U. S. news and world report selected florida southern college as having the best undergraduate teaching in the regional universities category for 2022
marine biology student taking measurements underwater

Bacholor of Science in
Marine Biology

Play Video

Marine biology is the study of the world’s marine environments.

Marine ecosystems cover more than 70% of the Earth’s surface which provides fascinating diversity of animals and plants for you to investigate.

Marine biologists study all types of sea life ranging from large ocean animals to microscopic organisms. Your B.S. in Marine Biology will provide you with a strong foundation in biology as you explore the vast diversity of marine species. You will apply your understanding of marine communities to global challenges, such as climate change and sustainable use of natural resources.

Request Info Visit Events Apply Today Program Details

Due to the similarities in the programs, students majoring in marine biology are not allowed to double major in biology or integrative biology nor are they allowed to minor in biology.

Top Reasons to choose Marine Biology at florida southern college

Original Research

Beyond course work, marine biology students work with marine biology faculty on independent studies, research projects, off-campus expeditions, scientific conferences, and other activities.

Outdoor Learning

With our close proximity to Lake Hollingsworth, all your marine biology courses will have a strong outdoor component—you’ll be in the field observing and collecting data.

Central Florida Location

Florida Southern is located within driving distance of both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean and we bring our marine biology students to these very diverse environments.

Marine Science Symposium

Each year we sponsor a Marine Science Symposium, bringing students and faculty from Florida universities together to share their research. Past keynote speakers have included Jean-Michel Cousteau and Jeff Corwin.

Prepare For Grad School

Side by side with your professors, you'll tag sharks, identify invasive species and study the life cycle of parasites. Gain invaluable experiences that will make you a top candidate for graduate programs. These experiences have allowed our graduates to transition seamlessly into top programs at Duke, U.C. Santa Barbara, and Hawaii Pacific University.

Study Abroad

As a marine biology student, you will travel to places such as Costa Rica, Jamaica, and the Bahamas to further your explorations.

Employment Outlook

Top Employers

Alumni occupations

Alumni Job Titles

Powered by Emsi Data

Without my excellent marine biology education at FSC, I truly believe that I would not be where I am today career-wise. The professors at FSC are so knowledgeable in their fields and really inspired me to continue learning and pursue research. All of the staff at Florida Southern are very approachable and helpful, even just to stop and chat.

— Leyna Stemle

Meet our Mocs

Malique Bowen

Malique Bowen

FSC offers opportunities that help me have a better understanding of what I need to do now to help me prepare for a future in the sciences after my undergraduate studies. Attending a conference always makes me feel more confident with what I’m doing with my career path. I met so many people through conferences that were not only eager to share their research but also eager to hear about my research and goals.

Nyssa Henderson

My favorite thing about my major is how easy it is to get involved. So many of the professors either look for interns or can recommend you opportunities. I applied my first semester and by this spring I’m working in a lab. We’re a busy bunch for sure but the professors are absolutely amazing.

Gretchen Faraci

I love many of the hands on aspects of my major. So many of my professors try to engage us in going beyond the zoom/classroom setting even with Covid-19. One of my biology classes challenges me to document a new organism I discover on campus every week!

Charis Law

I love everything about marine biology, I can honestly not pick a favorite aspect, nor a negative point about it.

Engaged Learning. Undergraduate Research.

Save the Animals

In BIO 2120 Biology and Conservation of Marine Mammals, you will be introduced to the biology of marine mammals, including cetaceans, pinnipeds, sirenians and sea otters. You will study their physiology, behavior, evolution and ecology, with special emphasis on their conservation. Marine labs and nature preserves are common field trip destinations, where you will meet professionals and see first-hand how marine mammals are studied.

View Academic Catalog

A visit is the next step. Online or In‑Person.

Schedule a campus tour or take our video tour of one of the nation’s most beautiful campuses. Participate in our daily online Admission Info Session or a MocTalk webinar to learn more about Florida Southern.

Learn More about visiting our campus

Featured Marine Biology Faculty

Dr. Gabriel Langford
- Associate Professor of Biology

I feel that using an interactive approach allows students to start asking questions about biology instead of just memorizing scientific facts, enabling them to have a broader understanding of the subject matter. I also feel strongly that ecology and environmental studies courses should be transported into an outdoor classroom whenever possible. I believe that field-based courses are the best mechanism for teaching ecology, and in my experience students excel when presented with real-world challenges.

Read More about Dr. Gabriel LangfordMeet Our Faculty

Clubs and More

FSC’s Biology Department sponsors chapters of Beta Beta Beta, a national society for students in the biological sciences, Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED), the national Health Preprofessional Honor Society, and Rho Rho Rho Marine and Atmospheric Honor Society.

Learn More about florida southern's clubs and organizations

Program Details

Available in: 

  • BS

First-Years

All freshman applicants to Florida Southern Colleges full-time degree programs must submit the following information:

Transfers

Applying to Florida Southern as a transfer student is easy.

If transferring less than 24 credits, we also need your:

  • Official high school transcript
  • SAT and/or ACT scores

Marine Biology Program Contact

Office of Admissions

Admissions Counselors
863.680.4131

Dr. Gabe Langford

Associate Professor of Biology
863.680.4318

Follow us on Facebook