Bachelor of Science with a Major in Marine Biology Degree Requirements
Use the following tables to plan for a Major in Marine Biology. Current, as well as prospective UW students are invited to use the MyPlan online academic planning tool to check course availability and create a full academic plan over quarters and years.
In addition to the tables below, students can also download or print the following requirements worksheet:
Marine Biology Major Requirements Worksheet
General Education requirements
Students are required to complete the general education requirements of the College of the Environment. Some of the credits applied to these requirements may also fulfill major requirements.
College of the Environment General Education Requirements
In addition to the general education requirements, a UW student earning any Bachelor’s degree must meet the following University requirements:
- Earn a total minimum of 180 quarter credits
- A minimum of 45 credits taken as a matriculated University of Washington student (a minimum of 45 of your final 60 credits must be taken at the UW)
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
Foundation Courses in Science and Mathematics
Biology
Two courses (10 cr.):
| BIOL 180 | Introductory Biology | 5 |
| BIOL 200 | Introductory Biology | 5 |
Chemistry
Choose one of the following sequences (10-15 cr.):
| 1. | CHEM 120 | Principles of Chemistry I | 5 |
| OCEAN 295 | Chemistry of Marine Organic Carbon | 5 | |
| 2. | CHEM 120 | Principles of Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM 220 | Principles of Chemistry II | 5 | |
| 3. | CHEM 142 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM 152 | General Chemistry II | 5 | |
| OCEAN 295 | Chemistry of Marine Organic Carbon | 5 | |
| 4. | CHEM 142 | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM 152 | General Chemistry II | 5 | |
| CHEM 162 | General Chemistry III | 5 |
Math
Choose one of the following sequences (10 cr.):
| 1. | Q SCI 291 | Analysis for Biologists I | 5 |
| Q SCI 292 | Analysis for Biologists II | 5 | |
| 2. | MATH 124 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | 5 |
| MATH 125 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry II | 5 |
Statistics
Choose one (5 cr.):
| Q SCI 381 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics | 5 |
| STAT 311 | Elements of Statistical Methods | 5 |
Physics
Choose one of the following sequences (8-10 cr.):
| 1. | PHYS 114 | General Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 115 | General Physics II | 4 | |
| 2. | PHYS 121 | Mechanics | 5 |
| PHYS 122 | Electromagnetism | 5 | |
| 3. | PHYS 114 or PHYS 121 (choose one) | General Physics I/Mechanics | 4/5 |
| OCEAN 285 & OCEAN 286 | Physics Across Oceanography: Fluid Mechanics and Waves (with lab) | 5 |
Introduction to the Marine Environment
Choose one (5 cr.):
| FISH/OCEAN/BIOL 250 | Marine Biology (lab section only) | 5 |
| OCEAN 200 & 201 | Introduction to Oceanography, Introduction to Oceanography Lab | 3, 2 |
Two courses (9 cr.):
| FISH/OCEAN/MARBIO 270 | Aquatic Ecophysiology | 5 |
| OCEAN 210 | Integrative Oceans | 4 |
Marine Biology Core
Three courses (15 cr.):
| FISH/OCEAN/MARBIO 370 | Marine Evolutionary Biology | 5 |
| FISH 323 | Conservation and Management of Aquatic Resources | 5 |
| OCEAN 330 | Marine Biogeochemical Cycles | 5 |
Communication
choose one (3-5 cr.):
| MARBIO 305 | Scientific Writing in Marine Biology | 3 |
| FHL 333 | Science Writing for Diverse Audiences | 3/5 |
Electives
Students develop content knowledge and skills through a large selection of courses offered at the upper-division level through the School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, the School of Oceanography, the Department of Biology, and the Friday Harbor Laboratories. Students complete electives from the department’s approved list to meet the following requirements:
Elective credit requirements
- Minimum of 25 credits total from the department’s approved list
Category requirements
- Biodiversity (1 course minimum)
- Ecology and Ecosystems (1 course minimum)
- Organismal Processes (1 course minimum)
- Additional elective courses to bring total credits to 25
Additional requirements
- Minimum of 3 courses at the 400-level
- Minimum of 2 courses taken with lab sections
- No more than 6 credits total of independent research or internship
Integrative Field Experience
All students complete an integrative field experience at Friday Harbor Labs or similar site. Choose one from the following list. For research courses of more than 6 credits (MARBIO 479, FHL 492 or OCEAN 492), students may apply up to an additional 6 credits towards the other major electives requirement
| MARBIO 488 | Marine Biology in the Field | 6 |
| MARBIO 479* | Research in Marine Biology | 1-15 |
| FHL 450 | Nearshore Ecology Research Experience | 6 |
| FHL 460 | Aquatic Animals Research Experience | 6 |
| FHL 470 | Research in Marine Biology | 6 |
| FHL 492 | Ecology and Conservation of Marine Birds and Mammals | 9 |
| OCEAN 492 | Friday Harbor Apprenticeship | 15 |
* Independent research can be registered for any quarter, but requires an individual learning contract