Are you an ocean lover from your childhood? Have you any dream of watching a whale or a shark in the deep sea? Then you can turn your dream into reality with a great career opportunity with a marine biology degree.
With the increase in the world population, we inhabitants are starting to get more dependent on the ocean for providing food and meeting other necessities. With the use of cutting edge technologies in Marine Biology, the ocean body is transpiring into one rich source of food, waste disposal, energy source, and transportation.
If you are looking for top career prospects with a marine biology degree, then here are some options to go for.
So, follow closely!
Table of Contents
What Does The Study Of Marine Biology Entail?
Studying marine biology enriches you with the discipline and the know-how of dealing with a wide variety of aquatic life forms. Students learn all about how different marine inhabitants interact and respond to one another and in various underwater environments.
A marine biologist may deal with inhabitants ranging from the enormous whale to the tiniest plankton and microbes. Also, students with a marine biology degree even work on algae and a host of other fascinating rare underwater microorganisms.
Besides this, the ocean, along with its patrons, faces numerous co-existential challenges. The most woeful ones include sharing their habitat with commercial ships/yachts/ recreational boats and dumping plastics, chemicals, and other toxic depositions.
Here, the role of a marine biologist is to find out how each of these incidents influences the marine organisms. Plus, to understand their effects, marine biologists device better alternatives to mitigate or restrict them entirely.
This field of study is indeed intriguing, and for aspiring students, lots of universities offer marine biology degrees and marine biology majors.
If we look closely, these results are for schools offering marine biology degree programs – University Of North Carolina, University Of Washington, the Stony Brook University, and so on!
Some of the core subjects that include in the study of marine biology program include as follows.
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Ecology
- Chemistry,
- Biology
- Mathematics
- Anthropology
- And Geology
Each of these core subjects will feature in every graduate program for an aspiring marine biologist to learn. As doing so will only increase their depth of knowledge and understanding of the ocean body and all life forms within.
What Marine Biologists Do?
Video Source: SciAll.org
Now you have a clear picture of the study of a marine biology degree and what entails as its core subjects. Let’s moreover to what marine biologists have to do as a part of their role’s daily requirements.
Typically, a marine biologist has to perform highly analytical, research orient, and data-driven research about different marine life (or any other remains) discoveries. Besides, they also have to perform essential calculations and obtain the statistical significance of their findings.
Their research work will even include conducting inventories and tests for different sea/ocean creatures. They collect unknown samples of species (even potential diseases/viruses). And aptly map out the ranges, movements, and distribution of such marine inhabitants.
Every day throughout their career, a marine biologist has to function in a variety of settings. Plus, they have to coordinate, manage, and supervise all aquatic activities. They even have to train younglings on how to function as chief assistances until they eventually hone themselves to become knowledgeable marine biologists.
In addition to these, a marine biologist also researches the ocean population’s physiology and behavioural differences. If need be so, they even access a particular sea/ocean’s habitats, and the impact human activity is having on the survival of marine life forms and its surroundings. And to do that, they may resort to minimizing industrial practices which lead to such adverse effects on the ocean and its inhabitants.
Another crucial piece of the puzzle for marine biologists to do is to communicate their discovery along with their written reports/scientific journal articles as a means of recommendation.
However, all marine biology degree careers require some additional certification. The most likely of them being bachelor degrees’ in marine biology!
Where/For Whom Do Marine Biologists Typically Work?
Most marine biologists function for both the state and the federal government. Plus, some even get the opportunity to work at research labs and private consulting establishments.
Furthermore, typically the majority of marine biologists work most of the time outdoors. Their fieldwork needs them to work on ships to pin-point and monitor the movements of unique marine species. For their research work, they also have to extract seawater samples and remains of the aquatic animal.
However, that’s not the only job variety you have in the field of marine biology. Students with a marine biology degree can also choose to work for zoos, museums, and aquariums. They can choose to become a respectful academic faculty member. Otherwise, they may opt to become high school marine ecology or science tutors.
Some Fulfilling Career Prospects for Marine Biology Degree Students
Option- 1
- If You Choose To Study Marine Biology To Research And More Fascinating Discoveries About Ocean Life Forms, Then The Job Tiles You Should Be After Are –
Fish Biologist, Lab Coordinator, Research Tech, Professor, Field Scientist!
The related minors or majors that one has to do include – Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Oceanography, Biology!
To be successful in these job roles, candidates will have to achieve an MSC or PhD degree in Aquatic and Fishery Science, Oceanography, Biology. Once thriving, candidates can direct and regulate their research work on their own.
Marine biology is one vast field. The knowledge gathering and skill honing should never stop even after earning a prestigious marine biology degree. Also, research work will be a crucial and mandatory aspect for each of these job posts.
As per the bureau of labor statistics, these apply right from introductory positions to being a research facility head.
Option- 2
- If You Choose To Study Marine Biology to Conserve and Handle Pressing Ocean Environment Problems, Then the Job Tiles You Should Be After Are –
Aquatic Land Manager, Environmental Consultant, Ground-fish Observer, Aquatic Land Manager!
The related minors or majors that one has to do include – Environmental Studies, Quantitative Science Minor, and Aquatic & Fishery Sciences!
To successfully achieve these career goals, you will have to complete your MSC or Ph.D. in Fishery and Aquatic Science/ Masters in Marine Affairs/Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration.
However, that’s not all. Also, it would help if you took up a minor in quantitative science. The reason being, these job roles will require you to use mathematics and statistics to model our population.
It is a crucial tool for performing your duties, and subsequently, knowing in quantitative science does make it critical. That said, you can also look into other course programs that top graduation school offers to its students. Some of the common ones include the study of environmental laws, economics, policies, etc.
Regardless of whether the problem at hand is about the world supply of food, pollution, climate change, or renewable energy, marine biologists always have a crucial role to play. They can address whatever humans take out or dump into the ocean surroundings via proper conservation measures.
Also, a marine biologist has to track marine species populace, predict and gauge how much influence human activities like fishing, dumping, and development is having on their environment.
Option- 3
- If You Choose To Study Marine Biology to Teach Others and Arouse Interests in Others, Then the Job Tiles You Should Be After Are –
Marine Science Programs Coordinator, Education Specialist, Outreach and Education Director, Aquarist!
The related minors or majors that one has to do include – Early Childhood & Family Studies, Learning & Society Minor, and Environmental Studies!
All you have to do is procure masters of education or teaching from a quality graduate school. After completion, you can take the teacher’s path. This branch of fisheries science or marine environment is something most younglings want to learn via aquariums, marine science summer programs, science centres, etc. For this reason, the demand for teachers specializing in marine biology is very high. If you take this path, you will get the chance to teach all-age students having interest.
However, just having in-depth knowledge about marine biology won’t be enough. To complement your experience, candidates also have to hone their communication and explanation skills to succeed in their roles.
Option- 4
- If You Choose To Study Marine Biology to Treat Illness and Diseases both in Humans and Marine Organisms, Then the Job Tiles You Should Be After Are –
Biomedical Researcher, Medical Doctor (MD), Veterinarian!
The related minors or majors that one has to do include – Chemistry, Biology, and Biochemistry!
Although applications for veterinary programs or medical doctors require students to have an undergraduate degree, minimum coursework is also necessary. So, what this means is that all students with a marine biology degree will need to take extra coursework in genetics, biochemistry, and organic chemistry.
Only after meeting its eligibility criterion can respective students find their desirable roles in health sciences. At the same time, some get to work by caring for animals via the veterinary machine. Others choose to function in the human health sector.
Besides these, some candidates also research possibly the next-big biomedical application of marine resources and how to use them best.
Option- 5
- And If You Choose To Study Marine Biology to Merge Your Interest with another Study Field, Then the Job Tiles You Should Be After Are –
Ocean Engineer and Aqua-culturists!
The related minors or majors that one has to do include – Oceanography, Engineering, Psychology, and Computer Science and Engineering!
As a student, you get the scope of combining a minor and a primary subject (both of different fields) to create opportunities in the field of ocean engineering.
Being a bachelor of science in marine biology, you will find plenty of prosperous and respectful job titles if you combine your main subject with something else. Be it as an ocean engineer or aqua-culturist; individuals can set out to explore the ocean environment or deal with animal behaviour in the role of a psychologist.
Besides this, some individuals in their role as aqua-culturists can conjointly work with other members in cultivating and harvesting the rich vein of aquatic resources.
Surmising
Students who have a marine biology degree, they have lots of prosperous and respectful job tiles to go for. Plus, each of them also offers a real-time learning experience, a chance to grow as you progress, and handsome payouts.
So, by concluding, never let yourself down and keep working as hard as possible. Keep believing in yourself and not lose sight of your career goal.
Hopefully, this post gave you the answers you were looking for. More posts are coming soon. So keep visiting this page.
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What Can I Do With A Biology Degree ~ A Look into Some Career Prospects