BA/BS in Marine Sciences

This is a newer, cohort-based and interdisciplinary major centered on hands-on research about oceans, coasts and the life they support. Shannon Point Marine Center teams up with four science departments to run it. Students begin with an intensive residential week at the marine center, where they meet their cohort and are introduced to research. Later they work in classrooms, faculty laboratories and a capstone project, taking advantage of the Salish Sea nearby. Admission to the major is capacity-constrained. The program is part of Western Washington University in Bellingham, a city with outdoor terrain and water close by. Interested students can request information, use the cost estimator, apply online, or contact the admissions team and the department listed on the page for helpful guidance on the degree options, requirements and next steps.