Marine Science

In recent years, students have taken advantage of opportunities at the following organizations:

• Egmont Key Internships
• Galbraith Fellowship
• U.S.G.S. Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies
• Estuarine and Coastal Marine Sciences – Duke University
• Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Opportunities
• Incorporated Research Institutions in Seismology Internships
• Association for Women Geoscientists Student Opportunities
• Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) Internships
• Keck Geology Consortium
• GeoCorps America

For updated information on internship and fellowship opportunities in marine science, please check the listings posted at our Career Center.

The marine science program offers rigorous preparation for graduate study in the sciences, and over half of our graduates enroll in graduate programs either immediately after graduation or after working in the field for one to several years. Eckerd’s solid preparation has enabled students to not only enter Master’s and Ph.D. programs in marine science and oceanography, but also in fields as diverse as biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology, toxicology, biomedical science, environmental science, marine policy and law. Still other students opt for professional schools and earn M.D., D.V.M. and D.D.S. degrees.

Graduate Programs

Here is a partial listing of graduate institutions that our recent graduates have attended:

• CaliforniaStateUniversity, Long Beach
• College of Charleston
• Cornell University
• Duke University
• Florida International University
• Florida State University
• John Hopkins University
• Harvard University
• NOVA Southeastern
• Oregon State University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Rice University
• Rutgers University
• Scripps Institute, University of California, San Diego
• SUNY Stony Brook
• Texas A+M
• University of California, Davis
• University of California, Santa Barbara
• University of California, Santa Cruz
• University of Chicago
• University of Colorado
• University of Florida
• University of Hawaii
• University of Miami
• University of Minnesota
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• University of North Carolina, Wilmington
• University of Rhode Island
• University of SouthFlorida
• University of Washington
• University of Wisconsin
• Virginia Institute of Marine Science
• WashingtonStateUniversity
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

A marine science degree offers a wide range of career opportunities. Graduates from the marine science program at EckerdCollege have been successful in gaining admission to graduate schools and in obtaining interesting and fulfilling jobs. Our graduates have been able to secure jobs in research laboratories, government agencies, private consulting firms, industry, public aquaria, and educational institutions from secondary to collegiate levels.

Some careers may be entered with a B.S. degree and enhanced by an internship experience. Some careers require graduate study in an area of specialization. Listed below are careers in marine science that exist for different experience levels and abilities. Salaries and degree of responsibility typically increase with increased training, experience, and education. Here are some examples:

With a B.S. Marine Science:

• Laboratory Research Technician or Research Assistant
• Park Naturalist or Park Ranger
• Secondary School Teacher or Teaching Assistant
• Field Crew Member or Field Research Technician
• Volunteer Coordinator
• Aquarium Technician
• Aquaculture Technician
• Environmental Consultant
• Wildlife Specialist
• Outreach Educator
• Marine Mammal Trainer
• Artist (e.g. animal sculpture, paintings)
• Marine Patrol, Law Enforcement
• Industry (e.g. oil companies)

With a M.S. (Master of Science):

• Research Assistant
• Environmental Consultant
• Environmental Planner or Land Use Manager
• Environmental Analyst
• Natural Resource Manager
• Laboratory Manager or Research Coordinator
• Field Biologist/Geologist
• Lecturer
• Professor at some two-year colleges
• Scientific Writer
• Scientific Illustrator
• Industry (e.g. petroleum exploration)

With Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.):

• Post Doctoral Associate
• College or University Professor
• Lecturer
• Senior Environmental Consultant
• Research Administrator
• Research Associate/Scientist
• Natural Resource Manager or Director
• Museum Curator
• Superintendent of Public Schools
• Director of Curriculum and Instruction
• Scientific Journal Editor
• Industry (e.g. Research Scientist)

For more information on careers in marine science, please see the following resources:

American Society of Limnology and Oceanography and Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence provide general information on careers in the Aquatic Sciences, including employment opportunities, earnings, job outlook, and working conditions.

Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, provides a list of web resources on careers in oceanography, marine science, and marine biology.

Office of Naval Research provides general information on oceanography careers.

Eckerd’s strong commitment to international education includes an International Education Office, dedicated to promoting and managing our programs abroad. Students in marine science have a wide range of opportunities to explore the sciences both internationally and at US sites outside the Tampa Bay area.

Most students go abroad through one of our winter term or spring-into-summer courses. Others study a full semester in a foreign university or participate in formal marine science exchange programs Eckerd has established at Plymouth and Aberdeen Universities (UK) or through Marine Science Exchange, an Eckerd-initiated joint program with the University of the Canary Islands (Spain), the University of Liege (Belgium), and La Rochelle University (France). We are also currently developing programs in China, Australia, and Latin America.

Some faculty conduct research abroad and include Eckerd students as assistants in the Bahamas, the US Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, and Panama. Furthermore, the College’s BIOS Galbraith Scholarship provides full travel, housing, and a stipend to send an Eckerd student each summer to conduct research with a resident scientist at Bermuda Institute for Ocean Sciences. Eckerd College is also a member of the Sea Education Association, Inc., where students receive land-based instruction in oceanography, nautical science, and maritime affairs, followed by a 6-week research cruise.