Bachelor's in Marine Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Programme overview

The Marine Science major is an interdisciplinary programme combining physics, geology, mathematics, chemistry and biology to study marine environments. It stresses communication skills, reading the primary literature, and hands-on laboratory and field work, and is open to SEBS and SAS students.

Faculty: School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) / School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) | Department: Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: New Brunswick, NJ, United States

What you will study

Five options: Marine Biology/Biological Oceanography, Marine Chemistry, Physical Oceanography, Marine Geology, and Directed Marine Studies (SEBS only, requires a minor or certificate). Students complete an applied research project with a mentor and an experience-based education requirement.

Career pathways

Marine and environmental science fields, civil service in environmental management and consulting, secondary school teaching, and graduate study in oceanography or the basic sciences.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Rutgers University-New Brunswick first-year applicants: at least 16 academic units in high school (subject lists vary by school); SAT/ACT submission is optional; online application, essay, application fee and self-reported transcript (STARS) required; applicants educated outside the US in a country where English is not the principal language must submit an English proficiency exam (IELTS minimum 6.5 for New Brunswick).

Requirements published at program group level.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Fall (September) entry: first-year Early Action application due November 1, 2026 and Regular Decision due December 1, 2026 for September 2027 entry; Spring (January) entry for 2027 is open to first-year and transfer applicants to the School of Arts and Sciences, with an application due date of October 1, 2026.

New Brunswick, Fall/September 2027: first-year Early Action November 1, 2026 (decision by January 31, 2027); first-year Regular Decision December 1, 2026 (decision by February 28, 2027); all transfer applicants February 1, 2027; candidate reply date May 1, 2027. Applications after the due dates are considered on a rolling, space-available basis. Applicants must apply by December 1 to be considered for honors and merit-based scholarships.

New Brunswick, Spring/January 2027: all first-year and transfer applications due October 1, 2026; online decision December 1, 2026; candidate reply date December 7, 2026.

Applications are submitted through the Rutgers Application or the Common App. SAT and ACT scores are optional for Rutgers-New Brunswick undergraduate applicants (SAT code 2765, ACT code 2592); Rutgers maintains test-optional and test-blind policies through 2027. Application fee is paid online by credit card or by mailed check; fee waivers are accepted from the National School Lunch Program, military or veteran applicants, College Board, NACAC, ACT and EOF.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.rutgers.edu/apply

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