<p>iv been having trouble deciding whether i want to major in biology so that i can get a masters in marine biology or if i want to major in history. If i chose to do biology i need to decide by the end of this year so im running out of time. my question is, if i chose to major in history and decide at the end that this isnt what i want to do, is it possible to then go for a masters in marine biology with a degree in history?</p>
<p>Basically, no. Theoretically it might be possible, but it's highly unlikely. Graduate programs in marine biology (most of which offer PhDs only) specifically look for calculus, organic chemistry, statistics, ecology, physics, etc., and it wouldn't be easy to fit that much coursework in with a history major. A huge factor in grad school admissions is research, so it'd be hard to fit in biology research as well.</p>
<p>For example, look at the course requirements for Scripps</a> (UCSD): A major in one of the biological sciences (or equivalent), with basic course work in botany, microbiology, or zoology; two years of chemistry, including organic chemistry, is required. Training in one or more of the following areas is strongly recommended: cellular biology, molecular biology, comparative physiology, genetics, developmental biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, microbiology, and/or botany.</p>
<p>Or for MIT/WHOI:</a> Degrees in a fundamental field of biology, Organic and inorganic chemistry, Physics (one year), Mathematics (through differential equations), Ecology, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics (recommended), Statistics, and Independent research.</p>
<p>You may be interested in combining your interests in marine biology and history into a field like underwater archaeology. URI has an awesome joint oceanography-history graduate program headed by Robert Ballard, discoverer of the Titanic.</p>
<p><a href="http://iao.gso.uri.edu/academics/index.php%5B/url%5D">http://iao.gso.uri.edu/academics/index.php</a></p>
<p>TAMU is also an excellent choice, although it's not a joint program.</p>
<p><a href="http://nautarch.tamu.edu/academic/index.htm%5B/url%5D">http://nautarch.tamu.edu/academic/index.htm</a></p>
<p>wow that underwater archaeology sounds like a great idea. thank you so much for that information.</p>
<p>Marine biology is a great field, but just a heads up: marine biologists are often not paid very well. I forget the name of the prof., but this guy from Scripps had this site where he said that unless you want to poor and wet (hah...) all the time, don't do marine bio.</p>
<p>But yeah, you need to major in a scientific field for marine bio.</p>