Wednesday 8 June 2011

Marine Biologist Education

Marine biologists are professionals who study the ocean life. This career has become increasingly popular because of the modern facilities and provisions for marine biologists to carry out their work extensively and achieve career advancement faster. Only thing which matters when we talk about how to become a marine biologist is whether you are really interested in this career, and whether you have the requisite skills for the job. Before we move on to the marine biologist education, let us quickly go through the marine biologist job description.

Marine Biologist Job Details

Here are the important points about the marine biologist job description:

    * A marine biologist's duty is to study and research the life forms of the sea and its interaction with the ocean floor and land
    * They study marine plants and animals, effects of ocean currents on living organisms and think of ways of preserving the marine environment
    * Marine biologists prepare detailed reports of their observations which is handed to the senior authorities to take decisions regarding protection of marine life
    * Marine biologists are known to work in offices and laboratories as research assistants along with their field work

From the job details of marine biologists, it is clear that this is a specialist's job and one must have the requisite educational qualifications besides the passion and interest to become a marine biologist. So, let us discuss about these educational requirements below.

Becoming a Marine Biologist

As mentioned above, all candidates who desire to be marine biologists need to be fully aware of the educational needs for this career. The preparation should start from high school itself so that you can get admission into top schools offering courses in or related to marine biology. Entry level jobs generally require a degree whereas the senior level jobs would require you to have post graduate degree or a doctorate along with sufficient experience. The following are the important subjects on which you should concentrate for a successful career in marine biology:

    * Oceanography
    * Marine biology
    * Fisheries science
    * Environmental science
    * Marine science

Knowledge of research can be gained from practical oriented marine biology courses which are run by most prominent universities. At many places, the marine biologist education requirements include a four year degree program in fields such as aquatic biology or biological science. Apart from these fields, you should have good knowledge of physics, chemistry, zoology and biometrics to make a mark in this career. While you select marine biology as your special subject, you need to be extra careful while choosing your college/university and make sure that it is an accredited one. Some of the well known marine biology schools are Florida International University, Boston University, Florida State University, University of Georgia, University of Southern California, Troy University and University of California-San Diego. Effective communication and interpersonal skills, ability to work in a team, leadership qualities, observation skills and presence of mind are the qualities which make a good marine biologist.

Marine Biologist Salary

Marine biologist salary figures are really impressive because the demand for such talented professionals is great in today's job market. The salary figures do vary greatly depending on the location of the job, type of employer and skills of the candidates. The entry level salaries for marine biologists can be between $35,000 to $43,000 per year. With around two to five years of experience, this figure can be between $45,000 to $60,000 per year. Highly experienced marine biologists can make around $70,000 per year and even more. Marine biologists employed by top research institutions are believed to earn the highest salaries in this field.

From the content on marine biologist education and salary, we conclude that this is an exciting career for young graduates. By taking sincere efforts and improving your skills constantly, you will be able to achieve your goals. Good luck for your career!

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