3 answers
Jason
Student
1
Question
Updated
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What degrees would pair well with marine biology?
I've been looking up degrees that may pair well with marine biology, but there's a lot of options.
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3 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1093
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Jason,
You will need at least a bachelors degree for entry-level positions in marine biology. For higher level positions, a masters and maybe even PhD will be required.
Bachelor degrees are designed to keep a student pretty busy during their 4 years at school. You don't usually "pair" degrees, you decide on a degree that fits your professional goals. Now, some students take dual majors or major/minor combinations for various reasons, but it's not the norm and often just results in additional stress, additional costs, lower GPA and/or longer times in college. Unless you have a very specific reason why you need to take on a double major, I would not recommend it. You can take courses as part of your gen ed requirements in a variety of "useful" directions, e.g. in ecology or environmental science or conservation without adding a whole extra major/minor. Rather spend your time and any extra brain width to get involved in research and projects, volunteer and learn diving.
If you want to have more employment options than just marine biology (because it's competitive), you could get your bachelors in biology or zoology and do a masters and PhD in marine biology. If you want to go that route, attend a university that has active research in marine biology and get involved as early as you can.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/united-states/marine-freshwater-biology
https://blog.collegevine.com/best-colleges-for-marine-biology
https://ingeniusprep.com/blog/best-colleges-for-marine-biology
https://www.conservation-careers.com/how-to-become-a-marine-biologist/
You will need at least a bachelors degree for entry-level positions in marine biology. For higher level positions, a masters and maybe even PhD will be required.
Bachelor degrees are designed to keep a student pretty busy during their 4 years at school. You don't usually "pair" degrees, you decide on a degree that fits your professional goals. Now, some students take dual majors or major/minor combinations for various reasons, but it's not the norm and often just results in additional stress, additional costs, lower GPA and/or longer times in college. Unless you have a very specific reason why you need to take on a double major, I would not recommend it. You can take courses as part of your gen ed requirements in a variety of "useful" directions, e.g. in ecology or environmental science or conservation without adding a whole extra major/minor. Rather spend your time and any extra brain width to get involved in research and projects, volunteer and learn diving.
If you want to have more employment options than just marine biology (because it's competitive), you could get your bachelors in biology or zoology and do a masters and PhD in marine biology. If you want to go that route, attend a university that has active research in marine biology and get involved as early as you can.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
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Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Jason !
It's awesome that you are looking into this amazing, exciting career !
Assuming that you are in and plan to work in the United States, the required Degree for a career in Marine Biology would be, at minimum, a Bachelors Degree in Marine Biology. For more advanced work like specialized or research focused roles, you would get a Masters Degree in Marine Biology. There really isn't many options for the major, just Marine Biology if you want to be a Marine Biologist.
While in college, you would take single classes in biology, environmental science, environmental policy, hydrology, or biological oceanography and conservation biology. If you get your PhD in Marine Biology, you would then be able to teach at a University as well as do research and some independent research (which you could be paid for by funding). Read some employment notices on employment websites for Marine Biologists and see what degree they are asking applicants to have. The path for a Marine Biology Degree, however, will prepare you for the career and for the Masters Degree if you decide to go for the Masters.
Even though you didn't mention which state or town or country you want to go to college in, there are some colleges with Marine Biology Programs that I want to mention to you so you can start exploring and reading their websites and programs. Colleges that offer Marine Biology Programs are The University of California, San Diego , the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, The University of Washington in Seattle, Northeastern University in Boston, Oregon State University, The University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, and The University of California, Santa Barbara.
If you decide to go for an advanced degree after your Bachelors Degree, there are Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and its Marine Lab in Beaufort, North Carolina, which provides interdisciplinary training in marine conservation and ocean policy. The University of Rhode Island is also recognized for its strong oceanography graduate programs and undergraduate marine science options, with research opportunities in Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
My advice is not to spend the time thinking that "a major" will "pair well" for this career, rather focus on the actual Marine Biology Major and obtain that degree to be assured of work once you graduate. These programs/major also includes lots of experience doing projects, research and internships which will be valuable to you and that may not be available through a different or other Major.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
It's awesome that you are looking into this amazing, exciting career !
Assuming that you are in and plan to work in the United States, the required Degree for a career in Marine Biology would be, at minimum, a Bachelors Degree in Marine Biology. For more advanced work like specialized or research focused roles, you would get a Masters Degree in Marine Biology. There really isn't many options for the major, just Marine Biology if you want to be a Marine Biologist.
While in college, you would take single classes in biology, environmental science, environmental policy, hydrology, or biological oceanography and conservation biology. If you get your PhD in Marine Biology, you would then be able to teach at a University as well as do research and some independent research (which you could be paid for by funding). Read some employment notices on employment websites for Marine Biologists and see what degree they are asking applicants to have. The path for a Marine Biology Degree, however, will prepare you for the career and for the Masters Degree if you decide to go for the Masters.
Even though you didn't mention which state or town or country you want to go to college in, there are some colleges with Marine Biology Programs that I want to mention to you so you can start exploring and reading their websites and programs. Colleges that offer Marine Biology Programs are The University of California, San Diego , the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, The University of Washington in Seattle, Northeastern University in Boston, Oregon State University, The University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, and The University of California, Santa Barbara.
If you decide to go for an advanced degree after your Bachelors Degree, there are Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and its Marine Lab in Beaufort, North Carolina, which provides interdisciplinary training in marine conservation and ocean policy. The University of Rhode Island is also recognized for its strong oceanography graduate programs and undergraduate marine science options, with research opportunities in Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
My advice is not to spend the time thinking that "a major" will "pair well" for this career, rather focus on the actual Marine Biology Major and obtain that degree to be assured of work once you graduate. These programs/major also includes lots of experience doing projects, research and internships which will be valuable to you and that may not be available through a different or other Major.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
Neil Irvin
Plumber\Arborist
7
Answers
Beaufort, South Carolina
Updated
Neil’s Answer
Start a reef tank hobby.. micro biology wouod pair well .. so many things happening on different levels in the ocean at all times. You will find entry level at aquariums and volunteer oops near the coast. Move to the Florida keys would also help dial in your focus.