How do i become a marine biologist?

Question

what i'm wanting to know is what classes in college should i take, what college should i go to, what should i major in, and how long it takes.

Answer 1

There are a few different areas of study within Marine Biology. What job are wanting to do? You'll want to take classes required for a Marine Biology degree and related to the job you are looking to pursue.

http://www.marinecareers.net/faqs.html

I'm interested in studying marine biology in college. How should I choose a college that will offer a good program?

Because choosing a college is such a personal decision -- one that depends on so many variables -- we do not recommend particular colleges or universities. Things to consider include size, proximity to home, cost, ....

http://www.seaworld.org/career-resources...

QUESTIONS TO ASK WHILE LOOKING AT COLLEGES:

(it is for searching for colleges related to zoological careers and animals, but you should be able to reword the questions and apply them to looking for a marine biology college)

If you want to be a marine biologist, Marine Biology is a good major. ;-p  You might be able to get a Marine Biology degree specializing in a area of marine biology.

I hope these links will help too. Good Luck.

http://marinebio.org/MarineBio/Careers/i...

Marine Biology Career Resources

There is an enormous amount of information available online to help you plan a career in Marine Biology; however it can be quite extensive and also rather confusing. To answer some of the most common questions we receive:

Marine Biology is typically a graduate pursuit, you should first obtain an undergraduate degree in a science such as biology preferably from an institution that offers graduate-level Marine Biology programs. If your undergraduate school doesn't offer upper-level Marine Biology programs you could take summer or weekend marine-related courses or even an internship with nearby schools or marine labs.

A career in Marine Biology means you might work in a private or government lab performing research, for example, scientists in the Marine Biology Research Division at Scripps (MBRD) investigate the ecological, physiological, cellular, and biochemical characteristics of marine bacteria, plants, and animals. You might teach, work outdoors and/or underwater, or even in an office. It's most likely that you would work in a variety of environments during the course of your career.

The following are some of our favorite sites for information on careers in marine biology or marine life sciences. Take your time to review this information and you will find most of your questions answered by the incredible variety of information in these sites.

http://marinebio.org/MarineBio/Careers/U...

http://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx?id=...

What Does a Marine Biologist/Scientist Do?

Although many people today are familiar with the term "marine biologist," most don't realize that, in reality, the job title of marine biologist rarely exists. The term is actually used for many disciplines and jobs in the marine sciences which deal with the study of marine life, not just for those which deal with the physical properties of the sea--though many biologists study both. So a marine biologist might be a biological technician, ichthyologist, fishery biologist, marine mammalogist, microbiologist, systems analyst, or a mathematician. Even economists and sociologists, who deal with living marine resource issues, are found within the so-called field of marine biology. In addition, other marine scientists concern themselves exclusively with the physical and chemical aspects of the sea, such as physicists, hydrologists, and physical oceanographers.

http://www.marinecareers.net/field_marin...

.....Because there are so many topics one could study within the field of marine biology, many researchers select a particular interest and specialize in it. Specializations can be based on a particular species, organism, behavior, technique, or ecosystem. For example, marine biologists may choose to study a single species of clams, or all clams that are native to a climate or region.....

http://www.aboutbioscience.org/marine_bi...

http://www.iseek.org/sv/Careers?id=13000...

Preparation

To work as a marine biologist, you must:

    * complete a bachelors degree in a biological science;

    * complete at least a masters degree in marine biology;

    * be self-motivated;

    * have excellent written and oral communication skills; and

    * enjoy working outdoors.

Formal Education

A master's degree in marine biology is usually required for jobs in research. Some assistant researchers have a bachelor's degree. In marine biology, you study life science, chemistry, math, and computer science. You also learn to work in the field studying salt water organisms.

A doctoral degree (Ph.D.) is required to lead research projects or teach at a college or university.

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's degree programs in marine biology. Fewer offer master's and doctoral programs.

Work Experience

After completing a doctoral degree, some marine biologists work several years in a postdoctoral research position at a university. In this type of a position you gain extensive field experience. This research can lead to a job at a university.

http://www.schoolsintheusa.com/careerpro...

http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/bec...

http://www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au...

Answer 2

One of the best schools for Marine Biology that I can think of is my alma mater: Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA.  Great school for biological and marine sciences -- right on the pacific ocean in the beautiful redwood forests of Northern California.

Good luck!