The College of William & Mary, in collaboration with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at Gloucester Point, is preparing to add an undergraduate marine science program to its list of academic majors. Currently, the school offers a minor in marine science with VIMS.
“That minor has been very popular,” said Siddhartha Mitra, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and professor of coastal and ocean processes.
The marine science minor was first introduced at W&M in 2010.
“It had it’s time to grow and make an impression,” said Christopher Hein, Wakefield Associate Professor of Marine Science and Director of Undergraduate Programs.
If approved, the undergraduate program will be the first of its kind for a public college or university in Virginia.
“We would be the first undergraduate degree titled “marine science” in Virginia,” said Mitra.
The school is preparing for the major to be available for W&M students in fall 2025 at the earliest. This is dependent on approval f...