Marine Science Minor
The minor is jointly offered and administered by William & Mary's School of Marine Science (SMS) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS) and Arts & Sciences. Courses are offered both on the main William & Mary campus and on the VIMS campus in Gloucester Point. Our location here on the Chesapeake Bay gives students the ability to explore this unique ecosystem firsthand, while field courses allow students to experience an even broader spectrum of environments.
Students pursuing a minor in Marine Science are required to take 18 credits of coursework. Two courses (6 credits total) are required: Introduction to Marine Science (MSCI 330) and Field Studies in Coastal Marine Environments (MSCI 331). The remaining credits are divided between electives and upper level courses in the subdisciplines of marine sciences. An alternative field-based marine science course can be substituted for the field studies course with permission of the Marine Science Advisory Committee. See the Undergraduate Catalog for details. We recommend that marine science minors take the Field Studies course during the summer following their freshman or sophomore year and before taking any of the Fundamentals of Marine Science courses.