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What Degrees Are Important For Marine Biologists

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What degrees are important for marine biologists?
Some schools offer a marine biology degree and most of these are located in coastal states, but the undergraduate degree need not be in marine biology. It can be in biology, zoology, fisheries, or one of the other animal sciences. Physical oceanographers, who study the physical as opposed to the biological aspects of the sea, may work toward an oceanography degree, with coursework weighted heavily in physics, mathematics, and computer modeling. Biological oceanographers study both the biological and physical aspects of the sea and their interactions. Your best bet would be to refer to the guides mentioned above and contact the schools that interest you and learn more about the programs and degrees they offer. A bachelor's or master's degree is usually required for most starting marine biological research jobs, but you should also be aware that the usual level of education required to carry out independent research in biology is a Ph.D., so if you are serious about a full-time career and want to organize your own research projects, you should get your doctorate.

What courses should I take? …show more content…

English is important, too, because one of the most important activities of a marine biologist is writing scientific papers and getting them published. Courses in the aquatic sciences such as fishery biology, ichthyology, and oceanography are also important, as well as courses in your discipline of interest (for instance, ethology if you are interested in animal behavior). Courses in the social sciences are also recommended for occupations that deal mainly with the public, public policies, or

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