Marine Biology major

Marine Biology: courses, careers, and where to study

Marine biology applies the life sciences to organisms in oceans, coastal waters, and estuaries, suiting students drawn to fieldwork, lab research, and ocean ecosystems.

Marine biology studies how microbes, plants, and animals live in oceans, coastal zones, and saltwater wetlands, and how those organisms respond to the physical and chemical conditions around them. Students learn the foundations of general biology, chemistry, and physics, then layer on ocean-specific subjects such as the chemistry and geology of seawater, marine botany, the study of fishes, and the biology of marine mammals. Coursework reaches across scales, from molecular and cellular processes and reproductive biology up to population dynamics, biodiversity, and the workings of whole habitats and ecosystems. Unlike general biology, the major keeps its focus on saltwater environments; unlike oceanography, which centers on the ocean's physical, chemical, and geological systems, marine biology keeps living organisms and their ecology at the center, while drawing on those earth-science tools to explain where and why species thrive.

Most entry-level marine biology roles begin with a bachelor's degree, and programs typically pair lecture courses with hands-on laboratory work, field sampling at the shore or aboard research vessels, and a senior research project or internship that produces original data. Independent research, graduate study, and university teaching usually call for a master's or doctoral degree, so students who want to lead their own investigations often continue past the bachelor's level. There is no single license to practice as a marine biologist, though specific tasks such as scientific diving, handling protected species, or working in regulated fisheries can require certifications or permits that vary by employer and state and should be verified. Graduates work in settings such as government wildlife and fisheries agencies, environmental consulting firms, aquariums and marine education centers, conservation nonprofits, biotechnology labs, and academic research institutions.

In federal data for the closely related occupation of zoologists and wildlife biologists, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $72,860 and projects employment to grow about 1.6% from 2024 to 2034; a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.