Graduate in Marine Biology

[Aquatic Eagle]

Hello all. I am currently a BS in Marine Science student and I am planning on attending graduate studies in Marine Biology. I would like to know opinions on good graduate schools. Right now I am seriously considering UNC at Wilmington. I have also looked into College of Charleston (they have marine science not specifically marine biology), and the University of Hawaii. I plan on finishing with a doctorate but schools with only Masters programs would be nice to hear about too. Thanks for your input!

 

[daniel f aleman]

The best PhD. programs in the US are:

Boston U.
U. Rhode Island
Woods Hole Oceanographic
U. of Delaware
Duke U.
U. North Carolina Wilmington
College of Charleston
Nova Southeastern U
U. of South Florida
U. of Miami
Florida Tech
Texas A&M at Galveston
U. of Washington at Seattle
U. of California at Santa Barbara
Scripps Oceanographic
U. of California at Santa Cruz
U. of Alaska Fairbanks
U. of Hawaii at Manoa.

 

[archman]

Pull Texas A&M at Galveston from Dan's graduate degree list. Their marine biology claim to fame is their undergraduate program, and in any event they don't offer any grad degrees directly ('cept the new resource management master's).

I think Dan's list is pretty complete. If you are a diver, I would heartily recommend a school in Florida, Hawaii, or the west coast.

If you're a marine science (rather than a marine biology) grad, you may have a stronger penchant towards biological oceanography. More hard science, more fiddling with fancy equipment.

 

[daniel f aleman]

archman has it right on the graguate program at TAMUGalveston; they do offer a Masters. And, the TAMUG undergraduate Marine Biology program is very good, http://www.marinebiology.edu/. A very good campus in every way.

Also, you might consider what marine biological specialization you are interested in - each school has its strengths... AND, if you want to dive you will want to go to a program that has an Academic Scientific Diving Program, affiliated with AAUS, http://www.aaus.org/mc/page.do. Examples: http://www.marinelab.fsu.edu/adp.html, and http://wwwutmsi.zo.utexas.edu/dive/index.htm. The other consideration is a strong local dive scene with a University Dive club, examples: http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~scuba/, and http://scuba.ce.sc.edu/.

Good luck.

 

[archman]

Those UTMSI grad students hardly ever dive... just like virtually all us poor schmucks in the Lone Star State (excepting the Nautical Arch. folks at TAMU). TAMU-CC has the closest thing to an active dive program, but few people are aware of it. You can can get a Master's in "Biology" from there, but in actuality their *marine biology program* is probably the best in the western Gulf of Mexico. Unless you want to be a lab weenie, that is.

 

[loquat149]

If you're a marine science (rather than a marine biology) grad, you may have a stronger penchant towards biological oceanography. More hard science

BULLSH^T!

 

[loquat149]

I'll let you in on a little secret...don't worry about the school, pick a professor. Contact one (or several) that you share similar research interests with. Arrange a visit in person if possible...if this means flying cross country, it's worth the investment. Talk with the other students in the professor's lab, see if they are happy and whether their work is progressing successfully. If one of the professors is interested in you, you're intersted in the kind of work they are (and you would be) doing, AND they have funding for you, then go THERE. If the professor wants you, he'll sponsor your entrance application. Everything else about the school is gravy. Oh, and don't waste time with a Master's.

Good luck,
Dave

 

[Thalassamania]

Where I starting on that path today, I'd take a serious look at the Richard Gilder Graduate School of the American Museum of Natural History. This program would permit the student to work in just about any biological discipline and the core course in Grantsmanship, Ethics, and Communication will, I believe, fill a major missing piece in most students' trainining. The graduates of this program will have a signficant head start toward positions of influence in the scientific community.

 

[drbill]

I'll let you in on a little secret...don't worry about the school, pick a professor. Contact one (or several) that you share similar research interests with. Arrange a visit in person if possible...if this means flying cross country, it's worth the investment. Talk with the other students in the professor's lab, see if they are happy and whether their work is progressing successfully. If one of the professors is interested in you, you're intersted in the kind of work they are (and you would be) doing, AND they have funding for you, then go THERE. If the professor wants you, he'll sponsor your entrance application. Everything else about the school is gravy. Oh, and don't waste time with a Master's.

Good luck,
Dave

While there is wisdom in this advice, simply choosing based on a "compatible" professor is not enough in selecting grad schools. I knew who I wanted to work with for 20 years. However, I didn't actually enter grad school until the university he taught at developed a good program (courses offered, other professors) and appropriate facilities.

You need to look at the whole package, but it is a good idea to base your interests on a professor with interests similar to yours following Dave's guidelines.

 

[Thalassamania]

Good advice from Dave and DrBill, for me ... there's a half dozen chaps at the American Museum that I give my left thing-a-ma-bob to spend the next 5 years working with.