<p>My daughter is interested in becoming a marine mammal veterinarian eventually. She is looking at undergrad schools now and is interested in studying marine mammal sciences. Are there any schools (preferably on the East Coast) that offer this major. We are finding it very difficult to find a school that offers this. </p>
<p>Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Marine mammal science? It seems very specific. I know many schools offer marine science. My good friend is attending College of the Atlantic for marine science. It’s rather small, but from what I hear it is one of its strong suits and has many opportunities for undergraduates in that field. Good luck!</p>
<p>There is only so much knowledge one can acquire during undergrad years and it is probably more important to get a solid background in something like Biology and pursue the more specialized area of study afterwards. You might want to check out the Sloan Career Cornerstone site (this is a good college and career planning resource) - there is a subsection on marine and aquatic biology within the Biology section.</p>
<p><a href=“Career Cornerstone Center: Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine”>Career Cornerstone Center: Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine;
<p>Its great to have specific dream, but I think its the wrong approach to exclude the ability to explore and change one’s mind. She will need to get into vet school first. I would look for schools that have good track records preparing students for vet school/getting them into vet school and also look for schools with strong marine biology programs. She may decide to do another form of marine biology or another form of veterinary medicine or medicine. Perhaps look for schools near an aquarium or other internship or volunteer opportunities (major cities with aquariums, near a SeaWorld or similar, ocean research centers, etc). </p>
<p>Check out University of Miami. They have a School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and several undergrad programs.</p>
<p>Eckerd College in Florida has marine biology; don’t know more than that.</p>
<p>Texas A&M University - Galveston has a marine biology program.
<a href=“http://www.tamug.edu/marb/Undergraduate/Undergrad_Degree_Programs.html”>http://www.tamug.edu/marb/Undergraduate/Undergrad_Degree_Programs.html</a></p>
<p>It’s on the gulf, and your daughter will actually end up with a degree from Texas A&M University (Main Campus) if she finishes her education at Galveston.</p>
<p>Focusing on the East Coast, Cornell has a very strong Vet School and a relationship with Woods Hole. Penn, with probably a lesser focus on Marine Mammals, has an equally strong Vet school. Although not on your radar, on the West Coast there’s UC Davis, with it’s very strong Vet School, and proximity to marine wildlife rescue centers at the Sausalito Marine Mammal Center and the Monterey Aquarium. I expect that undergraduates, through intern, summer programs and possible research opportunities, would benefit from the vet school marine mammal focus. Also UC Santa Cruz has a strong marine biology focus.</p>
<p>I know someone who is a marine mammal veterinarian with a successful career. She went to Tufts veterinary school and Wake Forest undergrad. As others have said, going to a college that will put your D on the path to an excellent veterinary school is the key. I wouldn’t focus too specifically on marine mammal science as an undergrad offering. Summer internships would be a great way to further that interest during college. In addition to Seaworld and aquariums, the US Navy has a marine mammal program. </p>
<p>This comes up a lot. In fact, someone just asked about this a week ago. I’ll respond with the same answer.
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<p><a href=“Marine biology/zoology/vet - #14 by warblersrule - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums”>Marine biology/zoology/vet - #14 by warblersrule - College Search & Selection - College Confidential Forums;
<p>If your daughter has not volunteered or worked at a vet clinic, she should do so as soon as possible. It’s a great deal more stressful and messy than most realize, and a love of animals is simply not enough to be a good vet. It’s not for everyone. </p>
<p>I’ll agree with warbler’s overall. The major sounds appealing for many, but more than half tend to change their minds once they see what it really entails.</p>
<p>Otherwise, I’ll second Eckerd. Theirs is Marine Science rather than Marine Bio (Bio is a subconcentration within the Marine Science major). They are located right on the coast of Tampa Bay. They have no grad students meaning undergrads get to do all the “fun” stuff. They produce more Hollings Scholarship winners (an undergrad scholarship offered through NOAA) even beating larger and more well-known schools like U Miami (which comes in second, so is worth a look). And when we were there visiting, more than one student told us about a manatee necropsy they were fortunate enough to get to participate in in coordination with a nearby institute.</p>
<p>After looking at many southern marine options, my guy selected Eckerd and will be a freshman there this coming year, so I’m just offering the conclusion of his couple of years of research into Marine.</p>
<p>Do note that he’s not interested in becoming a marine vet, but rather working along the coastline or doing some sort of sustainable aquaculture or ???</p>
<p>And… roughly 175 students come to Eckerd each year thinking Marine Science. Roughly 60 graduate. The vast majority do change their minds, so it’s worth keeping in mind. (The stats were theirs.)</p>
<p>However, for those who (at the moment) can’t see themselves doing anything else, their location right on the water with freshmen getting into the boats/water right from the start was a huge draw over places that simply don’t have/offer that (aside from a field trip or two - or a van ride to the coast and their facilities, etc).</p>
<p>There are surprisingly few universities that have an actual DVM program at all. I would expect she should make a list of them and then contact those schools to find out which maybe have an affinity for marine mammals.</p>
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<p>right…and marine mammal sounds like grad school stuff</p>
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<p>yup…</p>
<p>this sounds like kids who post that they want to study dermatology or some other specialty as undergrads. That is all post-MD study…done AFTER med school…certainly not done as undergrads where foundations are formed for later depth study. </p>
<p>Your D will have to become a regular vet first, then specialize.</p>
<p>Your D would have to manage to get into vet school (super dooper hard), then do 4 years of vet school, AND THEN if lucky get accepted into a specialty involving marine mammals. (all of this costs a ton of money…and not sure if there will be the income to support the few hundred thousands in debt accumulated…unless parents are prepared to pay-out a few hundred thousand.)</p>
<p>Your D probably needs to target schools that are on coastlines, that have bays, etc. UCSD, Miami, etc. </p>
<p>dont know if limiting to east coast is good. </p>
<p>what are her stats?</p>
<p>how much can you pay each year? </p>
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<p>very true…and those located in rural areas tend to have a lot of livestock around. Maybe the few by coasts have marine animals.</p>
<p>The two vet schools near me are in rural areas and tend to have a lot of livestock and companion pets. and, the post-DVM specialties are animal cardiology, ophthalmology, and a few I dont remember.</p>
<p>Since the first goal has to be getting the grades for Vet school, your D needs to choose a major (probably Bio with some tract), get the highest grades, do well on the VCAT exam.</p>
<p>Just a suggestion, try doing something related to that such as Veterinary Science or some Biology field and then do marine mammal science in grad school. That major is too specialized to accomplish anything meaningful in the undergrad level.</p>
<p>If your daughter knows people working in this specialty, ask them what they majored in and what colleges they attended.</p>
<p>Look for schools that have something like Zoology or Animal Science as a sub-tract within Biology.</p>
<p>but I can tell, none of this is necessary. Vet schools dont admit students based on some dream of being some specialty.</p>
<p>She can just major in Bio or something else and complete the pre-vet pre-reqs. My kids’ undergrad doesnt have a vet school, but the students I know majored in Bio, then went to vet school. One will further her education (after getting her DVM) in Kentucky for some kind of equine specialty. </p>
<p>Eckerd and New College of Florida, definitely; University of Rhode Island has a good Oceanography Department. I don’t know about Connecticut College, but New London, CT, is home to the Coast Guard Academy, and has lots of maritime activity. If she’s open to the West Coast, UC San Diego is affiliated with the legendary Scripps Oceanographic Institute, and UC Santa Cruz is renowned for Marine Biology. If she has the academic chops, MIT has an ongoing partnership with the Marine Biological Laboratories in Woods Hole, MA. I figure most colleges in major ports and maritime communities probably have some programs. I’d look at College of Charleston, Goucher (no Marine Biology major, but students are invited to design their own majors), and possibly Brown. Johns Hopkins isn’t known for Oceanography or Marine Biology, but they are so strong in other Sciences that she should also consider them if she’s qualified. </p>
<p>Marine Biological Laboratories does terrific research using biological characteristics/cells/etc of sea animals to research solutions for human diseases. Great place! I’m not sure that they do the research to help cure marine animals. </p>
<p>It is important to understand the differences between marine studies, oceanography, maritime studies. They are all different.</p>
<p>Oceanography is the study of the ocean itself. It would be considered an earth science. The geology of the sea floor, the chemistry and thermodynamics of the ocean water, etc. Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) is great at this stuff.</p>
<p>Note Marine Biological Lab and WHOI are two different institutes, both located down the street from one another. They have two different purposes/goals.</p>
<p>Maritime studies is more at how we use the sea in commerce, defense, etc.</p>
<p>I don’t believe that the OP’s daughter is looking for these types of departments.</p>
<p>I agree with posters upthread on an undergraduate foundation in biology. I recommend specific electives in Vertebrate Biology and Animal Physiology, and their associated lab classes. </p>
<p>Getting the core of Biology along with the required General Education requirements and a couple of mammal specific electives is all about that a student can fit into the undergraduate four years, and that will be tight as it is. </p>
<p>As Mom2CollegeKids said, then comes Vet school, and then a fellowship specializing in Marine Mammals.</p>
<p>I would recommend your daughter using her summers in undergraduate college to intern at large aquariums that specialize in marine mammals, Monterey Bay for sea otters, any one of the aquariums for seals. Apply for these VERY EARLY in the autumn or even the summer before as these spots are extremely difficult to get.</p>
<p>Volunteering at a local vet now would help get experience to put on the application for the aquarium internship applications.</p>