Curriculum

Oregon State University’s marine studies online bachelor’s degree program will help you better understand how people affect the ocean and, in turn, how the ocean affects humans. The coursework’s unique blend of marine science, social science, humanities and the arts will provide you with essential skills and knowledge to make an impact. 

With a marine-centric learning lens on social, political, and cultural issues of the coasts and oceans, you’ll examine historic and contemporary issues, such as sustainable fisheries, pollution and climate change, with perspectives from faculty in a variety of fields.

Degree requirements

A minimum of 180 quarter credits — at least 60 of which must be upper-division credits — are required to graduate with your marine studies degree, including:

• OSU's Baccalaureate Core (general education)
• B.A. or B.S. requirements
• College of Liberal Arts Core (for all majors in OSU's College of Liberal Arts)
• Major requirements: Marine Studies

Honors degree online

As an undergraduate degree-seeking student, you can apply to earn an honors degree online in your academic major. Earning this prestigious degree gives you the opportunity to collaborate with faculty on research, complete a comprehensive thesis experience and engage in co-curricular activities.

Customize your student experience

This program gives you the flexibility to tailor your degree plan to match your interests. Here are some examples of potential themes you could explore:

• Social justice in coastal communities
• Indigenous studies
• Marine environmental regulation and policy
• Coastal arts and humanities
• Marine resource management

Sample course topics

• Society, culture and the marine environment
• Introduction to marine life in the sea
• Maritime cultures and life-ways
• Indigenous ocean and coast
• Biology and conservation of marine mammals
• Coastal ecology and resource management
• The policy and law of U.S. coastal governance
• Anthropology of tourism
• Multicultural perspectives in natural resource

Additional program features

Coastal experience and internship

The marine studies program requires 8 credits of coastal learning coursework to enhance ocean literacy through the exploration of coastal ecosystems, marine life and the cultural and social dynamics of coastal regions.

To promote your experiential learning opportunities, an optional 4-credit internship may count toward the coastal learning requirement. The physical location of the internship can be in your local area, if you prefer.

Transfer credits

Some of the degree requirements can be transferred from other colleges and universities. Please note that a minimum of 45 credits of the last 75 must be completed at Oregon State (online or on campus) to meet the academic residency requirement.

Previously earned credits will need to be reviewed upon admittance to OSU for appropriate articulation. Additional information about transferring credits is available through OSU’s Transfer Credit Central.

Add a minor to gain additional skills

Oregon State offers a diverse selection of minors online. You can combine your marine studies major with a minor in Indigenous studies or environmental law and policy to create an even more powerful résumé fit for today's job market.