Marine Science Courses

Natural Science Division

Courses marked with an asterisk (*) may be used to partially fulfill Core Requirements.

MS 105* Navigation and Seamanship: This course is required of all students on SEAmester. The basic skills of seamanship necessary to operate a large sailing vessel on an extensive voyage will be practiced. Skills in coastal piloting, dead reckoning and celestial navigation will be taught. Students will stand watch and become an integral part of the crew.
Every Semester, 4 Credits
MS 107* (GEL 107) Meteorology: Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory period. A one-semester introduction to the principles of physical meteorology, including data collection at the College weather station, data interpretation and presentation.
Laboratory fee: $35.00.
On Occasion, 4 Credits
MS 110* The Oceans: Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory period. This course is designed to acquaint non-science majors with the fundamentals of oceanography. Concepts from physical, biological, chemical and geological oceanography will be presented in the course.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Fall, 4 Credits
MS 201* (BIOL 201) Marine Phycology: Two hours lecture/discussion, four hours laboratory. Morphology, taxonomy, applied biochemistry, physiological ecology, and distribution of major groups of marine algae.
Prerequisites: Two 100 series Biology courses or permission of instructor.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Fall, 4 Credits
MS 209 (BIOL 209) Marine Invertebrate Zoology: A field-oriented course that emphasizes the taxonomy and ecology of selected marine invertebrate taxa.
Prerequisite: Two biology 100 series courses
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Summer, 4 Credits
MS 209E* Field Work in Coastal Ecology: A study of selected ecosystems from the West Indies to New England. Ecosystem structure will be approached by the qualitative identification of major elements and quantitatively using statistical techniques. The course will include lectures, discussion, and field work with general emphasis on the maintenance of a useful field log book.
Prerequisites: BIOL 101, 102 or 105 and Chemistry.
SEAmester
Every Semester, 4 Credits
MS 209H* Biological Survey of the Atlantic and Caribbean Coast: A descriptive survey of flora and fauna of temperate and tropical seas and coasts. Lecture and field studies of coral reefs; mangrove forests; strand, scrub-thorn and turtle grass communities, salt marshes; sandy beaches and rocky coasts will stress function, behavior and life histories. Collection and observational techniques will be emphasized. Course designed for liberal arts majors. (Cannot be taken concurrently with MS 209E).
SEAmester
Every Semester, 4 Credits
MS 214W (BIOL 214W*) Tropical Marine Biology: A field course focusing on the invertebrates, fish and algae of selected coral reef, seagrass meadow, tidal flat, and mangrove habitats in the tropical South Pacific. In the first half of the course, daily lectures and demonstrations will supplement extensive, first-hand observations of the organisms and their ecology. In the latter half, students will conduct an independent research project. Snorkeling, reef-walking, underwater photography and optional SCUBA diving are the major activities. Performance will be evaluated on the basis of full participation in the course, a comprehensive practical examination, and the quality of a final paper on the independent project.
Prerequisites: Introductory Biology or permission of instructor.
Winter, 4 Credits
MS 220 Diving in Marine Science: The course includes: the safe use of skin diving and SCUBA equipment, environmental conditions, physiological responses to these conditions, and the nature of the work done by the diver-marine scientist. Successful completion of the course will lead to dual certification, YMCA BASED SCUBA DIVER and PADI OPEN WATER SCUBA DIVER.
Prerequisites: Swimming dexterity test, medical examination by physician and approval of the instructor. Students must furnish all equipment other than compressed air cylinders and regulators.
Laboratory fee: $250.00.
On Occasion, 2 Credits
MS 221* (BIOL 221) Ichthyology: Two hours lecture, three hours laboratory. The biology of fishes. Topics include their evolution and ecology with an emphasis on the diversity of their structural, physiological, and behavioral adaptations. The laboratory will cover a detailed survey of Long Island fishes, field work and a general review of the major groups of freshwater and marine fishes.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses.
Laboratory fee: $50.00.
Fall, 4 Credits
MS 222 (BIOL 222*) Aquaculture: Lectures emphasize the basic principles involved in culturing aquatic animals and plants through the entire life cycle. The latter half of the course surveys specific practices in the culture of catfish, salmon, algae, shrimp, scallops and other commercial species. Laboratory exercises include spawning and rearing of local shellfish, and visits to nearby hatcheries which raise oysters, clams, trout and lobsters.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Spring, 4 Credits
MS 230 (BIOL 230*) Marine Fishes: This course is to serve as an elective for biology, marine biology, environmental biology and environmental education majors. Subject material will include information on fish ecology, morphology, physiology, behavior and identification. Emphasis will be placed on field work involving on- the-water sampling of the various local fish communities along the Atlantic Coast, throughout Shinnecock Bay, and within the Peconic Estuary.
Prerequisite: Two semesters of introductory biology.
Laboratory Fee: $55.00.
Summer, 4 Credits
MS 281 (BIOL 281) Australearn: Tropical Marine Ecology: A one month field course to the Northeast coastal regions of Australia to study coastal and island ecosystems and the relationships of marine organisms to their environment.
Prerequisites: Two 100-level biology courses and special application.
Summer, 4 Credits
MS 290 Current Topics in Marine Science: To familiarize science students with a wide range of topics in Marine Science. The course is a series of presentations by visiting or resident scientists. The seminars are research presentations or up-to-date reviews. Students read recent journal articles on each topic and are prepared to carry on an informed discussion relevant to the lecture material. Students are evaluated on the basis of the fullness of their participation and submission of a review that includes the major issues presented at all of the lectures. May be repeated once.
Prerequisite: Sophomore status.
Laboratory fee: $35.00
Spring, 2 Credits
Spring 96 schedule
MS 308 (BIOL 308*) Biology of Plankton: Systematics of phytoplankton or zooplankton (depending on instructor), bio-chemical taxonomy, alternate nutritional modes, extracellular products, techniques of identification, quantifying plankton samples.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Alternate Spring, 4 Credits
MS 309* Physical Oceanography: Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory period. An introduction to the physical properties of sea water, heat budgets, water masses, oceanic circulation, tides and waves.
Prerequisites: MAT 201, PHYS 201 or permission of instructor.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Every Semester, 4 Credits
MS 310* Chemical Oceanography: Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory period. Chemical principles are applied to the descriptive chemistry of the oceans and sediments.
Prerequisites: CHEM 101, 102 (CHEM 201 recommended), MS 309 or permission of instructor.
Laboratory fee: $30.00.
Every Semester, 4 Credits
MS 311 Biological Oceanography: The Biological Oceanography course will address interactions between the organisms themselves and their physical and chemical environment. Introductory chemistry (CHEM 101), introductory biology (two BIOL 100 series courses) will serve as prerequisites because these interactions are complex and have interdisciplinary approaches. Physics (PHYS 201 and 202) and Calculus (MAT 201 and 202) are highly recommended. The course will address the factors that control the distribution of organisms in the ocean. Two approaches of teaching will be used in the course. The first part of the course will address basic biological oceanography concepts by the introduction of current topics in biological oceanography. The latter portion of the course will be designed to give the basic concepts or arguments for a hypothesis in lectures and is followed with a class discussion lead by the instructor.
Prerequisites: CHEM 101, 102 and two BIOL 100 series courses or permission of instructor.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Spring, 4 Credits
MS 316* (CHEM 316) Marine Natural Products: Marine Natural Products Chemistry is a multidisciplinary course, which deals with the study of bioactive compounds derived from marine flora and fauna. Among the topics covered are marine toxins and venoms, repellent and alarm substances, marine chemical ecology, biosynthesis and functions of secondary metabolites and "state of the art" methods used for the isolation and purification of compounds derived from marine organisms.
Prerequisite: CHEM 203.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Spring, 4 Credits
MS 322 (BIOL 322*) Fisheries Biology: Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory. A study of the ecology, growth, population dynamics, and harvesting of commercially important marine and freshwater species, and the application of this knowledge to the management of exploited populations. The second half of the course surveys the major fisheries of the United States and selected fisheries of the world. The lab is centered around field exercises to estimate population size, age, mortality and growth of local marine and freshwater species.
Prerequisites: Two Biology 100 series courses. Junior or Senior status recommended. Background in statistics (MAT 113) helpful.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Fall, 4 Credits
MS 341 (BIOL 341*) Marine Ecology: Two lectures, one three-hour laboratory period. An introduction to modern quantitative research techniques involving sampling, describing and relating conservation principles to the study of marine organisms and their environment.
Prerequisites: Any two courses from BIOL 201, 207 or 221.
Laboratory fee: $55.00.
Fall/Summer, 4 Credits
MS 344* Marine Mammals: Three hours lecture/discussion/field trip. This course will explore the world of marine mammals with particular attention to their physiological adaptations to ocean living.
Prerequisites: BIOL 101 or 102 and either BIOL 206 or 321.
Field trip fee: $35.00.
Spring, 3 Credits
MS 390* Marine Operations and Research: Required of all Marine Science majors. An interdisciplinary course which emphasizes the planning, execution and analysis of physical, chemical and biological data collected in a coastal system. Students participate in all phases of the field and laboratory activities and then demonstrate their ability to integrate the results by preparing a comprehensive paper.
Prerequisites: MS 309, 310, and 341 or permission of instructor.
Laboratory fee: $65.00.
Spring, Summer, and Fall, 4 Credits
MS 400 Independent Study: A student may enroll in an independent course of study under the direction of a Marine Science faculty member. Usually, the project will focus upon a particular area of research necessitating laboratory work and library research. Course requirements, goals, and grading must be arranged with the instructor prior to course registration. Also, permissions of advisor, the Division Director, and Dean is required.
Every Semester, 1 to 4 Credits
MS 440 Cooperative Education in Marine Science: Students interested in Cooperative Education should meet with the staff of the Cooperative Education Department as well as with their advisors.
Every Semester, 1 to 6 Credits
MS 490 Internship in Marine Science: Students should meet with their advisors to discuss their interest in a full semester of internship.
Every Semester, 16 Credits
MS 492H Honors Practicum in Marine Science.