Study marine science at UVic

A degree in Biology (BIOL) at UVic provides a unique opportunity to specialize in Marine Sciences – the Ocean is everywhere at UVic and if it is your passion our department is the place for you.

Our campus is located within walking distance or a short drive of beaches and rocky shores of southern Vancouver Island. UVic is a member university of the Bamfield Marine station consortium, home to the large-scale remote ocean sensing programs of NEPTUNE Canada and VENUS and a partner university supporting Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre.

Together with the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences (EOS) and Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC) we offer many lecture and laboratory/field courses with a significant Marine Science component.  You can obtain a combined Major in Biology and Ocean Sciences and the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences offers an Ocean Sciences minor , which can be taken during the summer or as part of a regular Biology program. 

Undergraduate courses with a significant marine sciences component offered on the UVic Campus:

EOS110 Oceans and Atmosphere (Varela, Tunnicliffe)

BIOL311 Biological Oceanography (Dower, Varela)

EOS 312 Introductory Chemical Oceanography

EOS313 Geological Oceanography

EOS314 Descriptive Physical Oceanography-Introduction

BIOL319 Marine Ecology (Juniper)

BIOL321 Survey of Invertebrates (Page)

BIOL322 Biology of Marine Invertebrates (Page)

BIOL323 Algae and Fungi (Varela)

BIOL 335 Icthyology (Reimchen)

EOS350 Understanding the World’s Ocean (Dower)

EOS 408 Marine Geology

Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, http://www.bms.bc.ca/university.html (make bms a link), offers 1.5 and 3.0 unit Summer courses and a Fall program of 7.5 units under the MRNE http://web.uvic.ca/calendar2011/CDs/MRNE/CTs.html (link MRNE to calendar) designation. These courses qualify for credit towards a UVic Biology degree.

Insert Bamfield Field course picture here – contact Brad Anholt for picture or link

Undergraduate Research
Several courses at UVic and courses at Bamfield have associated laboratory and field components that offer hands-on experiences for students.  As well, Directed Studies courses and the Honour’s thesis programs offer opportunities for students to obtain research experience in under the supervision of UVic faculty (“link UVic faculty” to list of faculty below). Students with an interest in pursuing graduate studies are especially encouraged to take advantage of these research opportunities. 
Image of students in field course. Would like video of students on Strickland pulling in and sorting a sample
Adjunct faculty are located at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Institute of Ocean Sciences is located at Patricia Bay, 30 minutes from campus and Pacific Biological Station is 90 minutes north in Nanaimo providing collaborative research opportunities for undergraduates.

Faculty with interest in Marine Science

List of Adjunct Faculty in Marine/Ocean Sciences…