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What is Marine Biology?

Get a Master's in Marine Biology

The Marine Biology B.S.

Oceans cover over 70% of our world, yet scientists estimate that only a fraction of marine environments have been explored.

Marine biology encompasses the ecology of oceanic and coastal habitats and the organisms that inhabit them, from viruses to whales, on levels from molecular to global. A marine biology degree includes various disciplines, from aquaculture and oceanography to chemistry, meteorology and zoology—all excellent preparation for graduate school and employment.

Whether you want to explore the mysteries of deep-sea organisms, study great white sharks or become a leader in marine veterinary science, you can pursue your goals with a marine biology degree from Florida Tech.

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Student-to-Faculty Ratio
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Top 19%
Best Colleges for Biology
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No. 6
Student Experience
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Why Choose Florida Tech for Marine Biology?

With one of the first undergraduate marine biology programs in the U.S., Florida Tech is also one of the strongest universities for marine biology.

Careers in Marine Biology

Jobs in marine biology are as varied as they are challenging. Your degree opens career opportunities such as:

  • Marine biologist
  • Zoologists and wildlife biologist
  • Marine geologist
  • Marine mammal trainer
  • Pollution control chemist
  • Oceanographer
  • Aquarium biologist
  • Clinical researcher
  • Aquarist
  • Environmental consultant
  • Fish hatchery manager
  • Fish and game warden
  • Environmental analyst
  • Marine policy specialist

Looking ahead to your future career can be exciting! Keep in mind that certain roles may entail additional prerequisites, such as an advanced degree.

Florida Tech Career Services assists students, alumni and employers in their search for careers and employee candidates. We help students develop career plans and job-search skills. Explore our Career Toolbox to learn more about our services and access additional resources.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides information about specific jobs, including median annual pay, working conditions and job outlook, among other things. Check the handbook for information on the outlook for marine biology and related careers.

Advanced Degree Options

After receiving their marine biology degree, many of our undergraduate students pursue master’s and doctoral degrees at Florida Tech and other universities.

Explore the Marine Biology, B.S., Curriculum

The Marine Biology, B.S., Curriculum

Biological Discovery and General Chemistry kickstart your marine biology program. First-year students jump right into the laboratory to delve into research.

Guided by world-class faculty, you are immersed in your major from the start of the first semester!

Classes include:

  • Introduction to Fieldwork for Biology and Ecology
  • Oceanography
  • Community Ecology
  • Introduction to Biodiversity and Physiology

Check the catalog for a description of all courses.

Download the Marine Biology, B.S. Curriculum now!

Marine Biology student at Mertens

Undergraduate Research That Builds Skills

At Florida Tech, you learn by doing.

You’ll have opportunities to take part in hands-on research in many of Florida's natural environments, including mangroves, seagrass and salt marshes, sand and mud flats, lagoons, reefs and the Atlantic Ocean.

Volunteer with your professors in their research labs, or choose undergraduate research for credit toward your major.

You may even have the chance to present your research at regional and national conferences or be published in a research journal.

Immerse yourself in research areas such as:

  • Coral reef ecology
  • Climate change
  • Paleoecology
  • Plant geography of the Amazon/Andes
  • Marine mammals
  • Polar biology
  • Invasive species
  • Plant physiology/molecular biology
  • Fish biomechanics
  • Shark reproduction

Learn more about Marine Biology at Florida Tech on the website.

Summer Programs Expand Your Horizons—and Your Résumé

Our marine biology students take research to a whole new level—above ground and underwater—whether diving in the warm waters of Puerto Rico or the cooler waters of the Galápagos Islands, observing orcas in the Pacific Northwest or contemplating the ecology of the Amazon!

Florida Tech’s summer field courses are exhilarating, hands-on opportunities that provide you with once-in-a-lifetime experiences and a huge résumé boost for internships and job opportunities.

Image: Professor Mark Bush, center of boat, leads Florida Tech students in a summer field course on the Lagartococha River in the Ecuadorean Amazon in July 2023.
Photo credit: Rich Aronson

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