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Professors with diverse interests in the biology of the sea form the core of the program, which leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. The curriculum stresses excellence in the basic sciences as a preparation for a career in the marine sciences or for further study in graduate school. The program is popular – each year about 80 freshmen start their studies in Marine Biology at URI.
URI has often been called the Ocean State University, and rightly so. The University’s main campus is located only minutes away from the ocean. Narragansett Bay, one of the most beautiful and scientifically well-known bays on the east coast of the United States, provides fertile areas for learning, research and recreation. Some of the finest beaches in New England are found along Rhode Island’s south coast. The University, which was founded in 1892, is a sea grant and land grant institution that enrolls about 10,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate students.
The Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology is a rigorous curriculum. All majors start their freshman year with a small seminar on marine biology as well as the two-semester Principles of Biology course. After completing the introductory courses, students choose four in-depth “core” biology courses. Courses such as Marine Biology, Marine Ecology and Marine Botany can be taken as soon as the prerequisites are met. Courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics and oceanogrphy also are required. A complete description of the curriculum requirements is available.
The faculty are deeply involved in research on a variety of marine topics, including the ecology of marine algae, sensory biology of fishes, functional morphology of feeding and swimming in sharks, the physiology of aggression in lobsters, and the physiology of animals in polar and deep sea environments. We encourage undergraduate students to become involved with us in our research and offer course credit for assigned research work or independent study. More information about the teaching and research interests of the faculty is available.
A program coordinator (Dr. Jacqueline Webb) and faculty advisors assist students with course choices and provide advice on internships, study abroad and research opportunities. In the first wo years, a marine biology advisor meets students at University College that all freshmen and most sophomores call their “advising home”.
The Marine Biology Office is another resource for undergraduates. Staffed by student peer advisors, the office offers information on the marine biology program, internships and jobs in the field, scholarship opportunities, and more. To become part of the Marine Biology listserv or to get advice from a peer mentor visit the Marine Biology Office located in A-107 in the Biological Sciences Center (BISC).
Contact us by e-mail to find out office hours or stop by BISC A107: URIMarineBio@gmail.com Tel: 401.874.5494
URI is a leader in marine research and offers over 250 undergraduate and graduate courses on marine and environmental topics, such as Resarch Diving Methods, Introduction to Aquaculture, Fishery Science, Maritime New England, Global Change, Peoples of the Sea, and many others. Undergraduates may select from any of the undergraduate courses and, with appropriate preparation, many of the graduate courses listed in the URI catalog.
There are many opportunities to get involved in marine activities. Internships at institutions such as the Mystic MarineLife Aquarium, the RI Department of Environmental Management, and the US EPA have been very helpful to many marine biology students. Many Marine Biology students choose to study away from the University, often going to Bermuda, England, or Australia for a semester.
After graduation, many students want to start a career in marine biology immediately, others want to continue their education in graduate school. As in all fields, jobs and admission to graduates school are competitive. Your education in marine biology at URI prepares you for a wide variety of positions in government or private industry, teaching, and many others. For thse who wish to pursue academic or research careers, graduate education probably will be necessary. |
