BSc or BA (120 credit hour) Concentrated Honours in Marine Biology
Students who want a challenging program resulting in a broad background in Marine Biology, including an independent research experience may want to enroll in an Honours program. Students interested in eventually pursuing graduate studies are particularly encouraged to consider Honours.
To graduate with Honours, students must complete a minimum of 54 credit hours with a grade of C or better above the 1000 level in Marine Biology/Biology. A minimum B+ average (GPA of 3.3), with no grade less than C, is required in the Core Biology and Core Marine Biology courses. Students must also have a cumulative B average (GPA of 3.0) in courses in the honours subject at the time of graduation. Students write a research-based Honours thesis. The Honours Qualifying Examination requirement is satisfied through completion of MARI 4901.03 AND MARI 4902.03.
A Science Co-op option is available for students enrolled in a BSc Concentrated Honours in Marine Biology. See Co-operative Education Program.
Admission to Honours
Students must apply for admission to Honours programs. Students considering Honours should consult with a Marine Biology Honours Advisor early in their studies. To be admitted, students must:
- Have a minimum B+ average (GPA of 3.3) in Core Biology and Core Marine Biology courses with no grade less than C. A maximum of two of these core courses may be repeated once to achieve this requirement.
- Have a minimum B average (GPA of 3.0) across all courses in the honours subject.
- Identify and gain the support of a thesis supervisor during their third year of studies (see Honours webpage for supervisor eligibility)
- With the supervisor’s input, draft and submit a thesis proposal to the Honours Committee no later than May 15th of their third year of studies. See Honours webpage for thesis proposal guidelines, and admission procedures for Honours Co-op students.
Marine Biology/Biology Honours webpage https://www.dal.ca/faculty/science/biology/honours.html
Course Requirements
In addition to fulfilling the requirements outlined in the Academic Regulations and College of Arts and Science Degree Requirements sections, students in a Concentrated Honours program in Marine Biology must complete the following courses:
1000 level
- BIOL 1010.03: Principles of Biology Part I (or BIOL 1020.03: Introductory Biology I: Cells, Genetics and Evolution or SCIE 1505X/Y.18 or SCIE 1506.09: Integrated Science I and SCIE 1507.09 Integrated Science II or equivalent)
- BIOL 1011.03: Principles of Biology Part II (or BIOL 1021.03: Introductory Biology II: Organismal Biology and Ecology or SCIE 1505X/Y.18 or SCIE 1506.09: Integrated Science I and SCIE 1507.09 Integrated Science II or equivalent)
- MATH 1060.03/STAT 1060.03: Introductory Statistics for Science and Health Sciences (or SCIE 1505X/Y.18 or SCIE 1506.09: Integrated Science I and SCIE 1507.09 Integrated Science II or equivalent)
- MATH 1000.03: Differential and Integral Calculus I or MATH 1215.03: Life Sciences Calculus or MATH 1030.03: Matrix Theory and Linear Algebra 1
- CHEM 1011.03: Concepts of Chemistry: Structure and Reactivity
- CHEM 1012.03: Concepts in Chemistry: Energy and Equilibrium
Note: Marine Biology students wishing to incorporate Ocean Sciences into their program should include MATH 1000.03: Differential and Integral Calculus I or MATH 1215.03: Life Sciences Calculus and PHYC 1190.03/PHYC 1290.03 Introduction to Physics (or PHYC 1310.03/PHYC 1320.03 or PHYC 1300.06 Physics in & Around You)
2000 level
Core Biology courses
Other required courses
- OCEA 2000.06: The Blue Planet or OCEA 2001.03: The Blue Planet I and OCEA 2002.03: The Blue Planet II
- MATH 2080.03/STAT 2080.03: Statistical Methods for Data Analysis and Inference
3000/4000 level
Core Biology/Core Marine Biology Courses
Students must choose 15 credit hours from any of the following courses:
In addition, students must complete an Honours Thesis:
- MARI 4901.03: Honours Research and Thesis I and MARI 4902.03: Honours Research and Thesis II
In addition, students must complete at least another 12 credits hours in MARI or MARI-approved courses to achieve the minimum of 54 credit hours in their honours subject above the 1000 level. This may include additional SEASIDE courses or any courses cross-listed as MARI.