India, May 4 -- William & Mary is moving forward with a proposal for the first undergraduate marine science program at a public university in Virginia.

The Board of Visitors approved the measure to submit plans for the degree to the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV). That review process by SCHEV will determine whether the university may implement the new program.

William & Mary's School of Marine Science, currently offering a professional master's degree and two research degrees (M.S. and Ph.D.), is ranked among the top institutions of its kind in the U.S.

"William & Mary's School of Marine Science is preeminent in the country," said Provost Peggy Agouris. "It only makes sense to extend our world-class expertise in...