To work as a marine biologist, you typically need to:
What Certifications Do Marine Biologists Need?
The 10 Best Colleges for Marine Biology
A marine biologist is someone who is interested in learning and studying marine organisms and what their lives are like in their natural habitats. There are a vast array of career choices one can pick from - from studying large ocean animals and what they eat to investigating environmental conditions that often affect them. Everything from whales to microscopic organisms, and everything else ...
Pursue an Undergraduate Degree. With any career in the sciences, take as many math and science courses as possible in high school. A marine biologist education includes a broad understanding of the sciences, because physics and chemistry have a broad impact on the study of undersea life. Advanced mathematics, statistics ...
Gaining practical experience is an important part of a marine biologist's training. The venue for that experience will vary, depending on the budding biologist's area of interest. Some might find work with a fishery or aquaculture company, studying commercially important fish species. Others might work for an environmentally-oriented ...
It's the study of organic life in the world's oceans, and the way that life forms interact with the oceans and their extensive environmental factors. A vast number of sub-specialties exist within the world of marine biology, but most career paths begin with the same general training.
There are several education requirements to become a marine biologist. Marine biologists usually study ecology, population biology, and epidemiology, biology or environmental science. 76% of marine biologists hold a bachelor's degree and 13% hold a master's degree. We found these by analyzing 223 marine biologist resumes to investigate the topic of marine biologist education more precisely.
The most common degree for marine biologists is bachelor's degree 81% of marine biologists earn that degree. A close second is master's degree with 13% and rounding it off is associate degree with 3%.
Marine biologists with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $64,573 annually. With a Masters degree, marine biologists earn a median annual income of $55,411 compared to $49,218 for marine biologists with an Bachelors degree.
A bachelor’s degree program in marine usually has required courses in subjects such as ecology, evolution, cell biology, and general biology. Elective courses – courses which allow students to focus on a specific area of interest – can include marine mammal biology, tropical ecosystems, vertebrate zoology, and fish ecology.
The topics you will study in a doctoral program in marine biology can include phycology (the study of algae), marine microbiology, and fisheries science. One of the most important parts of a Ph.D. program in marine biology is planning and conducting independent research. From this, you will have to write a dissertation which you need to present ...
Whatever the specialty, marine biologists must have comprehensive knowledge in chemistry, biology, geology, ecology, and even physics. Skills in listening, communicating, critical thinking, and problem-solving are all required by marine biologists to succeed in their field. In addition, they must be adept in analytical software such as Visual Molecular Dynamics, as well as Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop. Of course, they must be able to use lab equipment such as centrifuges, pipettes, and microscopes for analytical purposes.
Marine biology is not much different from the discipline of biology, but rather it’s the application of a variety of specialties to study certain organisms that live in an aquatic environment. Studying marine biology requires a deep understanding of the sea’s unique characteristics and inhabitants. It also studies the relationship ...
Marine biologists don’t just spend endless hours coming up with research ideas and publications, but they also have to get their hands dirty by jumping straight into the field (or ocean). You can do this by either collaborating with other researchers or by doing volunteer work.
The majority of a marine biologist’s time should be spent conducting research in the field, collecting data regarding underwater animal and plant species. Their data is analyzed in an office to further the understanding of said species and environments. In marine biology, there are a number of different specializations, ranging from the behavior of animals to marine biotechnology. Some marine biologists spend their time focusing on one or a species that thrive in a particular geographic area.
Although you can become a marine biologist with just a bachelor’s degree in the field, earning a master’s or even a Ph.D. in marine biology will give allow you greater opportunities to conduct research, to teach, and to hold onto a consulting position.
Students are required to complete the general education requirements of the College of the Environment. Some of the credits applied to these requirements may also fulfill major requirements.
Students develop content knowledge and skills through a large selection of courses offered at the upper-division level through the School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, the School of Oceanography, the Department of Biology, and the Friday Harbor Laboratories.
All students complete an integrative field experience at Friday Harbor Labs or similar site. Choose one from the following list. For courses of more than 6 credits (FHL 472, FHL 492 or OCEAN 492), students may apply up to an additional 6 credits towards the other major electives requirement
Summer camps at marine biology and marine study centers are open to kids as young as twelve years old. There are also summer programs for high school students that teach things like sailing, SCUBA, and marine exploration. Another option is to do volunteer work at a local aquarium. Many offer opportunities to work as docents and interact with ...
Internships are an integral part of many bachelor’s programs in marine biology and related disciplines. These paid or unpaid programs are often offered in the summer and allow students to earn some college credit while working at a marine laboratory, biological research station, marine science lab, or marine center.
Ecology Project International is a wonderful resource for high school students considering a career in marine biology.
Electives, which allow students to concentrate on particular areas of interest, might include mammal biology, vertebrae zoology, tropical ecosystems, fish ecology, aquaculture, biotechnology, environmental biology, molecular biology, toxicology, and species-specific biology. The study of statistical analysis is also a vital part of curricula, ...
The Columbia University Department of Biology maintains an expansive, though not exhaustive, list of ocean-related internship s.
The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:
Marine biologists can go for academic research, laboratory work or fieldwork. A bachelor’s degree is required for entry-level jobs in private research organisations and biotechnology companies. Doctoral degrees are for faculty positions and other jobs that allow you to research on your own.
Masters degree in marine biology is for two years. The syllabus comprises of the following subjects,
The scientific study of marine life and organisms present in the sea is called marine biology. Marine biologists inspect the population behaviours or physiology, the condition of habitats and the effects of human activity on the animals and their habitats are studied. Marine biology consists of a variety of subjects like pathology, biochemistry, ...
Technology - There are many technologies used by marine biologists. Computers are used by them in research and writing. Biostatistical programs are used to conclude marine populations. Microcomputer programs are used for word processing entering data on a spreadsheet. High-frequency radars, sea gliders, animal telemetry, buoy system, drifters, underwater hydrophone, cold cards, geographical information system (GIS), SONAR, satellite oceanography, ROVs are some of the other technologies used in marine biology.
Marine biology professionals work under many job titles like wildlife biologist, zoologist, fish and wildlife biologist, fisheries biologist, aquatic biologist, conservation biologist, and biological technician. Majority of marine biologists work in state and government agencies.
The scope of marine biology is huge, and there is something for students for their interest. Ocean engineering is said to be the highest paying job after marine biology.
Particular colleges conduct their entrance tests to select candidates for a marine biology course. Those who clear the entrance exam are given admissions.
With a college education, this period can range anywhere from 4-8 years depending on your program and institution. Additional Certifications and Licenses.
Those who marine biologists work for are typically government departments and institutions at the state and federal levels . Marine biologists that are not government-employed can be found at private research institutions or universities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics includes the Marine Biologist career in the “Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists” occupation, and has determined the following breakdown of employment for those 18,500 jobs:
Normally, a marine biologist studies species that occur in or near the ocean, manages fisheries, collects data on chemical aspects of ocean waters, and much more.
Professionals with a high school diploma are limited to assistant positions such as field technicians and thus can expect a marine biologist starting salary of about $23,950 on average.
Because of the healthy pay rates and job satisfaction, some retire around age 60 or even older, however, this is a choice that varies by individual preference.
Those who aim for a high proportion of fieldwork may find themselves in the outdoors anywhere from one-quarter of their time to half of the time, depending on the field season and focal species.
States with the highest employment rate of careers in this discipline are Washington, California, Florida, Oregon and Minnesota. The following table shows a general picture of what the marine biologist median salary would be per state. State. Average Annual Salary. Average Hourly Rate.