Master’s in Marine Mammal Science Marine Mammal Science: 3+2 Track

The Marine Mammal Science 3+2 track gives students the opportunity to achieve a fast-track completion of the undergraduate program and the Master’s of Science in Marine Mammal Science program in five years.

New College students who are interested in completing both undergraduate and graduate programs in five years are encouraged to follow the accelerated 3+2 curriculum, provided below. Students who are interested in this option will be eligible only after entering the New College undergraduate program and showing strong academic performance across their years of undergraduate study. These applicants must satisfy the following minimum conditions before they can be admitted via the 3+2 pathway:

  • Consult with a Marine Mammal Science (MMS) faculty member in the second semester of their second year, or earlier.
  • Complete 3 years of study with Satisfactory evaluations in all relevant academic undertakings.
  • Complete the prerequisite courses listed below. (Most students entering the MMS program prepare by engaging in one of the following Areas of Concentration: Biology, Psychology, Marine Biology, Biopsychology, Neuroscience, Animal Wellbeing and Conservation; the prerequisites reflect the requirements for these AOCs.)
  • Be recommended for the 3+2 pathway by a faculty member.
  • Be in a position to finish their undergraduate thesis in the first semester of their fourth year.
  • Submit an application in their third year.

Prerequisite Courses

The following courses must be completed during the first three years of
undergraduate study:

  •  Introduction to Psychology or Foundations of Biology (1 or 2)
  • Two intermediate-level Biology or Psychology courses focused on animals, cognition, neuroscience, or ecology
  • Two upper-level Biology or Psychology courses focused on animals, cognition, neuroscience, or ecology
  • A Statistics course (preferred: Introduction to Applied Statistics, Biostatistics, or both Dealing with Data I and II)
  • A laboratory course in Biology or Psychology
  • A Research Methods course in Biology or Psychology (or equivalent)
  • Introduction to Chemistry (preferred): CHEM 2075

Courses in Years 4-5

Courses in years 4-5 include the Master’s in Science in Marine Mammal Science requirements for graduation as well as any undergraduate courses still required for a BA at New College.

Year 4:

  • Research Methods: Cognition and Neuroscience
  • Research Methods: Ecology, Acoustics, and Field
  • Lab in are of interest (fall and spring)
  • Seminar in Marine Mammal Science (fall and spring)
  • The Art of the Thesis Proposal
  • Statistics
  • Introduction to Marine Mammals
  • Any courses or thesis work related to the undergraduate AOC

Year 5:

  • 2 MMS Electives Analyzing Data
  • Research Methods: Ecology, Acoustics, and Field
  • Lab in area of interest (fall and spring)
  • Seminar in Marine Mammal Science (fall and spring)
  • The Art and Science of Writing a Thesis
  • Statistics
  • Writing a Journal Article