The University of West Florida is one of only a few institutions in the United States which offers a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. The program is provided through the Department of Biology. The curriculum includes a series of five core-courses fundamental to all areas of biology. Wetlands and estuarine marshes of the main campus, as well as the nearby Santa Rosa Island campus and the Gulf of Mexico, provide living specimens for study and serve as laboratories supporting elective courses. Graduates may seek careers in marine biology, fisheries management, aquaculture, pollution biology, and marine toxicology, and find employment in local, state, and federal departments of environmental regulation and education, as well as the private sector.
Graduates are also well prepared to pursue advanced degrees.
In addition to general University requirements, students seeking the B.S. in Marine Biology must meet the requirements listed below. Consult with your academic advisor for courses which may satisfy both the General Studies requirements and common prerequisites. Course descriptions are listed alphabetically by prefix in the back of this catalog. For additional information see the General Studies section of this catalog. State mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program.