BSc in Ocean and Earth Science in Norfolk United States | Old Dominion University

The Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences provides undergraduate degree programs in several Ocean and Earth Science disciplines, including Biological Oceanography, Chemical Oceanography, Environmental Sciences, Physical Oceanography, Geology, Marine Science Technology, Secondary Earth Science Education (6-12), and Middle School Science Education (6-8). Students can also pursue a minor in Ocean and Earth Science.

The department benefits from strong financial backing through state funding, private donations, corporate sponsorships, and community support. In 1979, the Virginia General Assembly formed the Virginia Graduate Marine Science Consortium to strengthen marine science education, research, and advisory services while boosting the state's competitiveness for research grants. Founding institutions include Old Dominion University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and William & Mary. A major boost came in 1986 with the Samuel L. and Fay M. Slover endowment, which expanded marine research initiatives. The Commonwealth later designated the Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography (CCPO), established at Old Dominion in 1991, as a Center of Excellence.

The department operates across two facilities. The Oceanography/Physical Sciences Building features modern teaching labs, computing resources, and specialized research spaces for biological, chemical, and geological oceanography. Meanwhile, the Research I building hosts the CCPO and all physical oceanography labs. For fieldwork, the department utilizes the 55-foot R/V Fay Slover research vessel for coastal and estuarine research, supplemented by smaller boats for near-shore studies.