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.
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.
Beyond course work, marine biology students work with marine biology faculty on independent studies, research projects, off-campus expeditions, scientific conferences, and other activities.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Leyna StemleU.S. Fulbright student and PhD Student at University of Miami
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.
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.
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.
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.
Due to challenges associated with the pandemic, we have waived the requirement to submit a recommendation letter.
All freshman applicants to Florida Southern Colleges full-time degree programs must submit the following information:
Applying to Florida Southern as a transfer student is easy.
If transferring less than 24 credits, we also need your:
There is always something interesting happening at Florida Southern.
Community investment grant from The Mosaic Company supports purchase of powerboat to fa...
Zoe Alexander '19 and Nick Goin '20 secure contracts as marine fishery observers.
Students conducting research with Marine Biology professor Dr. Jason Macrander had the ...
Admissions Counselors863.680.4131
Associate Professor of Biology863.680.4318