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 Coordinator:
Dr. Elizabeth A. Lacey
Associate Professor of Marine Science
USC-115 | 609-626-5542
Elizabeth.Lacey@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
To see the curriculum for your area of interest you’ll use the web program, DegreeWorks. 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 your portal for DegreeWorks, then look for the “what if” option to explore the various paths towards degree completion.
If you are new to Stockton or a prospective student:
Current Curriculum & Transfer Equivalency
- 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 “Marine Science”)
- What is your intended concentration? (Choose “Oceanography” or “Marine Biology”)
- 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.
Fall 2018 - Spring 2019
- Marine Science, BA – Marine Biology Concentration
- Marine Science, BA – Oceanography Concentration
- Marine Science, BA - Education Concentration
- Marine Science, BS – Marine Biology Concentration
- Marine Science, BS – Oceanography Concentration
Fall 2017 - Spring 2018
Faculty
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 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 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 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.
Sample list of potential careers:
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. Read Chelsea's Whole Story
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." Read Jamie's Whole Story
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." Read Diane's Whole Story
