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Marine Science, B.S.

Empowering tomorrow’s marine scientists with unparalleled training to preserve and promote healthy ocean habitats.

Encompassing focal areas ranging from marine ecology and biology to oceanography and geology, the Marine Science program will prepare you to embark on a vibrant, active career promoting and preserving the ocean habitats that are vital to virtually every aspect of human life.

Empowering You to Excel in Your Chosen Profession

The knowledge, skills, and scientific training you’ll gain will prepare you for a successful career improving lives and communities by applying cutting-edge technologies to promote and sustain healthy marine ecosystems.

Our graduates go on to become leaders in their fields and find success at top organizations across an expansive range of business and industry, including:

  • Apple Computers
  • Aquarium of the Pacific
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • California Ocean Protection Council
  • California Ocean Science Trust
  • Fishwise
  • Florida Aquarium
  • Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
  • National Association of Underwater Instructors
  • New England Aquarium
  • NOAA Corps
  • North Carolina Aquarium
  • Oceana
  • Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • Partnership for the Interdisciplinary Study of the Coastal Ocean (PISCO)
  • Reef Check California
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

The program’s interdisciplinary scientific foundation prepares students to thrive and excel in a variety of professional roles in which their skills and abilities can be applied, including:

  • Aquarists
  • Conservationists
  • Diving safety officers
  • Environmental scientist
  • Federal and state scientists
  • GIS analysts
  • Marine biologist
  • Marine conservation biologist
  • Marine ecologist
  • Oceanographer (biological, chemical, physical)
  • Research divers
  • Research technicians

You’ll find alumni of our program taking their preparation to even greater heights in graduate programs in marine biology, marine ecology, oceanography, environmental science, and marine policy at elite institutions, including: 

  • Boston University
  • Florida State University
  • Moss Landing Marine Labs
  • Oregon State University
  • Stanford University
  • UC Berkeley
  • UC Davis
  • UC Los Angeles
  • UC San Diego/Scripps Institute of Oceanography
  • UC Santa Barbara
  • UC Santa Cruz
  • University of Maryland
  • University of Miami
  • University of Oregon
  • University of San Diego
  • University of Washington
  • Western Washington University
Aerial Image of Campus

Public University Price, Private University Experience

A Lifetime of Value

Tuition & Fees Financial Aid

Marine Science, B.S.

As a program in Marine Science – and not Marine Biology like at other institutions – you’ll engage in a distinctive array of hands-on learning intentionally designed to heighten your skills in marine ecology, biology, oceanography, and geology. 

 

Educational Objectives

Our close proximity to the Monterey Bay’s living laboratory will position you to utilize our vibrant natural environment for active learning in weekly class meetings, capstone research, and extramurally-funded research, among many other opportunities.

Our abundance of scientific hands-on learning experiences will take you into, on, and next to the ocean on a weekly basis, including sandy beaches, rocky intertidal zones, salt marshes, subtidal rocky reefs, and subtidal kelp forests. 

Our Comprehensive Research SCUBA Diving Program is the largest university program of its kind in the country and will offer you unparalleled scientific opportunities for diving certification, academic activities, research, and skills training activities and operations.

Our extensive extracurricular research opportunities will provide you with advanced knowledge and training in areas like environmental physiology, video analysis and fish ecology, predator ecology, coastal ecology, and biological oceanography, among others.

Complete all of the following Marine Science Core courses with a grade of C- or above:

 

Complete one of the following Marine Science Core courses with a grade of C- or above:

 

Complete all of the following courses:

 

Complete one of the following economics courses:

 

Complete one of the following Upper-Division Service Learning course/course combinations:

 

Complete one of the following Capstone course combinations:

As the only CSU campus adjacent to an extraordinary living ocean laboratory, you’ll engage in learning opportunities here that you simply won’t find at other schools. These environments include the rocky intertidal zone ranging from Monterey to southern Carmel Bay, sandy beaches from Marina through Carmel Bay, salt marshes and estuarine habitats in the Elkhorn Slough, subtidal rocky reefs and kelp forests, and open ocean habitats throughout the Bay.

Additionally, courses in the program will enable you to engage in research activities in habitats across the state, from Monterey to La Jolla.

Faculty & Staff

Our faculty are dedicated to mentoring, advising, and actively supporting students in their course work and extracurricular research activities throughout their experience in the program. Many of our graduates stay in touch with faculty beyond graduation and well into their professional careers.

James Lindholm

James Lindholm

Professor

James Lindholm

James Lindholm

Department Chair

James Lindholm

James Lindholm

Special Consultant

Ashley Clark

Ashley Clark

Administrative Support Coordinator

News

Read about our student success and faculty innovation in CSUMB News

Questions? We’re Here to Help!

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you have about the Marine Science program.

Our experienced and supportive admissions staff is here to provide all the individualized guidance you need.

Study Marine Science in an inspiring coastal environment where we are truly committed to mentorship and an engaging student experience.