Marine Science Major - Bachelor of Science
Love the ocean and marine life? The Marine Science major in the Bachelor of Science explores the science of the ocean. You'll study the physics, chemistry, geology and biology of the oceanic environment to predict and solve complex global challenges.
With 71 percent of Earth’s surface covered by water, the oceanic environment is critical to our existence. It regulates climate, mediates temperature and drives the weather, determining rainfall, droughts, and floods. Our oceans are the world’s largest store of carbon; they act as a carbon sink and absorb heat from the atmosphere. More than 90% of the excess heat generated as a result of climate change and about 30% of the carbon dioxide produced by humans since the start of the industrial revolution have ended up in our oceans.
Study marine science and find out why and how our oceans are changing, what that means for the future of our biosphere, and how you can make a difference.
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This is part of the Bachelor of Science.
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In the Marine Science major you’ll learn to apply principles and concepts of marine science to predict and solve complex environmental challenges at a local and global scale. You’ll have many opportunities to gain practical skills during fieldwork, and develop your laboratory and quantitative skills.
Apart from the courses below you also need to complete courses from your second major, your chosen minor(s) or electives.*
*Depending on your chosen combination of majors and minors it may take you longer than three years to complete your degree.
Core courses
All Bachelor of Science students need to complete core courses that help you develop transferable skills and support your work in all other courses in the degree.
Choose one of:
- DIGD507 Mahitahi | Collaborative Practices
- SCIE504 Science and Society
And choose one natural sciences course
- ASTR500 Introductory Astronomy
- BIOL500 Foundations of Life
- BMED500 Introduction to Biomedical Science
- CHEM500 Chemistry in Our World
- CHEM501 Principles of Chemistry #
- CHEM502 Biological and Solution Chemistry
- CONS500 Biodiversity
- EASC500 Our Dynamic Earth
- ENVS502 Environmental Science Skills
- ENVS503 Our Total Environment
- FOOD502 Food Science
- FOOD503 Food Technology
- GESC500 Mapping Our Environment
- HEAL505 Human Anatomy and Physiology
- HEAL507 Health and Environment
- MAOH501 Hauora Māori and Environment
- MASC500 Introduction to Marine Science
- MASC501 Marine Science Techniques
- MELS501 Histology and Cytology^
- MICR501 Microbial Life
- PHYS501 Physics for Scientists and Engineers
- SOSC585 Climate Action
And one mathematical and computer sciences course
- COMP500 Programming Concepts and Techniques*
- COMP503 Object Oriented Programming*
- MATH502 Algebra and Discrete Mathematics
- MATH504 Introductory Mathematics for Science
- MATH505 Algebra and Calculus I
- STAT500 Applied Statistics
- STAT502 Introductory Probability and Statistics
^Not offered in 2025
*Only available to students in the Analytics and Mathematical Modelling and Computation majors
#Please note that this course is designed for students with chemistry knowledge from high school. If you're unsure about your level of knowledge, you can take an optional pre-test here.
And one course from either the natural sciences or mathematical and computer science courses above.
Complete the following course:
- SCIE606 Vision Mātauranga: Science Practice in Aotearoa
And one of:
- CHEM604 Instrumental Analysis
- SCIE600 Scientific Inquiry
In Year 3, you complete a project in an area related to your major. This project gives you an important competitive edge for your career, and is good preparation for postgraduate study.
Courses you complete for this project:
- SCIE707 Science Capstone Project A
- SCIE708 Science Capstone Project B
Marine science courses
If you're majoring in marine science, this is the main subject area you specialise in. It makes up one third of your degree and consists of eight marine science-related courses you study throughout your degree.
Year 1 courses
- MASC500 Introduction to Marine Science
- MASC501 Marine Science Techniques
Year 2 courses
- MASC600 Estuaries to Deep Sea
- MASC601 Biology of Marine Organisms
- MASC602 Marine Science Methods
Year 3 courses
- MASC702 Marine Ecosystem Dynamics
- MASC703 Marine Science Research
- MASC704 Humans and Oceans
Ready to enrol in your courses?
Find out how you can enrol in the courses and classes for your programme, whether you’ve just joined AUT as a new student or you’re already studying with us. If you’re looking for a course timetable or more info on a specific course use our course search.
Build your degree
Use our online tool to build your own degree and see what your three years of study could look like.
https://www.aut.ac.nz/courses/bachelor-of-science/marine-science-major
Students who started at AUT before 2023
If you started your studies at AUT before 2023, the courses you need to study to complete the requirements for your programme are a little different. Find out more about what courses you should take.
Skills you will develop
The outcomes for graduates of the Bachelor of Science are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.
Career opportunities if you study marine science
- Marine scientist or technologist
- Environmental consultant
- Resource manager
- Aquaculture manager
- Science teacher*
*After completing an additional year of teacher training
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Science
- Analytics
- Biological Science
- Biomedical Science
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Food Science
- Mathematical Modelling and Computation
Postgraduate study options
- Dynamic industry with regular new discoveries
- Hands-on learning in marine environments, using AUT’s custom-built boat
- Flexibility: tailor your degree with a second major, minor or electives of your choice
- Complete an industry-related project in your final year
- Enquiring, observant and patient
- Motivated and persistent
- Someone who enjoys the outdoors
- Passionate about the ocean and the life within it
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.