Under the Sea
So you want to become a
Marine Biologist
There are several divisions of ocean study, such as Physical
Oceanography, chemical oceanography, geological oceanography,
biological oceanography, and of course, marine biology. We at
Under the Sea, specialize in the education side of these fields
but also participate in some research. Here are a few suggestions
on how you may pursue the goal of becoming a marine biologist or other
kind of marine scientist:
1- Bathe every day - no one likes a stinky person so remember - ya ain't gonna work here smelling like that! And brush your teeth, too! Seriously, hygiene will aid you in getting any job.
2- Read - I mean everything. The more you know, the further you go. Heck, if you fail to achieve the goal of Marine Biologist, at least you will be ready for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire!
3- Take Notes - Every time you learn something new, into the note book it goes. Every time you read a book, write down the title, author, and summary of the book, as well as things that you learned from the book and things you disagree with.
4- Question statements - You won't believe how many books, especially kids' books, we have read that have misinformation. If you have doubts about the information, do some research to find the truth, then, go back to suggestion #3.
5- Expand your skills - It is important to be knowledgeable about your field of expertice but often, it is equally important to have other skills that may be useful at times. Some of these skills may be navigation, boat handling, SCUBA diving, aquarium keeping, and animal collecting. Be willing to learn.
6- Keep an open mind - Do not concentrate on any one division of marine biology until you are in college. We highly recommend that your undergraduate study (first years of college) be in biology and graduate studies be in marine biology. You may find out that ocean science is not for you but if the majority of the courses you have taken are in that field, they will not transfer to another major. Get a good biology and chemistry foundation and then start to take specialty courses.
7- Learn to write and communicate well. Researchers have to publish their findings so writing is an indispensable skill.
8- Volunteer - Few people at Sea World or the Baltimore Aquarium started jobs without first volunteering. Locally in the DC area there are many opportunities - The National Zoo, the National Aquarium in DC, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Nature Centers even Under the Sea accepts volunteers. You will meet others with your ambitions and start to learn skills that will increase you chances of getting a job in a variety of ocean science fields.
9- Talk to others in the job field you are interested in and ask them what they did to get into their field.10- Be curious - Curiosity may have killed the cat, but cats rarely train to be marine biologists! The more you wonder, the more you'll work to find answers to your questions, and the more you'll learn!
Top Schools in Marine Studies
There are over 65 colleges and universities that offer undergraduate degrees in marine studies. We are trying to list them here, so if you know of one that is not listed, please e-mail us! The following schools may offer one of the following degrees:
Physical Oceanography
Chemical Oceanography
Geological Oceanography
Biological Oceanography
Marine Biology
Aquaculture
(U)
- Denotes undergraduate program
(G) - Denotes graduate program
United
States
Alabama
Dauphin Island Sea Lab Member Institutions (U&G)
Alaska
University
of Alaska Fairbanks Graduate Program (G)
Arizona
Arkansas
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff - Fisheries & Aquaculture
(U)
California
California State University at Monterey Bay (U)
California State University at Monterey Bay/Moss Landing Marine
Labs (G)
Humboldt State University - Aquarium Science (U)
Humboldt State
University - Fisheries (U&G)
San Diego State
University/Coastal and Marine Institute (G)
University of
California Santa Barbara - Ecology, Evolution &
Marine Biology (U&G)
University
of California Santa Barbara - Graduate Program in
Marine Science (G)
University
of California Santa Cruz (U&G)
University of California San
Diego/Scripps Institution of
Oceanography (G)
University of
Southern California (G)
Colorado
Colorado State University - Fisheries (U&G)
Colorado
State University (U&G)
Connecticut
University
of Connecticut (G)
Delaware
University
of Delaware (G)
District
of Columbia
Florida
Florida Institute of Technology Marine Biology (U&G) and
Oceanography & Ocean Engineering (U)
Florida
State University (U&G)
Nova Southeastern University
(U&G)
University of Florida (U&G)
University of Miami Undergraduate Program (U) and
Rosenstiel
School of Marine & Atmospheric Science (G)
University
of South Florida (G)
University of West Florida
(U)
Georgia
University
of Georgia (U&G)
Hawaii
University of Hawaii
(U&G)
University of Hawaii at
Hilo/Kalakaua Marine Education Center (U)
Idaho
University of
Idaho Aquaculture Research Institute (U&G)
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Kentucky
State University Aquaculture Program (G)
Louisiana
Louisiana State University
Center for Coastal, Energy &
Environmental Resources (G)
Maine
University
of Maine School of Marine Sciences(U&G)
University
of New England (U)
Maryland
University of Maryland (G)
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Institute of Technologyl (U)
MIT-Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program (G)
Northeastern
University (U&G)
University
of Massachusetts at Dartmouth (U&G)
Michigan
Minnesota
University of Minnesota - Fisheries (U&G)
Mississippi
Mississippi State University Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries (U&G)
University of Southern
Mississippi Institute of Marine Sciences
(G)
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
University of New
Hampshire Institute for the Study of Earth,
Oceans and Space (G)
New
Jersey
Richard Stockton College (U)
Rutgers University Institute
of Marine and Coastal Sciences (G)
New
Mexico
New York
Colubmia University Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory (U&G)
SUNY
Cobleskill - Fisheries & Aquaculture (U)
SUNY
Stony Brook Marine Biology (U)
SUNY
Stony Brook Marine Sciences Research Center (U&G)
North
Carolina
Duke
University/Nicholas School of the Environment - Marine
Laboratory (U&G)
East Carolina University's
Program in Maritime Studies (G)
North
Carolina State University (U&G)
University
of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (U&G)
University of
North Carolina at Wilmington Marine Biology &
Physical Oceanography (U)
University of
North Carolina at Wilmington (G)
North
Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Oregon State University (G)
Pennsylvania
Rhode
Island
University of Rhode Island (U)
University of
Rhode Island/Graduate School of Oceanography (G)
South
Carolina
Coastal Carolina University (U)
College of Charleston
Grice Marine Laboratory (U&G)
University of South Carolina
(U&G)
South
Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Texas A&M University (U&G)
Texas A&M University at
Galveston (U&G)
Texas A&M
University/Institute of Nautical Archeology (G)
University of Texas at
Austin (U&G)
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
College of William &
Mary/Virginia Institute of Marine Science
(G)
Old Dominion
University (G)
Washington
University
of Washington (U&G)
West
Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
International
Australia
Flinders
Institute for Atmospheric and Marine Sciences (U&G)
Flinders
University of South Australia's Lincoln Marine Science
Center (U&G)
James Cook University(U&G)
Canada
Dalhousie
University (G)
Georgian
College, Orillia Campus - Marine Technology (U)
University of British Columbia (U&G)
University
of Victoria (U&G)
Job advertisements
Most jobs in marine biology and related fields are government related. Here are some recent job announcements to give you an idea of what the pay scale is and qualifications are.
Subject: OPS Opportunity - GIS Manatees
TITLE: OPS Research Staff - GIS Manatees
RATE OF PAY: $14.00 per hour, 40 hours week, No Benefits
LOCATION: St. Petersburg, FL (Pinellas County)
SECTION: Endangered and Threatened Species - Manatees
CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled
DUTIES: The position provides technical assistance and problem solving
support to FWC staff in their use of GIS for natural resource
decision-making. Utilizes ARC/INFO Geographic Information System (GIS)
software to assist in creating and managing marine mammal related
databases. Assists the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC), Endangered and Threatened Species Research Program by
building, maintaining, and analyzing marine mammal specific and
ancillary environmental spatial datasets. Integrates spatial data to
provide section researchers with information associated with marine
mammal distributions and habitat utilizing ARC/INFO, ARCVIEW, and
Imagine software. Locates and retrieves biological data from in-house
and outside sources pertinent to the development of sectional component
of the Marine Resource GIS. Organizes data verification
processes, including programming, plot
production, correspondence, file updates, and archiving. Supports tasks
for database queries and development.
DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A bachelor's degree with a major in one
of the physical or natural sciences or geography and one year of
related professional experience; or A master's degree in one of the
physical or natural sciences or geography.
DESIRED ENTRY-LEVEL KNOWLEDGE, SKILL(S) AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of a natural science or geography. Skilled in the use of GIS
software, ARC/INFO AND Arcview. Familiar with raster-based programs
such as ERDAS/IMAGINE. Ability to create and modify ARC/INFO coverages
from a variety of sources. Familiarity with ARC Macro Language (AML)
and/or AVENUE and/or Visual Basic are highly desirable. Working
knowledge of database management tools such as Microsoft Access, INFO
or dBASE is required. This position requires a basic level knowledge of
the UNIX or Windows NT/2000 operating systems.
TO APPLY: Submit a completed State of Florida Employment Application
to: (an application can be downloaded from www.myflorida.com)
Leslie Ward
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Florida Marine Research Institute
100 Eight Avenue SE
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 896-8626 ext 1906
leslie.ward@fwc.state.fl.us for more info
An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Federal Law requires
that we hire only U.S. Citizens and lawfully authorized aliens who can
provide proof of their identity and employment eligibility.