Program Resources

Program Admission Requirements

Admission is based on academic standing. Students wishing to major in Ocean Sciences or Marine Biology should submit an online "Application for Admission to Ocean Sciences Major Programs" following completion of the courses listed below, typically at the end of their first year of study. Please note you will be required to sign into my.mun.ca to complete and submit the online application form.

Applications may not normally be reviewed during the regular registration period. To ensure your application is reviewed in a timely manner, please keep the following dates in mind:

  • To declare for a Fall semester: Submit before second week of July.
  • To declare for a Winter semester: Submit before the first week of November.
  • To declare for a Spring semester: Submit before last week of March.

To be considered, students must normally have completed the courses listed below with an overall average of at least 60 or 65% (depending on the program):

  1. Biology 1001 and 1002 with a minimum course grade of 65%;
  2. Six credit hours in Critical Reading and Writing (CRW) courses, including at least 3 credit hours in English courses;
  3. Mathematics 1000 or 1006;
  4. Ocean Sciences 1000 with a minimum course grade of 65%;
  5. Two additional 1000-level courses offered by the Faculty of Science; Chemistry 1050 and 1051 are strongly recommended to help complete the program in a timely manner.

Undergraduate Handbook

The Undergraduate Handbook contains useful information for students in Ocean Sciences or Marine Biology, including progress trackers.

Honours Guidebook

The Honours Guidebook contains information about the Honours Dissertation course (OSCS 499A/B), which unfolds over two successive semesters. It also provides the thesis writing guidelines and submission procedures.

Honours Evaluation Guidelines

Here are the normal steps required to complete OCSC 499B (links to all forms can be found below):

  1. The supervisor identifies an examiner in consultation with the student and makes sure they are available. If the proposed examiner is external to Memorial University, departmental approval should be sought.
  2. The student submits their thesis along with 499B Submission form (links to all forms found below) by the due date to the department via the Honours Dissertation course shell on Brightspace. The form should indicate the type and date of the presentation and the name of the examiner who was selected (confirming they were sent a copy of the thesis).
  3. The examiner completes the 499B Examiner Report and emails it to the supervisor with copy to the Academic program officer(oceanundergrad@mun.ca) and Deputy Head Undergraduate Studies. This should normally be done before the oral presentation. If required, an extension can be requested by contacting the APO.
  4. The oral presentation normally takes place at the Biology & Ocean Sciences Honours Student Symposium where candidates usually deliver a talk, or exceptionally a poster (alternative arrangements can be made, with proper justification). The details of the symposium with a schedule and a link for remote participation will be communicated by email.
  5. At the symposium (or ulteriorly), the examiner completes the appropriate Evaluation form and emails it to the supervisor with copy to the Academic program officer(oceanundergrad@mun.ca) and Deputy Head Undergraduate Studies. Reach out if the examiner cannot attend the symposium in person or remotely.
  6. After incorporating the feedback received, the student gets the final thesis (499B report) approved by the supervisor and submits it, along with the 499B Final Thesis Submission form to the department via the Honours Dissertation course shell on Brightspace before the end of the semester.
  7. Once all requirements have been fulfilled, the Head or delegate signs the final submission form, approving the thesis meets requirements laid out by examiner for PAS in OCSC 499B, and allowing for deposition at the Centre for Newfoundland Studies.

Honours Submission and Evaluation Forms

OCSC Course Syllabi

Please note that the syllabi posted here are for information only; they may not represent the most up-to-date version. For definitive course outlines and guidelines, please refer to the syllabus provided by the instructor at the start of each course (or eventual updates provided during the course). For official OCSC course descriptions, please see the Calendar.