University Catalog 2024-2025

Marine Sciences (BS): Physics 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
Physics Concentration 1
MEA 463Fluid Physics3
MEA 464Ocean Circulation Systems3
MEA 467Marine Meteorology3
PY 203University Physics III 14
PY 411Mechanics I3
PY 412Mechanics II3
PY 413Thermal Physics3
PY 414Electromagnetism I3
PY 415Electromagnetism II3
Technical Elective 22
Basic Math & Sciences 1
CH 101Chemistry - A Molecular Science 13
CH 102General Chemistry Laboratory1
CH 201Chemistry - A Quantitative Science 13
CH 202Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory1
PY 201University Physics I 14
PY 202University Physics II 14
MA 141Calculus I 14
MA 241Calculus II 14
MA 242Calculus III4
MA 341Applied Differential Equations I3
MA 401Applied Differential Equations II3
ST 370Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
or ST 311 Introduction to Statistics
Select one of the following Computer Science electives:3
Introduction to Computing in the Geosciences
Introduction to Computing: Python
Introduction to Computing-FORTRAN
Introduction to Computing - MATLAB
Introduction to Computing - Java
Introduction to Scientific Computing
College Requirements
COS 100Science of Change 32
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research 14
Select one of the following: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 in CH 101, 201; ENG 101; MA 141, 241; PY 201, 202, 203. 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

Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.

3

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

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
MA 141 Calculus I (CP) 1 4
MEA 100 Earth System Science: Exploring the Connections 1 4
COS 100 Science of Change 3 2
PY 201 University Physics I (CP) 1 4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours15
Spring Semester
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 1 4
MA 241 Calculus II (CP) 1 4
PY 202 University Physics II (CP) 1 4
 Hours16
Second Year
Fall Semester
MA 242 Calculus III 1 4
MEA 200
MEA 210
Introduction to Oceanography
and Oceanography Lab (CP) 1
4
PY 203 University Physics III 1 4
GEP Social Sciences 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
CH 201
CH 102
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
MA 341 Applied Differential Equations I 1 3
MEA 250
MEA 251
Introduction to Coastal Environments
and Introduction to Coastal Environments Laboratory 1
4
PY 411 Mechanics I 1 3
 Hours14
Third Year
Fall Semester
GEP Humanities 3
MA 401 Applied Differential Equations II 1 3
MEA 460 Principles of Physical Oceanography 1 3
PY 412 Mechanics II 1 3
Computer Science Option Elective 1 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
MEA 462 Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Marine Physics 1 3
MEA 467 Marine Meteorology 1 3
MEA 495 Junior Seminar in the Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences 1
PY 413 Thermal Physics 1 3
ST 370
Probability and Statistics for Engineers 1
or Introduction to Statistics
3
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 3
 Hours16
Summer
MEA 459 Field Investigation of Coastal Processes 2 5
 Hours5
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
Advanced Writing Elective 3
GEP Social Sciences 3
MEA 463 Fluid Physics 1 3
PY 414 Electromagnetism I 1 3
 Hours12
Spring Semester
MEA 464 Ocean Circulation Systems 1 3
PY 415 Electromagnetism II 1 3
GEP Humanities 3
Technical Elective 2 2
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours12
 Total Hours120
1

A grade of C- or higher is required in CH 101, 201; ENG 101; MA 141, 241; PY 201, 202, 203. 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

Students should consult their academic advisors to determine which courses fill this requirement.

3

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

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
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Occupational Outlook Handbook
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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