University Catalog 2024-2025

Marine Sciences (BS): Geology Concentration

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Marine Science may be obtained by selecting one of five concentrations: Biological Oceanography, Chemistry, Geology, Meteorology, or Physics.

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources is available with a concentration in Marine and Coastal Resources.

Marine scientists explore all aspects of the seas and coastal regions, seeking to understand how the oceans, their biological communities, the solid earth and the atmosphere interact. As professionals with interdisciplinary training, marine scientists are needed to advise business, industry and governments on the potential impact of human activities and the wise use of marine resources. Marine scientists work for consulting firms; regulatory agencies; the mass media; business and industry; federal, state and local governments; academic laboratories; research and education organizations; and nonprofit environmental watchdog groups.

Contact

For more information about our marine science programs, visit our website or contact:

Maggie Puryear
Associate Director of Undergraduate Programs

mwpollar@ncsu.edu
919.513.1093 

Plan Requirements

Core Courses/Marine Science 1
MEA 100Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections4
MEA 200Introduction to Oceanography3
MEA 210Oceanography Lab1
MEA 250Introduction to Coastal Environments3
MEA 251Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory1
MEA 459Field Investigation of Coastal Processes5
MEA 460Principles of Physical Oceanography3
MEA 462Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics3
MEA 495Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences1
Geology Concentration 1
MEA 101Geology I: Physical3
MEA 110Geology I Laboratory1
MEA 202Geology II: Historical3
MEA 211Geology II Laboratory1
MEA 410Introduction to Mineralogy3
MEA 450Introductory Sedimentology and Stratigraphy4
MEA 451Structural Geology4
MEA 570Geological Oceanography3
MEA 470Introduction to Geophysics3
or MEA 471 Exploration and Engineering Geophysics
Advised Elective 1, 38
Select one of the following Restricted Electives:3
Principles of Biological Oceanography
Marine Meteorology
Principles of Chemical Oceanography
Basic Math & Sciences
CH 101Chemistry - A Molecular Science 13
CH 102General Chemistry Laboratory1
CH 201Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 13
CH 202Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory1
PY 205
PY 206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
4
PY 208
PY 209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
MA 141Calculus I 14
MA 241Calculus II 14
MA 242Calculus III4
Statistics Elective3
Select one of the following Computer Science electives:3
Introduction to Computing: Python
Introduction to Computing-FORTRAN
Introduction to Computing - MATLAB
Introduction to Computing - Java
Introduction to GIS
Introduction to Scientific Computing
College Requirements
COS 100Science of Change 22
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research 14
Select one of the following Advanced Writing courses:3
Communication for Engineering and Technology
Communication for Business and Management
Communication for Science and Research
GEP Courses
GEP Humanities6
GEP Social Sciences6
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or higher is required. No more than one D will be accepted in MEA core courses and concentration courses. No more than one D will be accepted in other basic math or science courses.

2

COS 100 is for new freshmen only. Transfer students will need to select a course from the GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives course list.

3

Any MEA course at the 300 level or higher. Select in consultation with your advisor.

Advised Elective

MEA 300Environmental Geology4
MEA 369Life on Earth: Principles of Paleontology3
MEA 312Atmospheric Thermodynamics4
MEA 315Mathematics Methods in Atmospheric Sciences4
MEA 320Fundamentals of Air Pollution3
MEA 321Fundamentals of Air Quality and Climate Change3
MEA 323Geochemistry of Natural Waters3
MEA 350Marine Conservation Biology3
MEA 409Watershed Forensics3
MEA 412Atmospheric Physics3
MEA 415Climate Dynamics3
MEA 421Atmospheric Dynamics I3
MEA 422Atmospheric Dynamics II3
MEA 425Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry3
MEA 440Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology3
MEA 443Synoptic Weather Analysis and Forecasting4
MEA 444Mesoscale Analysis and Forecasting4
MEA 449/549Principles of Biological Oceanography3
MEA 455Micrometeorology3
MEA 458Introduction to Tropical Meteorology3
MEA 463Fluid Physics3
MEA 464Ocean Circulation Systems3
MEA 466Preparatory Course for Field Camp1
MEA 467Marine Meteorology3
MEA 468Aquatic Microbiology3
MEA 469Ecology of Coastal Resources3
MEA 473/573Principles of Chemical Oceanography3
MEA 476Worldwide River and Delta Systems: Their Evolution and Human Impacts3
MEA 479Air Quality3
MEA 481Geomorphology: Earth's Dynamic Surface3
MEA 485Introduction to Hydrogeology3
MEA 488Meteorology for Media3
MEA 493Special Topics in MEAS1-6

Statistics Electives

ST 311Introduction to Statistics3
ST 312Introduction to Statistics II3
ST 350Economics and Business Statistics3
ST 370Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
ST 371Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory3
ST 372Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression3

Semester Sequence

Critical Path Courses – Identify using the code (CP) which courses are considered critical path courses which represent specific major requirements that are predictive of student success in a given program/plan. Place the (CP) next to the credit hours for the course.

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
COS 100 Science of Change 2 2
MA 141 Calculus I (CP) 1 4
MEA 100 Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections 1 4
MEA 101
MEA 110
Geology I: Physical
and Geology I Laboratory (CP) 1
4
 Hours14
Spring Semester
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory (CP) 1
4
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 1 4
MA 241 Calculus II 1 4
MEA 202
MEA 211
Geology II: Historical
and Geology II Laboratory 1
4
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
CH 201
CH 202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
MA 242 Calculus III 1 4
MEA 200
MEA 210
Introduction to Oceanography
and Oceanography Lab (CP) 1
4
MEA 410 Introduction to Mineralogy 1 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
MEA 250 Introduction to Coastal Environments 1 3
MEA 251 Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory 1 1
MEA 450 Introductory Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 1 4
PY 205
PY 206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
4
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
 Hours15
Third Year
Fall Semester
MEA 460 Principles of Physical Oceanography 1 3
MEA 451 Structural Geology 1 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
PY 208
PY 209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory 1
4
GEP Social Sciences 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
Advanced Writing Elective 3
Computer Science Option Elective 1 3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
MEA 462 Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics 1 3
Statistical Science Option Elective 1 3
MEA 495 Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences 1
 Hours14
Summer
MEA 459 Field Investigation of Coastal Processes 2 5
 Hours5
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
GEP Humanities 3
MEA 570 Geological Oceanography 1 3
MEA Restricted Elective 1 3
Advised Elective 1 4
 Hours13
Spring Semester
Advised Elective 1 4
MEA 470
Introduction to Geophysics 2
or Exploration and Engineering Geophysics
3
GEP Humanities 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
 Hours13
 Total Hours120
1

Grade of C- or higher is required in CH 101, 201; ENG 101; MA 141, 241; PY 205. No more than one D will be accepted in MEA core courses and concentration courses. No more than one D will be accepted in other basic math or science courses.

2

COS 100 is for new freshmen only.  Transfer students will need to select a course from the GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives course list.

3

Any MEA course at the 300 level or higher. Select in consultation with your advisor.

Career Opportunities

MEAS undergraduate degree programs provide talented students with the foundation of scientific knowledge required for careers in government, industry, or academia. Many students pursue graduate degrees after completion of an undergraduate degree in Marine Science.

Marine Sciences graduates go on to become oceanographers, to manage our coastal resources, model air-sea interaction, and explore global climate change. They conduct basic and applied research, serving as environmental consultants for industry and governmental agencies, policy and management experts for governmental agencies, and environmental science educators. Graduates with a Natural Resources degree are versed in the fundamental processes and interdisciplinary nature of the coastal zone. As scientists, managers, administrators, and regulators, they make decisions regarding use and conservation of coastal and marine resources.

MEAS graduates play a key service role for the State of North Carolina, assisting in everything from forecasting severe storms and analyzing the impact of atmospheric pollutants on agriculture and our estuaries, to determining the effects of toxic waste disposal on quality of surface and ground water.

Career Titles

Learn More About Careers

NCcareers.org
Explore North Carolina’s central online resource for students, parents, educators, job seekers and career counselors looking for high quality job and career information.

Occupational Outlook Handbook
Browse the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to view state and area employment and wage statistics. You can also identify and compare similar occupations based on your interests.

Career One Stop Videos
View videos that provide career details and information on wages, employment trends, skills needed, and more for any occupation. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Focus 2 Career Assessment (NC State student email address required)
This career, major and education planning system is available to current NC State students to learn about how your values, interests, competencies, and personality fit into the NC State majors and your future career. An NC State email address is required to create an account. Make an appointment with your career counselor to discuss the results.

Marine Careers

Careers in Oceanography, Marine Science, & Marine Biology

Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography