Marine Biology
Overview
Marine biology is the study of plants and animals that live in oceans, coastal waters, and saltwater wetlands.Marine biology programs include topics such as:
- Oceanography
- Marine microbiology
- Marine botany
- Marine population dynamics and biodiversity
- Marine ecology
- Studies of specific species of birds, algae, fish, or invertebrates
Schools
Very few community colleges and other two-year schools offer associate degree programs in marine biology. An associate degree usually takes two years to complete. After earning an associate degree students can transfer to a college or university for further study.
Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in marine biology. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.
Several universities offer graduate degrees in marine biology. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.
See schools that offer this program.
Related Educational Programs
- Animal Physiology
- Aquaculture
- Biological Sciences, General
- Conservation Biology
- Ecology
- Environmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Maritime Sciences
- Oceanography
- Plant Physiology
- Water, Wetlands, and Marine Resources Management
- Wildlife Sciences and Management
- Zoology and Animal Biology
Related Careers
Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study
Other Careers Related to this Program of Study
Program Admission
You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.
Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:
- Advanced Biology courses
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English Composition
- Physics
- Pre-Calculus
Graduate Admissions
Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree (usually in biology), good grades, and good test scores.
Additional requirements at some schools include:
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Biology (less often)
- Letters of recommendation
Typical Course Work
Program Courses
A bachelor's degree program in marine biology typically requires that you study courses such as the following:
- Applied Calculus
- Biochemistry
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Ecology
- Elements of Physics
- English Composition
- General Biology
- General Chemistry
- Genetics
- Introduction to Marine Biology
- Introduction to Physiology
- Marine Ecology
- Organic Chemistry
Graduate Program Courses
A graduate program in marine biology typically includes courses such as the following:
- Physiology and Cell Biology of Marine Organisms
- Scientific Methods in Resource Management
- Statistical Inference in Applied Research
In addition, graduate programs typically require the following:
- Thesis (master's degree)
- Preliminary exams (doctoral degree only)
- Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree)
Things to Know
Some bachelor's programs offer summer lab courses. These give you experience doing research in marine settings.
Schools
East Side Area
Central Washington University
- Biology--Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
King-Snohomish Area
Bellevue College
- Associate in Arts and Sciences Transfer Degree
Everett Community College
- Biology (Transfer)
Highline College
- Marine Biology (Transfer)
Seattle University
- Marine and Conservation Biology
Shoreline Community College
- Oceanography and Marine Sciences (Transfer)
University of Washington - Seattle
- Aquatic & Fishery Sciences
- Marine Biology
Kitsap Area
Olympic College
- Marine Science/Oceanography Pre-Major
Spokane Area
Eastern Washington University
- Biology--MS
Tacoma Area
Tacoma Community College
- Biology Pre-Major
West Side Area
Evergreen State College, The
- Marine Science
Western Washington University
- Biology--Marine and Estuarine Science
- Biology--Marine Emphasis