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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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  • Marine Biology, BS

Marine Biology, BS

2021-2022 Edition

  • Undergraduate
    • Admission
    • Information for Entering Students
    • College Expenses
    • Academic Policies and Procedures
    • University Academics
    • College of Arts, Media and Design
    • D'Amore-​McKim School of Business
    • Khoury College of Computer Sciences
    • College of Engineering
    • Bouvé College of Health Sciences
    • College of Science
      • Behavioral Neuroscience
      • Biochemistry
      • Biology
      • Chemistry and Chemical Biology
      • Linguistics
      • Marine and Environmental Sciences
        • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, BS
        • Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, BS
        • Environmental Studies, BA
        • Marine Biology, BS
        • Computer Science and Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, BS
        • Data Science and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, BS
        • Data Science and Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, BS
        • Environmental and Sustainability Sciences and Chemistry, BS
        • Environmental and Sustainability Sciences and Economics, BS
        • Environmental and Sustainability Sciences and Landscape Architecture, BS
        • Environmental Studies and History, BA
        • Environmental Studies and International Affairs, BA
        • Environmental Studies and Philosophy, BA
        • Environmental Studies and Political Science, BA
        • Sociology and Environmental Studies, BA
        • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Minor
        • Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, Minor
        • Environmental Studies, Minor
        • Geosciences, Minor
        • Marine Sciences, Minor
      • Mathematics
      • Physics
      • Psychology
      • Interdisciplinary
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • College of Social Sciences and Humanities
    • Faculty
    • Appendix
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

Our Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology aims to provide students with a solid foundation in marine biology, with flexibility to explore ocean and coastal processes, marine biogeochemistry, the ecology and evolution of marine organisms, and the ocean’s role and responses in global change. Core, skills-based courses are designed to prepare students for in-depth examination of the contemporary issues facing marine organisms and ecosystems, while helping to develop resumés that are strengthened by experiential learning. This major also provides options for students following a prevet or premed track.

Faculty teaching the courses are experts who are dedicated to marine research and experiential learning, providing students the opportunities to learn new, valuable skills and to expand their professional science network. Students may actively participate in field and lab work, internships at Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center in Nahant, MA, study abroad through Dialogue of Civilizations programs or the long-standing Three Seas Program (see below). Additional opportunities exist for students in this strong, interdisciplinary program that prepares students for direct entry into the job market or a competitive graduate program.

Students majoring in Marine Biology cannot be combined with majors in Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, or Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, nor can they minor in Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, or Environmental and Sustainability Sciences. 

Three Seas Program

The Three Seas Program, now in its 38th year, delivers a unique combination of inquiry-based, global study, fieldwork, and research across three distinct locations: the Gulf of Maine, tropical coastal Panama, and the Pacific Northwest. This optional, two-semester program is designed to teach students to plan and execute marine field research to enhance their future opportunities, whether in top doctoral programs or careers with government agencies or private consulting firms. Students finish the program as active scientists who are certified in scientific diving, have an expanded skill set, and a robust professional network.

For more information, please see the Three Seas Program website.   

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

University-Wide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

Marine Biology Major Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Introduction to College
ENVR 1000Marine and Environmental Sciences at Northeastern1
Foundations Courses
EEMB 1101
and EEMB 1102
Foundations in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
and Lab for EEMB 1101
5
EEMB 1105
and EEMB 1106
Foundations in Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics
and Lab for EEMB 1105
5
Genetics
BIOL 2301
and BIOL 2302
Genetics and Molecular Biology
and Lab for BIOL 2301
5
Ecology
EEMB 2302
and EEMB 2303
Ecology
and Lab for EEMB 2302
5
Evolution
EEMB 2400Introduction to Evolution4
Marine Biology
EEMB 2700
and EEMB 2701
Marine Biology
and Lab for EEMB 2700
5
Conservation
EEMB 3460Conservation Biology4
Scientific Communication
ENVR 4000Science Communication and Professional Development4
Capstone
Complete one of the following:1-4
BIOL 4701
Biology Capstone
ENVR 4900
Earth and Environmental Science Capstone
ENVR 4997
Senior Thesis

Marine Biology Options

Requirements for Students Not Participating in Three Seas

Course List
Code Title Hours
ENVR 3125Global Oceanic Change4
ENVR 3600Oceanography4
Complete four of the following:16-20
BIOL 5587
Comparative Neurobiology
EEMB 2420
Fisheries Biology, Policy, and Conservation
EEMB 2290
Ecology and Evolution of Behavior
EEMB 3001
Genetics and Evolution in Action
EEMB 3450
Physiological Adaptations to the Environment
EEMB 3455
Ecosystems Ecology
EEMB 3465
Ecological and Conservation Genomics
EEMB 3466
Disease Ecology
EEMB 3555
Networks and Natural Systems
EEMB 5130
and EEMB 5131
Ecological Dynamics
and Lab for EEMB 5130
ENVR 3201
Coastal Sustainability: Ecology and Coupled Human-Natural Systems in Southeast Asia
ENVR 3202
Coastal Sustainability: The Blue Economy of the Gulf of Maine
ENVR 3300
and ENVR 3301
Geographic Information Systems
and Lab for ENVR 3300
ENVR 4504
Environmental Pollution
ENVR 4505
Wetlands
ENVR 5220
Ecosystem-Based Management
ENVR 5242
and ENVR 5243
Ancient Marine Life
and Lab for ENVR 5242
EEMB 5542
Marine Spatial Planning
Elective courses available at Nahant campus:
EEMB 5510
New England Marine Biomes
EEMB 5522
Experimental Design Marine Ecology
EEMB 5525
Advanced Field Methods in Marine Ecology
EEMB 5546
Sustainability of the Land-Sea Interface

Three Seas Students

Course List
Code Title Hours
Three Seas courses at Nahant/Northeastern campus:
EEMB 5522Experimental Design Marine Ecology3-4
or EEMB 5525 Advanced Field Methods in Marine Ecology
EEMB 5546Sustainability of the Land-Sea Interface3
EEMB 5510New England Marine Biomes4
EEMB 5542Marine Spatial Planning4
EEMB 5589Diving Research Methods2
Three Seas courses (abroad):
EEMB 5504
and EEMB 5505
Biology of Corals
and Lab for EEMB 5504
3
EEMB 5506
and EEMB 5507
Biology and Ecology of Fishes
and Lab for EEMB 5506
3
EEMB 5508Marine Birds and Mammals3
EEMB 5538Conservation and Restoration of Marine Systems3
EEMB 5518
and EEMB 5519
Ocean and Coastal Processes
and Lab for EEMB 5518
3
EEMB 5520Tropical Marine Ecology2
Select one of the following:3
EEMB 5533
and EEMB 5535
Marine Invertebrate Zoology and Botany
and Lab for EEMB 5533
EEMB 5540
and EEMB 5541
Changing Global Oceans
and Lab for EEMB 5540

Supporting Courses for Marine Biology

Course List
Code Title Hours
Mathematics
MATH 1251Calculus and Differential Equations for Biology 14
or MATH 1241 Calculus 1
or MATH 1341 Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering
Introduction to Data
ENVR 1500
and ENVR 1501
Introduction to Environmental, Social, and Biological Data
and Lab for ENVR 1500
5
Biostatistics
ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501
Biostatistics
and Lab for ENVR 2500
5
Chemistry
CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
and CHEM 1163
General Chemistry for Science Majors
and Lab for CHEM 1161
and Recitation for CHEM 1161
5
CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
Organic Chemistry 1
and Lab for CHEM 2311
4
or ENVR 3410 Environmental Geochemistry
Physics
Complete a lecture/lab set for Physics 1:
Physics 15
PHYS 1145
and PHYS 1146
Physics for Life Sciences 1
and Lab for PHYS 1145 (recommended)
PHYS 1151
and PHYS 1152
and PHYS 1153
Physics for Engineering 1
and Lab for PHYS 1151
and Interactive Learning Seminar for PHYS 1151
PHYS 1161
and PHYS 1162
and PHYS 1163
Physics 1
and Lab for PHYS 1161
and Recitation for PHYS 1161
PHYS 1171
and PHYS 1172
and PHYS 1173
Physics 1 for Bioscience and Bioengineering
and Lab for PHYS 1171
and Interactive Learning Seminar for PHYS 1171

Marine Biology Major Credit/GPA Requirements

Complete 89 semester hours in the major with a cumulative GPA of 2.000.

Program Requirement

137 total semester hours required

Four Years, Two Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENVR 10001EEMB 1105
and EEMB 1106
5Elective4Elective4
EEMB 1101
and EEMB 1102
5CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
and CHEM 1163
5Elective4Elective4
ENVR 1500
and ENVR 1501
5PHYS 1161
and PHYS 1162
and PHYS 1163
5  
MATH 12514Elective4  
Elective4   
 19 19 8 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOL 2301
and BIOL 2302
5Co-op0Co-op0Elective4
EESC 20001  Elective4
ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501
5   
CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
5   
ENGW 33074   
 20 0 0 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
EEMB 2302
and EEMB 2303
5Co-op0Co-op0Elective4
EEMB 2700
and EEMB 2701
5  Elective4
EEMB 24004   
Marine biology elective4   
 18 0 0 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Marine biology elective4BIOL 4701, ENVR 4900, or ENVR 49971-4  
EEMB 34604Marine biology elective4  
ENVR 3600 (Oceanography)4ENVR 31254  
Marine biology elective 4ENVR 40004  
 16 13-16  
Total Hours: 137-140

Marine Biology—Three Seas Program, Four Years, One Co-op in Spring/Summer 1

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENVR 10001EEMB 1105
and EEMB 1106
5Vacation0Elective4
MATH 12514CHEM 1161
and CHEM 1162
5 Elective4
Elective4PHYS 1161
and PHYS 1162
and PHYS 1163
5  
EEMB 1101
and EEMB 1102
5EEMB 24004  
ENVR 1500
and ENVR 1501
5   
 19 19 0 8
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
BIOL 2301
and BIOL 2302
5Co-op0Co-op0Elective4
EESC 20001   
ENVR 2500
and ENVR 2501
5   
CHEM 2311
and CHEM 2312
5   
ENGW 33074   
 20 0 0 4
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Elective4Elective4Vacation0EEMB 55463
EEMB 2700
and EEMB 2701
5Elective4 EEMB 55253
EEMB 2302
and EEMB 2303
5Elective4  
EEMB 34604Elective4  
 18 16 0 6
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
EEMB 5504
and EEMB 5505
3BIOL 4701, ENVR 4900, or ENVR 49971-4  
EEMB 5506
and EEMB 5507
3Elective4  
EEMB 55083ENVR 40004  
EEMB 55383Elective4  
EEMB 5518
and EEMB 5519
3   
EEMB 55202   
EEMB 5540
and EEMB 5541
3   
 20 13-16  
Total Hours: 143-146
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