Marine Science
Meet Your Marine Science Faculty!
From Inside the Classroom to Out in the Field
Partnerships Within the Community Result in Real World Solutions
Marine Field Station Dedicated to Undergrads
Stockton's Marine Science (MARS) program encompasses two general areas of study: Marine
Biology and Oceanography. The program is interdisciplinary and requires student competence
in several areas of science. A number of field and laboratory courses, seminars, independent
studies, internships, and research opportunities which emphasize experiential learning are offered.
Stockton University is one of only a few undergraduate institutions in the U.S. that offers a degree program in Marine Science with a dedicated, easily accessible field facility (Stockton Marine Field Station). Students have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty to design and implement research projects. Students are encouraged to present results at the NAMS Undergraduate Research Symposium and regional conferences.
About the Program
Mission Vision
Stockton University’s Marine Science Program is dedicated to undergraduate experiences
within a coastal environment, to form ocean-literate citizens.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Marine Science Program at Stockton University is to promote curiosity and critical thinking through quality education and hands-on experiences both in and out of the classroom. Students will develop intellectually, personally and professionally within the small class setting, using cutting edge technology to apply themselves to real-life scenarios within the marine biology and oceanography career fields.
Program Chair
Dr. Susanne Moskalski
Assistant Professor of Marine Science
A&S-219 | 609-626-6853
Susanne.Moskalski@stockton.edu
Program Features
- Small, field-oriented course sections taught primarily by full-time faculty (not by graduate assistants).
- A dedicated, easily accessible Marine Field Station focused on undergraduate education and research.
- Every student is assigned a faculty member in the program as their academic advisor (preceptor).
- Numerous field-related volunteer, internship, employment opportunities in the area.
- The Environmental Studies and Marine Science programs were selected by Peterson's Guides and the Alliance for Environmental Education for inclusion in Education for the Earth: A Guide to Top Environmental Studies Programs.
Marine Science Program Highlights
Curriculum
Stockton’s Marine Science (MARS) program encompasses two general areas of study: Marine Biology and Oceanography. Within each of these broad areas of study are several focus areas that students may choose from, as a function of their selected electives. Examples include physical oceanography, marine geology, ocean chemistry, resource management, estuarine/marine ecology, and marine technology/survey.
The Marine Science program has the following concentrations of study:
- B.A. / B.S. Marine Science - Marine Biology Concentration
- B.A. / B.S. Marine Science - Oceanography Concentration
- B.A. Marine Science - Education Concentration
- Minor in Marine Science
Worksheet
To see the curriculum for your area of interest you’ll use the web program, Degree Works. This program is accessible even if you are not currently a student with Stockton University.
If you are a current student at Stockton University, access Degree Works through the portal, then choose the “what if” option to explore the various paths towards degree completion.
Prospective freshman or transfer students, can use the Curriculum & Transfer Equivalency Tool below. In addition, the program degree map below provides valuable degree information and is a guide to assist in planning academic coursework, but should not substitute academic advisement.
Instructions on How to Use Curriculum Tool
- At the next page you are prompted with three (3) options. Select the one that says “continue without signing in.”
- Respond to each prompt using the pull-down menu in the center of the page. [Please be patient. It may take a few seconds for the system to process your request. If you see a NO symbol, you need to wait a moment!]
Prompts include:
- Enrollment dates (Choose intended semester attending)
- Intended level (Choose“undergraduate”)
- What degree you will pursue? (Choose “Bachelor of Science” or “Bachelor of Arts”)
- What is your intended major? (Choose “Biochemistry Molecular Biology”)
- What is your intended concentration? (Choose “General”)
- What is your intended minor? (Choose “none” or select one - it is not required)
- For prospective students, choose “I’m all done" button.
- For transfer students, use the “class” button to see how courses already taken fit into the Stockton degree path.
- You will see an overview of the degree you have selected, including all requirements.
- At the bottom of the screen, you could save or print worksheet.
Degree Maps
Faculty
Melissa Laurino, Marine Science Adjunct Faculty
Jacalyn Toth Sullivan, Marine Science Adjunct Faculty
Jacalyn Toth Sullivan
Marine Science Adjunct Faculty
EDUCATION
M.S. Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University
Research Area: New Jersey coastal marine mammals.
COURSES TAUGHT
Marine Mammalogy
This course is a broad overview of the biology of marine mammals. Focuses include
marine mammal evolution and systematics, physiological, anatomical, behavioral and
ecological characteristics that describe major taxa, functional biology, and physiological
adaptations, as well as current threats, management, and conservation of select species.
Local and global perspective on marine mammal population biology are discussed, as
well as widely used research techniques that answer various questions about these
animals.
Marine Mammals and Mankind
This course explores the politics of marine mammal and human interactions from both
a historical and current context, and discusses the role of the media in helping to
shape public opinion. Students learn general biology of marine mammals, their long-standing
role in historic/current human ecology, and their ever-evolving role in culture and
economics. Impacts of controversial practices such as marine mammal captivity, ‘scientific
whaling’, military exercises, and aboriginal customs are explored and debated.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Marine mammal ecology; anthropogenic impacts on marine mammal biology, behavior, distribution patterns and essential habitat. Dynamics of New Jersey’s seasonal population of bottlenose dolphins and harbor seals; occurrence, movement patterns, stock structure, seasonal site fidelity, and food habits.
RELEVANT SCHOLARSHIP
Toth J., S. Evert, E. Zimmermann, M. Sullivan, L. Dotts, K.W. Able, R. Hagan and C. Slocum.
2018. Annual Residency Patterns and Diet of Phoca vitulina concolor (Western Atlantic
Harbor Seal) in a Southern New Jersey Estuary. Northeastern Naturalist 25(4):611–626
Toth J.L., A.A. Hohn, and K.W. Able. 2011. Defining bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
population units based on environmental, physical, and behavioral characteristics.
Marine Mammal Science DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00497.x
Toth J.L., A.A. Hohn and K.W. Able. 2011. Patterns of seasonal occurrence, distribution and site fidelity of coastal bottlenose dolphins in southern New Jersey, U.S.A. Marine Mammal Science 27: 94–110
Toth-Brown J. and A.A. Hohn. 2007. Occurrence of the barnacle, Xenobalanus globicipitis, on coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in New Jersey, U.S.A. Crustaceana 80:1271-1279
PRESENTATIONS
(*student co-author)
Toth, J. 2021. An examination of potential impacts of wind farm operations on population dynamics and food habits of the common harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) in southern New Jersey. Accepted for SMM conference West Palm Beach, FL, December 2021
Baier, L.* and Toth, J. 2021. Impacts of wind farm operations on local pinniped populations: A review. Accepted for SMM conference West Palm Beach, FL, December 2021
Collom, K.*, Brown, D. M., DiGiovanni, R., Durham, K., Kopelman, A., Laurino, M., Lomac-MacNair, K.S., Maust-Mohl, M., Montello, M., Platt, T., Rickard, M.E., Schoelkopf, R., Smultea, M., Zoidis, A., Toth, J. 2021. Extended seasonal occurrence of coastal bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the northern migratory extent of the Mid-Atlantic. Accepted for SMM conference West Palm Beach, FL, December 2021
Toth, J. 2019. Finscan; A glimspe into an almost-great automated fin-matching program. Presented at the ‘Rise of the Machines’ workshop, The World Marine Mammal Conference. December 7-12, 2019. Barcelona, Spain.
Dotts L.*, Toth J., Evert S., Zimmermann E., Sullivan M., Hagan R., Able K., and Slocum C. 2019. Population and Diet of Common Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina concolor) in a Southern New Jersey Estuary; a Story of Perseverance and Collaboration, Years in the Making! Southeast and mid-Atlantic Marine Mammal Symposium, March 29-31 Washington DC
Toth J., Evert S., Zimmermann E., Sullivan M., Dotts L.*, Able K.W., Hagan R. and Slocum C. 2018. Diet of Common Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina concolor) in a Southern New Jersey Estuary; A Story of Perseverance and Collaboration, Years in the Making. Atlantic Fisheries Society Annual Meeting. Atlantic City, NJ.
Toth J., Evert S., Zimmermann E., Sullivan M., Dotts L.*, Able K.W., Hagan R. and Slocum
C. 2017. Annual residency patterns and diet of common harbor seals (Phoca vitulina
concolor) in a southern New Jersey estuary.
24th World Biennial Conference on Marine Mammals. October 2017. Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Panyi A*, Toth J. 2015. Xenobalanus Globicipitis: Occurrence patterns and use for stock identification in New Jersey bottlenose dolphins. Biennial Marine Mammal Conference, December 2015, San Francisco CA
O’Neill L*, Toth J. 2015. Occurrence patterns of bottlenose dolphin calves in Cape May, NJ. Biennial Marine Mammal Conference, December 2015, San Francisco CA
Monaghan D.M.*, Toth J.L. 2013. An overview of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) photo-identification
research with the Cape May Whale Watcher. Stockton College Unified Science Center
opening ceremony, Pomona, NJ.
Ulmke A.H.*, Toth J.L., Able, K.W. 2011. Seasonal variation in harbor seal fish prey in Great Bay, New Jersey.
Rutgers University summer RIOS internship poster presentation. September, New Brunswick,
NJ
Dotts L.J.*, Toth J.L., Tanedo S.J*., Sullivan, M.C., Evert, S.P., Slocum, C.J. 2011. Prey determination and feeding seasonality of the Great Bay Harbor Seal colony. Stockton College Undergraduate Research Day. April, Pomona, NJ
Tanedo S.A*., Sullivan M.C., Dotts L.J.*, Toth J.L., Evert S.P., Slocum C.J. 2011. Imaging fish otoliths retrieved from seal scat samples; acquisition, identification, and fish length reconstruction. Stockton College Undergraduate Research Day. April, Pomona, NJ
Opportunities
Located on an eight-acre waterfront site in the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Stockton University Marine Field Station makes available the facilities, research vessels, sampling equipment, and staff to provide Stockton students with hands-on learning experiences in a marine environment second to none. The Marine Field Station offers several teaching and research laboratories and offices, five research vessels ranging in size from 16’ – 36’, various marine sampling equipment, general-use laboratory equipment, state-of-the-art water sampling equipment and numerous marine technology instruments, including a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) multibeam sonar, side scan sonar, magnetometer, mobile LiDAR, and Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers. Undergraduate students engaged in Marine Science and Marine Science-related courses (Biology, Environmental Science, Geology) access the facility regularly throughout their academic career. All students are encouraged to further utilize the facility for independent study projects and to become part of the numerous faculty and staff-led research teams. There are many opportunities to carry out Marine Science research at the undergraduate level at Stockton and at State and Federal agencies and institutions nearby. The Marine Field Station is also home to the Coastal Research Center, a contract and grant-funded institute focused on research and monitoring of New Jersey’s coastal zone issues ranging from beach access, inlet dynamics, and pre and post-storm surveys of coastal beaches.
Both the Marine Field Station and the Coastal Research Center provide part-time work
and volunteer opportunities for MARS students, as do numerous local agencies. Students
may propose their own field, laboratory, or library research projects to prospective
faculty sponsors, and/or work on suitable internships. Student interns have been placed
locally in field/laboratory positions, including at the Adventure Aquarium, Atlantic
City Aquarium, Rutgers Field Stations (Tuckerton, Port Norris, Cape May), Jacques
Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve, New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, Brigantine Marine Mammal Stranding Center, and at area shellfish hatcheries.
Through the Washington Internship program, MARS majors have been placed at the National
Aquarium, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the National
Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Institute/Natural History Museum.
For research projects that necessitate the processing of larger quantities of numerical
data, students can make use of the University’s Computer Center, which is tied into
the statewide Educational Computer Network. Stockton is a member of the New Jersey
Marine Sciences Consortium and has access to Consortium marine stations, boats, and
equipment. Stockton students can take, with the approval of the MARS program, summer
courses at the NJMSC facilities at Sandy Hook.
The Marine Science Program offers a number of opportunities for students to get involved in various areas of interest outside of the classroom. These include student-organized clubs, as well as student chapters of established professional societies.
Program Recognition:
Inclusion in Education for the Earth: A Guide to Top Environmental Studies Programs
Learn more about the MARS program ELO's. These essential learning outcomes guide all Stockton University students from first-year through graduation to the intellectual and marketable talents needed to prepare for personal and professional success in the 21st century.
Careers
Graduates of the Marine Science program seek employment directly with their B.A. or B.S. degrees, or go on to graduate school to work for M.S. or Ph.D. degrees. There are a number of employment opportunities in this field, both in the private and public sectors. Students concentrating in Oceanography, and those taking additional electives in marine geology, marine technology, and underwater surveying should do well in an increasingly quantitative field.
Stockton graduates in Marine Science have been very successful in obtaining entry-level positions in their field with local, state, and federal agencies. Such positions have involved laboratory work, fieldwork on marine habitats, data analysis, K-12 and public education and law enforcement. Some have gone on to consulting jobs with private firms, while others have entered postgraduate study at major universities.
All Marine Science students are required to take a 1-credit seminar course that prepares them for successful careers after graduation. Regardless of area of interest, undergraduate students who seek additional hands-on experiences outside of the classroom tend to flourish at the next level.
There are a wide variety of jobs within marine sciences.
Sample list of careers:
Employment in life, physical, and social science occupations is projected to grow 5 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations, and will result in about 68,200 new jobs.
Increasing demand for expertise in the sciences, particularly in occupations involved
in biomedical research, psychology, energy management, and environmental protection,
is projected to result in employment growth.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Payscale's software provides access to extensive analytics about the workforce. Businesses can see exactly how the salaries for their workforce match to market pay ranges, adjust salaries of overpaid or underpaid employees, determine raises, and prepare both employee total compensation statements and executive reports.
The Office of Institutional Research collects information on where our alumni land
within six months of graduation. To learn more about Marine Science alumni, use the Graduate Outcomes tool.
- Using the down arrow, uncheck 'All' and select 'Marine Science'
The connections you made with your professors and preceptors are invaluable resources for your career planning. Beyond providing assistance on coursework and scheduling, they can give you guidance in planning for your post-college career.
In addition, we have a student Career Center that is available to guide you through your career development journey - from CV writing, interview prep or general guidance.
Alumni Highlights
Alumni Success
As a student, I was involved in the mapping of the Robert. J. Walker through the New Jersey Benthic Studies class taught by Dr. Peter Straub (now Dean Peter Straub). I was one of three students on the project, and was able to get amazing experience working with the ROV and multibeam.
B.S. Marine Science '15
I only just graduated from Stockton University in August 2014, but I have already used my degree to pursue incredible adventures, like scuba diving off Puerto Rico and working with crime investigation on Discovery Channel.
B.S. Marine Biology, '14
Studying Marine Science at Stockton was an incredible experience and led me to ultimately become a high school Biology teacher and Teacher Leader for the school's science department.
B.S. Marine Science '93
Stockton's Marine Science Program ranked in the Best 15 Oceanography Degree/Marine Science Programs in 2021
