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Bachelor of Science
On Campus College of Arts & Sciences
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As a Coastal & Marine Science major at Sacred Heart, you will study and conduct research as part of a team and become an integral partner in finding solutions to our world’s ever-changing environmental challenges.

Why Earn Your BS in Coastal & Marine Science at Sacred Heart?

Coastal ecosystems are at the interface between marine and terrestrial habitats and are exposed to a wide variety of human and natural stressors. Climate change has caused novel challenges for coastal and marine habitats that are already stressed from human development, pollution, and over-harvest of natural resources. 

The Coastal and Marine Science (CMS) major is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program with a broad science curriculum. The program emphasizes marine and estuarine sciences with hands-on courses that span ecological & environmental science as a whole, irrespective of habitat. The interests of biology students are diverse, but at the undergraduate level, students generally center their studies on biological interactions occurring in an ever-changing environment. Students are encouraged to broaden their perspectives by spending a semester on the SHU campus in Dingle, Ireland.

Choose from the following areas of exploration:

  • Students experience a global perspective of CMS with a semester in Dingle, Ireland.
  • Explore courses on the oceans and estuaries, coastal management, and invertebrate biology.
  • Conduct a summer research project on benthic invertebrate biodiversity influenced by ocean acidification/pollution events. 
  • Obtain a paid summer research position in horseshoe crab ecology and their importance to human health.
  • Participate in a study of dolphin conservation in the Bahamas.
  • Explore courses on populations, communities, tropical, and chemical ecology.
  • Participate in a paid summer research position in coastal restoration and study the impacts of global climate change.
  • Conduct ongoing research projects including migratory bird physiology under dramatic environmental change and the environmental toxicology of fish.
  • Explore courses in mammalogy, vertebrate biology, marine mammal summer research, and primate communication behavior research projects in Thailand.
  • Conduct local and international work on tourism and agricultural impacts on stream and estuarine systems using the latest molecular techniques.
  • Gain lab experience in population and conservation genetics.
  • Explore a GIS course with hands-on mapping exercises.

As a coastal & marine science major, you will also:

  • Benefit from small class sizes that are interactive and engaging both in the classroom and out in the field
  • Learn from accomplished faculty who are practitioners in their field
  • Have opportunities of short, two-week courses in Dingle, Ireland  
  • Collect data and perform ecological restoration allowing for a deeper understanding of complex concepts
  • Apply for a STEM scholarship, a grant awarded to SHU students by the National Science Foundation
  • Participate in hands-on field studies including plant & animal identification, environmental sampling, ecology, restoration and conservation
  • Gain foundational knowledge in advanced biology, mathematics, chemistry, and physics
  • Participate in paid summer research programs through faculty grants and SHU’s College of Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative
  • Conduct laboratory studies in chemical extractions, metabolite assays, enzyme assays, nutrient analysis, DNA extraction, PCR, and sequencing
  • Learn computer science and software skills in data management, statistical analyses, Excel, SPSS, graphing techniques, Word, and PowerPoint
  • Participate in various clubs and organizations, such as the Biology Club, Green SHUs, and Beta Beta Beta, the National Biological Honor Society

Gain real-world experience with an internship in the field

Sacred Heart coastal & marine biology majors are required to complete an undergraduate research/internship.

  • International studies involving environmental impacts of tourism and pollution on stream and estuarine ecology in Ireland, dolphin behavior in the Bahamas, primate behavior in Thailand, and tropical biology in Costa Rica
  • Coastal restoration ecology involving uplands and
  • Plant-animal interactions and invasive species ecology
  • Eco-physiology of large, pelagic fishes, like bigeye thresher sharks and swordfish, to hunt in cold, hypoxic environments
  • Horseshoe crab ecology in Long Island Sound (Project Limulus)
  • Migratory bird physiology
  • NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Milford Lab, Connecticut
  • Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
  • Oceanworld Aquarium, Dingle, Ireland
  • National Science Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates
  • Costa Rica, Tropical Field Internship
  • The Maritime Aquarium, Animal Care & Education, Norwalk, CT
  • Town Conservation Internships, Greenwich, Stratford, & Milford, CT
  • Connecticut Audubon Society
  • CT Agricultural Experimental Station, New Haven, CT
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Aquarion Water Company, Amphibian surveys and fish passage study
  • Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
  • Audubon CT, National Audubon Society
  • New England Aquarium, Boston, MA
  • LEO Zoological Conservation Center
  • Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

Dual Degree Program Options for Coastal and Marine Science Majors

Sacred Heart University’s dual degree programs provide a defined pathway for incoming freshmen to move seamlessly from an undergraduate to a graduate degree.

While some of our dual degree programs require specific undergraduate majors, others are open to almost all undergraduate disciplines. Apply to a dual degree program as an incoming freshman and you’ll have the opportunity to be admitted directly into the graduate program of your choice at the same time as your admission as an undergraduate student. Students are encouraged to reach out to your admissions counselor to discuss dual degree options.

Graduate ready for a career or further your study

The coastal and marine biology major will prepare you for graduate training and/or careers in coastal/marine/ecological research and environmental management.

  • Brown University
  • Columbia University
  • Dartmouth College
  • Emory University
  • Fordham University
  • New York University
  • Rutgers University
  • Southern Connecticut State University
  • University of Connecticut
  • University of Maine
  • University of Massachusetts
  • University of Miami
  • University of Rhode Island
  • Yale University
  • Federal (e.g. EPA, NOAA, FWS) state and local governments
  • Scientific and technical consulting firms
  • Research institutes
  • Environmental engineering firms (e.g. AECOM, EGA)
  • Nonprofit organizations (e.g. The Nature Conservancy, and Audubon National)
  • Educational institutions
  • Farms and aquaculture facilities
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Theme parks, zoos and aquaria

*Advancement in these positions may require additional training in graduate school

 

  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • Straughan Environmental, Inc.
  • The Maritime Aquarium
  • AECOM
  • Arcadis
  • Groundwater & Environmental Services, Inc.
  • Kleinfelder
  • Bristol-Meyer Squibb
  • Centers for Disease Control
  • Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
  • Dianon Systems
  • Teaching Positions at Public and Private Schools
  • Unilever Corporation

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an eight to eleven percent growth in the field of coastal and marine biology by 2028. Population growth, climate change and its impact on marine ecosystems will continue to drive hiring in this area.

What I loved most about the Coastal & Marine Science program is how approachable and helpful biology staff members were when I had questions; the big selection of different courses available that allowed me to tailor my coursework to my own unique biology interests, and the ability to get out into the field rather than just sitting in a classroom. I was able to collect data and perform ecological restoration which helped to deepen my understanding of concepts. The small class sizes made it easier to learn complex material as well as have an opportunity to have more interactive, discussion-based classes.

Where Can You Go with a Bachelor's in Coastal & Marine Science

Majoring in coastal & marine science paves the way for you to advance your career through combined programs and advanced degree pathways.

Bachelor’s to MAT with Secondary Biology or General Science Certification

4+1 BS/MAT with Initial Certification
Sacred Heart University offers coastal and marine science majors the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree and Master of Arts in Teaching with initial teacher certification in secondary biology or general science within five years. Students must apply to the MAT during their sophomore year, and work closely with their advisor to ensure they are completing all prerequisite coursework during their undergraduate years.

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