of organisms emerge from the flow, exchange, expression, and storage of genetic information. 
• Pathways and transformations of energy and matter: Biological systems grow and change by processes based on chemical transformation pathways and are governed by the laws of thermodynamics. 
• Systems: Living systems are interconnected and interacting.
   

Marine Biology Major Requirements

Courses used to fulfill the major requirements must be passed with a grade of Pass or C- or better.

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A course in statistics is required if an ecology and evolution or neuroscience and behavior emphasis area is selected.

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Students who transfer CH 227Z/228Z/229Z credits from other schools may have the corresponding CH 217/218/219 course and credit requirements waived.

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Students must complete a minimum of 44 upper-division biology credits. For a complete list of approved courses and other details about upper-division requirements, see the online requirements for the marine biology major.

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Courses at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB) are offered summer session, fall, and spring terms. See oimb.uoregon.edu for details of OIMB courses.

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Visit the Biology Advising Center for a list of approved courses.

Students are required to spend three terms completing upper-division course work (taking at least 12 credits per term) at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. A program plan for the marine biology major is available in the Biology Advising Center, on the OIMB website, or Tykeson College and Career Advising.

Area I Courses

Area II Courses

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Both BI 330 and BI 331 must be taken to satisfy the Area II requirement.

Area III Courses

Modeling, Analysis, Programming, and Statistics (MAPS) Courses

Animal Use in Teaching Laboratories

Students should be aware that the biology and marine biology majors require courses in which a variety of organisms, including vertebrate animals, are used in laboratory dissections and experiments.

Prospective majors who are concerned about this should discuss it with their advisors before beginning either program. Students are encouraged to review the syllabuses for laboratory courses before enrolling. Syllabuses are available on the department’s website.

Department and university policies require that the use of live vertebrate animals be minimized in teaching laboratories and be approved by the curriculum committee of the Department of Biology and by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Oregon. Students who have ethical objections to animal use in a course that requires it should consult the instructor of record before enrolling.

Oregon Institute of Marine Biology

Located in Charleston on Coos Bay, the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB), in conjunction with the biology department, offers an undergraduate marine biology major and a coordinated program of study for undergraduates in biology, general science, and environmental science or environmental studies. During fall and spring terms and the summer session, 300- and 400-level courses take advantage of the institute’s unique coastal setting. Typical offerings include the following:

A seminar series, Seminar: [Topic] (BI 407), features weekly invited speakers who are active researchers in the marine sciences. Undergraduate research is encouraged.

The summer program offers additional 400-level courses emphasizing field studies and includes a variety of eight- and two-week courses as well as weekend workshops. Information and applications are available from the Biology Advising Center, from the director of the institute, or from the OIMB website.

Malheur Field Station

The University of Oregon is a member of the Malheur Field Station consortium. Located in southeastern Oregon in the heart of the Great Basin desert, the field station provides an excellent opportunity for students to study terrestrial and aquatic systems. Credits earned in courses at the field station may be transferred to the university and are included in the total credits required for a University of Oregon degree. Courses that have been preapproved by the department may be counted for the biology major. Detailed course information and applications may be obtained from the field station website.

Honors Program in Marine Biology

To graduate with honors in marine biology, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Completion of all the requirements for the major in marine biology
2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 for all upper-division biology courses required for the major
3. Biology courses used to satisfy the marine biology degree requirements must be taken for letter grades
4. Registration for the honors program before research begins. This requires approval of the honors thesis topic by the faculty sponsor and the selection of a second member of the marine biology faculty to serve on the thesis approval committee
5. A minimum of 4 credits of research over at least three terms of research. One of these terms can be accomplished on the main campus while the thesis is being written. That term may, however, require periodic visits to the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology (OIMB)
6. Completion of a thesis, based on laboratory and/or field research that is approved by the OIMB faculty advisor and one other member of the OIMB faculty.  Included at the front of the thesis should be a title page and the thesis defense committee approval. A final copy of the thesis is to be submitted to the OIMB library
7. A public defense of the thesis at OIMB

Students in residence on the main campus while enrolled in the marine biology honors program should consider enrolling in Thesis (BI 403). Contact the instructor of record for information on this course.

Four-Year Degree Plan

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

Bachelor of Arts in Marine Biology

Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology

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Marine biology course lists for Areas I, II, and III may be found online.