Marine and Coastal Science

The Marine and Coastal Science (MACS) degree program is a new cohort-based, interdisciplinary, experiential program that gives participants opportunities to engage in coastal and marine-focused research. Active learning experiences help students develop into confident, thoughtful, ethical scientists who are ready to address the growing challenges affecting marine and coastal environments.

Each year, a new cohort of students engages in hands-on research and learning experiences in and around the Salish Sea, with opportunities for focused, residential study at Western’s Shannon Point Marine Center (SPMC) in Anacortes, about an hour from the main campus.

Study Marine and Coastal Science Across Disciplines

The new MACS major is a partnership between four academic departments (Biology, Geology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences) and Shannon Point Marine Center. You will have a unique opportunity to study marine science in an environment of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Learn, Work, and Thrive Together

You will study marine science with a cohort group, beginning with a research experience in your second year, continuing through a 3rd year core series, and culminating with a capstone project in your final year.

Gain Research Experience

You will have opportunities to engage in mentored, hands-on research in your sophomore year through immersive study at the Shannon Point Marine Center in Anacortes, Washington.

Obtain Access to Marine Labs & Research Vessels

You will spend time in the field, on oceanographic vessels, and in learning laboratories. You will engage deeply in marine research and focused study of the Salish Sea.

Marine science concepts are generally illustrated through examples from local systems, or through case studies from our regional seas, bringing the oceans and coasts into the classroom.  Students delve into the concepts they are learning through sampling trips aboard our research vessels, or in the extensive coastal and intertidal areas accessible near the campus and the marine lab.  Students collect, analyze, and interpret real data A capstone research experience allows them to apply their learning to real-world issues.  

To us, beyond the classroom means extending our focus beyond the university to the people and communities whose existences are intertwined with coastal systems and resources. In this place-based approach, scientists work to understand the whole context of an issue, including the lands, waters, ecosystems, and human systems. Workable solutions require problem solvers to understand a diversity of viewpoints. To this end, the program is built to bring forward many voices, and to encourage the participation and success of students from all backgrounds. We work with local communities, nonprofits, agencies, governments, and other institutions to build knowledge and understanding of marine systems, and collaboratively build tools to address problems. Students engage actively in these efforts through class projects, independent research experiences, internships, and partnerships.