2016 Fact Book

53 minor, coursework provides students with the skills to formulate, abstract, analyze, and solve complex problems. Enhancements include a department colloquium series, as well as faculty mentorship of undergraduate student research projects. Graduates of our programs are prepared to enter graduate study in the mathematical sciences or pursue careers in a variety of fields, including science, medicine, industry, and business. The Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences focuses on issues in the life and Earth sciences of the ocean, atmosphere, and the land. Offered are undergraduate majors and minors in environmental science/studies and in marine biology; a minor in geographical information sciences; M.S. degrees in Marine Biology, Coastal Zone Management (CZM), and Marine Environmental Sciences; and an M.A. in Marine and Coastal Studies. Also offered are a Marine Coastal Climate Change graduate certificate program, and the Ph.D. in Oceanography/Marine Biology. The M.A. is completely online and many M.S. courses (and the full CZM program) are also available online. Master’s degree programs can be completed in as little as one-and-a-half years. Coursework includes a wide array of topics from general marine biology, ecology, and geology to molecular biology, genomics, and genetics. The department is committed to excellence in research and service providing a wide variety of opportunities and connections for current students and graduates. Students gain classroom, laboratory, and field knowledge. Our graduates become academic or professional scientists; workers in industry, government, and nongovernmental organizations; or academicians, such as biologists, geologists, physicists, professors, and teachers. Academic Opportunities The Halmos College supports the NSU Dual Admission Program to allow select students to be accepted simultaneously into both the undergraduate program and their desired NSU graduate school. The college promotes internships, independent study, and other learning experiences beyond the classroom as valuable components of higher education. The Clinic Exploration Program (CEP) and Pre-Health Day hosted by the Department of Biological Sciences allows undergraduate students to shadow and meet with medical professionals at NSU clinics for a first-hand examination of health careers in action and networking with health professional alumni during pre-health day. Students taking travel-study courses explore and research sites around the world. The Climate-Sustainability Lecture Series brings together expert speakers and attendees to discuss the scientific, technological, social, and policy aspects of sustainability-related issues. The Mathematics Colloquium Series, Annual Math Brain Bowl Contest, and Pi Day hosted by the Department of Mathematics increases awareness of mathematics’ importance and applications in daily life. Research Halmos College researchers, faculty and staff members, and students pursue studies and investigations in various areas of biology, physics, math, chemistry, the environment, and oceanography. Focus areas include • coral reef biology, ecology, and geology • conservation genetics and ecology • fisheries science • genetics and genomics of marine and terrestrial organisms • deep-sea biology and ecology • marine plankton • molecular biology, ecology, and evolution • microbiology • bioinformatics, biostatistics, and computational biology • matrix theory and applied mathematics • biophysics and biochemistry • biodiversity • larval ecology • invasive species • physical oceanography • geology • ecological modeling • habitat mapping, assessment, and monitoring • oceanic ecology • restoration • aquaculture • sea turtles Associated Institutes There are three preeminent research institutes housed at the Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography: the National Coral Reef Institute, the Guy Harvey Research Institute, and the Save Our Seas Shark Center. Additional research and community service initiatives at the college include the Broward County Florida Sea Turtle Conservation Program and the Marine Environmental Education Center at the Carpenter House.