Marine Biology

Minor

As a biology minor (you can choose either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree) at Thomas More, students in the marine biology minor are prepared to be future marine biologists with the skills they need to thrive in a very interdisciplinary and competitive field.

Reflecting the fact that a marine biologist could specialize in anything from genetics to population dynamics, a degree from Thomas More in biology provides our students with the fundamental skills and knowledge they need from across the field of biology while emphasizing marine systems. With hands-on labs and tailored internships, this program helps students discover the many diverse career paths in marine biology and pursue the career that suits their interests and skills.

At Thomas More, our small class sizes and one-on-one advising help students find the right internships, foster their interests, and hone their skills. At larger institutions, students often get lost on their road to fulfilling their dream to become a marine biologist. Marine biology is not as straightforward a career path as that of many professional careers such as pharmacists, doctors, or teachers. A marine biologist could be a bioengineer creating fuels from diatoms or a wildlife resource manager deciding how many fish we can catch. The individualized guidance at Thomas More helps our students successfully navigate the unique marine biology career path that is right for them.

Students in our program focus on the fundamentals in all areas of biology (cellular, organismal, and ecological), gaining the technical skills and knowledge across a wide breadth of biology. Students then build upon this foundation by taking a specialized course and lab in marine biology, conducting hands-on research through our partnership with the Newport Aquarium or through an independent study at our nationally-recognized field station (Thomas More Biology Field Station), and by pursuing summer internships that fit their particular interests within the field of marine biology.

Students in our program focus on the fundamentals in all areas of biology (cellular, organismal, and ecological), gaining the technical skills and knowledge across a wide breadth of biology. Students then build upon this foundation by taking a specialized course and lab in marine biology, conducting hands-on research through our partnership with the Newport Aquarium or through an independent study at our nationally-recognized field station (Thomas More Biology Field Station), and by pursuing summer internships that fit their particular interests within the field of marine biology.

Students at Thomas More will be learning from both faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences and also biologists at the Newport Aquarium. These experts in the fields of marine biology and freshwater ecology represent a variety of career paths and expertise within these broad fields – including ecology, environmental science, conservation, and education.

With a marine biology minor, students are prepared to pursue careers in research, conservation, and wildlife or resource management. Careers in marine biology encompass diverse career paths from pharmaceutical development, to aquaculture, to animal training, and husbandry.

Students in this program often serve as husbandry or education interns through our partnership with the Newport Aquarium, conduct internships at our nationally-recognized field station, and pursue summer internships that fit their particular interests within the field of marine biology.

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