Schools good for particular majors

[mdoc]

<p>What is the best way of researching which schools are particularly good at specific majors? A friend's D is interested in marine biology, and while she's found lists of college that have the major, she's trying to figure out if there are rankings out there. Obviously a top rated school might be mediocre at a particular major, while a mediocre school might have a top notch department. How do you find that out?</p>

[mafool]

<p>I don’t know about programs in Marine Biology. (I do know that Duke has a great Bio station on the coast, so that may be something to look into <a href=“http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/[/url]”>http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/marinelab/&lt;/a&gt; .) But I want to mention that much can change as students are exposed to various disciplines and options in college, so the best of both worlds would be a U or C with a top notch department that is also great at a variety of other things. (I started out in cultural anthropology and ended up in zoology!)</p>

[Treetopleaf]

<p>Ruggs Guide lists top programs, some of which are in lower profile schools.</p>

[mafool]

<p>you aroused my curiosity, mdoc.</p>

<p>

Should I major in marine biology at college?</p>

<p>Believe me, college is too early a time to become too specialized in marine biology. DON’T necessarily major in marine biology if you really want to become a marine biologist. I know this sounds illogical but it is sound advice. Basic science is still how you should fill up your course work. Yes, take a course or two in marine science or even a minor, but fill up your time with the basics: biology, physics, chemistry, and math and even engineering. It is easier to learn basic science, math, and computer programming now than to pick it up later in graduate or professional school. This is not to say that marine science and environmental science programs should be completely avoided. Some are extremely good at giving a student critical thinking skills across a number of disciplines, while also making students learn the basics of science. Many marine biology problems today require thinking “outside the box,” and therefore linkages between different disciplines can be very rewarding. My favorite configuration would be multiple majors that lead a student into creative areas. For example: what about a double major in science and social science, or a triple major between biology, chemistry and engineering? These combinations will lead you toward a basic science education that still lets you apply your knowledge to real-life problems. As many students know, engineering is a major area of academic growth in colleges today. If you want to be a marine biologist, the training you might get in mechanical engineering, engineering skills involved in hydrodynamics and climate studies, or computer skills can be applied directly to ocean science problems.

</p>

<p>[Becoming</a> a Marine Biologist](<a href=“http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/becoming.html]Becoming”>http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/becoming.html)</p>

[crazed]

<p>University of Miami.
They have a research center on Key Biscayne and do research on cruise ships, etc. check out their website.</p>