What Is A BS In Marine Biology?

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 reach toward your goals with a Marine Biology degree from Florida Tech. One of the first undergraduate marine biology programs in the country, Florida Tech’s is also one of the strongest.

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 a wide variety of disciplines, from aquaculture and oceanography to chemistry, meteorology, and zoology.

Engage in Marine Biology Right from the Start

Our marine biology degree engages students from their first semester. 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, students are immersed in their major immediately.

Gain Practical Experience

Established in 1971, the marine biology degree program is the most popular of the biological-sciences programs at Florida Tech. The major is hands-on, with small classes and intensive faculty-student interaction. You can undertake exciting collaborative research with a professor, or work independently on a topic of your choosing. Hands-on experience in the field is close by, as Florida Tech is strategically located near the estuarine habitats of the Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean's marine ecosystems. Students get practical experience, an enhanced job-search portfolio, and a stronger sense of self as a scholar: perfect preparation for graduate school and employment.

A Strong Learning Relationship Between Faculty and Students

The faculty teach our courses and closely supervise the graduate teaching assistants in the lab sections. Students benefit from small class sizes. One of Florida Tech's attractions is the accessibility of the faculty.

For curriculum and career planning, each student has a faculty advisor. The strong working relationship between students and professors gives you the edge in the job market or graduate-school admissions.

Students have the opportunity, and are strongly encouraged, to volunteer in research labs where they work with faculty, graduate students, and fellow undergrads on research projects. Many students present their research at regional and national conference, and some students are published in research journals.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Florida Tech is the perfect place for a Marine Biology degree. The 130-acre campus is located on the Space Coast (so named because of the presence of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, just north of us), minutes away from the diverse, estuarine habitats of the Indian River Lagoon, and the marine ecosystems of the Atlantic Ocean. Our location in a state with so many miles of coastline provides us with many local, state, and national agencies, marine environmental consulting firms, public aquaria, mariculture companies, private marine-research organizations, and other institutions that offer internships and employment.

Classrooms in Florida Tech’s Backyard

Our 130-acre campus is located on the Space Coast, named for the presence of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral just north of us. minutes away from the diverse, estuarine habitats of the Indian River Lagoon, and the marine ecosystems of the Atlantic Ocean. Our location in a state with so many miles of coastline provides us with many local, state, and national agencies, marine environmental consulting firms, public aquaria, aquaculture companies, private marine-research organizations, and other institutions that offer internships and employment. The Florida Keys and the Everglades are just a short trip away.

The Melbourne / Orlando area has the fifth-largest high-tech workforce in the country, with more than 5,000 high-tech corporations and government and military organizations located nearby. This workforce provides an abundance of internship and employment opportunities.

We have a rich campus life that includes a wide range of intramural and collegiate sports, clubs, and social activities.

Build Lasting Professional Relationships through Campus Organizations

Beyond the classroom, marine biology majors build leadership and professional experience through internships and participation in academic organizations. Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) is the biology honor society for undergraduates that teaches students from all disciplines about biology and its importance, and recognizes students for outstanding academic achievements. Our own Marine Biological Society, is a club focused on the topic. There are opportunities to participate in student government and over 100 other student organizations.

TriBeta and the Marine Biological Society work together to hold guest lectures, social events, fishing outings and more. Membership is the perfect way to network with faculty and other students in the biological sciences to learn about internships, research and hands-on activities.

Internship Opportunities

Internships offer valuable learning opportunities that build valuable skills, giving you a highly competitive résumé that equips you for your career. Florida Tech students find opportunities at a wide variety of organizations and companies, including:

• Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
• Hubbs SeaWorld
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
• Mote Marine Lab
• Shedd Aquarium
• The Perry Institute for Marine Science

Stunning Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Marine biology students participate in research during and outside of classes. Students can 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. Florida Tech students are invited to volunteer with their professors in their research labs, or they may elect to enroll in undergraduate research for credit toward the major. Current areas of interest include:

• • 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
•  

Expand Your Horizons in Summer Programs

Whether they’re 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, our marine biology students take research to a whole new level. Florida Tech students travel around Florida and the world in our program of summer field courses. These exhilarating, hands-on opportunities provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences and a huge résumé-boost for students looking to pursue internships and careers.

Get Recruited Upon Graduation

Employers notice a marine biology degree from Florida Tech. Florida Tech students are recruited by companies such as:

• The American Museum of Natural History
• Baltimore Aquarium
• EPCOT
• Brevard Zoo
• The Shedd Aquarium
• Sea World Florida
• The Perry Institute for Marine Science

Career Outlook

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Standards (BLS), provides information about specific jobs including median annual pay, working conditions and job outlook, among other things. According to the Bureau, job growth for biological scientists was expected to grow more than 20% through 2018.

Career Options

Careers in marine biology are as varied as they are challenging. They include careers 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

Graduate and Doctoral Programs

After receiving their marine biology degrees, many of our majors go on to master’s and doctoral programs at Florida Tech and other universities, such as:

• Cambridge University (UK)
• Columbia University
• Duke University
• Johns Hopkins University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• University of Alaska
• University of Florida
• University of Miami
• University of South Florida
• University of Texas