Marine and Aquatic Biology

The Department of Biological Sciences at BGSU offers one of the most extensive marine biology programs in the state. Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in biology with a specialization in marine and aquatic biology. Marine and aquatic biology is a subdiscipline of both oceanography and limnology.

Admission Information

Schedule a Visit

Request Information

Quality classroom experiences

The marine and aquatic biology program is unique to the state of Ohio. The program houses the BGSU Marine Laboratory, which contains over 3,000 gallons of seawater in over 40 aquaria offering students hands-on experience. Additional experience can be gained with field study during the summer at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Mississippi or Stone Lab in Lake Erie.

Stand Out in courses like

Evolution
Limnology
Marine Biology
Ecology
Ichthiology
Invertebrate Diversity

Curriculum

Marine and Aquatic Biology is the study of marine and freshwater organisms, their behaviors and their interactions with the environment. The marine and aquatic biology specialization requires completion of a suite of core courses in basic biology, genetics, ecology, and marine biology, including internships and field requirements.

The department maintains a 3,000-gallon inland marine laboratory with a wide variety of fish and other marine life, including sea anemones, corals, starfish, sea urchins, stingray, snails, crabs and lobsters.

Internships and Careers

Students have the opportunity to partake in experiential learning trips to a variety of locations. Through our affiliation with the Gulf Coast Research Lab, students may choose to enroll in specialized summer session field classes including shark biology, marine ichthyology, marine mammals, and dolphin and whale behavior. Students may also apply for a 6-month internship with the Curaçao Sea Aquarium.

Go Far in your career

Aquaculture
Conservation and Restoration Ecology
Education
Environmental Protection
Natural Resource Management
Oceanography

The biology curriculum offers study abroad/field based courses focused on marine biology, ecology and global environmental problems in locations such as the Gulf Coast, Curaçao, and the Galapagos Islands.

More Information

The Marine and Aquatic Biology program is part of the Department of Biological Sciences in the BGSU College of Arts and Sciences.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this specialization, undergraduates will:

Demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of marine biology and gain an appreciation of its role as a subdiscipline of oceanography;
Gain a better understanding of how the marine environment is impacted by human activities;
Develop critical thinking skills as well as an understanding of the nature of science, demonstrate the ability to evaluate biological research, and demonstrate technical skills relevant to marine biology;
Have the ability to articulate their understanding of marine environments in both oral and written formats to professional and non-science audiences.

Accreditation

Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012-2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

More information on accreditation

Professional Licensure

Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Marine and Aquatic Biology specialization does not lead to professional licensure.

More information on professional licensure

Gainful Employment

Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Marine and Aquatic Biology program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.

Updated: 03/04/2021 03:56PM