What courses should I take for marine/ocean science/biology grad school?

[belief]

<p>For pre-med, you need certain courses (year of bio, orgo, physics, etc.).
What should I take for ocean or marine science/biology?</p>

<p>I don't want to major in biology, but if I have to, I will.</p>

[warblersrule]

<p>

@belief

I don’t want to major in biology, but if I have to, I will.

For marine biology, a biology major is usually the best stepping stone. Oceanography, the broader field, is a bit different – depending one one’s concentration, it’s feasible to major in biology, chemistry, geology, physics, or even engineering.</p>

<p>As for specific requirements, UCSD and MIT are reasonably specific about the minimums:

@UCSD-Scripps

Biological Oceanography—Two years of chemistry, including general and organic chemistry, and a year of general biology are required. Physical chemistry requiring calculus may be substituted for physics requiring calculus where a more elementary physics course was taken. Zoology or botany may be substituted for general biology. Preparation should also include a course in general geology and at least one course in each of the following categories: systematics (e.g., invertebrate zoology), population biology (e.g., ecology), functional biology (e.g., physiology). In special cases, other advanced courses in mathematics or natural sciences may be substituted. Biological oceanography applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit scores of the biology subject test of the GRE

@MIT-WHOI

Biological Oceanography </p>

<p>Degree in a fundamental field of biology and courses in:

• Organic and inorganic chemistry
• Physics (one year)
• Mathematics (through differential equations)
• Ecology, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics (recommended)
• Statistics
• Independent research

Keep in mind that these are minimums…marine biology programs are quite competitive, and a strong applicant would go well above that. Additionally, decent undergraduate research is going to need more than the standard biology sequence for pre-med.</p>

<p>If you are interested in other areas of oceanography, the background necessary would change. Physical oceanography requires a fair amount of upper-level math and physics (e.g. fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, partial diff eqs, etc.), whereas for geological oceanography, a background in sedimentology, geomorphology, (micro)paleontology, etc. would be more helpful. Chemical oceanography requires a background in inorganic and organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, and some math. Archaeological oceanography requires a background in any of these fields plus a basic knowledge of anthropology. Basic computing skills are, of course, presupposed for all of these fields.</p>

<p>For marine policy or fisheries science, a background in public policy and econ would be quite helpful in addition to a science background.</p>

[zapfino]

<p>[Marine</a> Careers :: Marine Biology](<a href=“http://www.marinecareers.net/field_marinebiology.php]Marine”>http://www.marinecareers.net/field_marinebiology.php)
[Careers</a> in Oceanography, Marine Science & Marine Biology](<a href=“http://ocean.peterbrueggeman.com/career.html]Careers”>Careers in Oceanography, Marine Science & Marine Biology)
[NOAA</a> Magazine Online (Story 179)](<a href=“http://www.magazine.noaa.gov/stories/mag179.htm]NOAA”>http://www.magazine.noaa.gov/stories/mag179.htm)
[NAML:</a> National Association of Marine Laboratories](<a href=“http://www.naml.org/]NAML:”>http://www.naml.org/)
[Preparation</a> for a Career in Marine Biology](<a href=“http://www-marine.stanford.edu/HMSweb/Webster.html]Preparation”>http://www-marine.stanford.edu/HMSweb/Webster.html)
[Marine</a> Careers : Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution](<a href=“Page Not Found - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution”>http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=11616)</p>

[belief]

<p>omg thank you </p>

<p>so</p>

<p>much</p>