William & Mary is set to become the first public university in Virginia to offer a bachelor’s degree in marine science. The Board of Visitors at the school recently approved a resolution to create the new undergraduate program in response to growing demand in the field. Although the university still awaits final approval from the state, Provost Peggy Agouris expressed that the proposed program aligns well with the existing work at the university and aims to provide undergraduate students with the opportunity to pursue impactful careers in coastal and marine science.

Currently, William & Mary already has master’s and doctoral programs in marine science through its Virginia Institute of Marine Science located at Gloucester Point. This institute is also involved in conducting research for state policymakers. The rise in interest in marine science courses is believed to be driven by urgent issues faced by coastal and marine communities worldwide, including Virginia, which faces significant challenges due to its extensive coastline, rapid sea-level rise, and economic dependence on resources from the Chesapeake Bay.

In 2010, William & Mary introduced a minor in marine science, and over the past five years, interest in these courses has significantly increased according to a university news release. The Academic Common Market, which offers in-state tuition to students who seek degrees not offered by public colleges in their own states, identified marine science as the top sought-after program in the southeast region of the market, signaling the need for such programs.

The envisioned undergraduate program at William & Mary would involve an immersion semester at VIMS for students during their junior year to engage in research and internships. The university is currently developing a proposal to submit to the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia with hopes of launching the program in the fall of 2025.