Marine Science Major

Marine science is a major that typically falls into the Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies category.

There are 2 programs available throughout the country that offer an associate’s degree in marine science, 5 that offer a bachelor’s degree, and 15 that offer a master’s degree. There are also at least 7 schools in the nation where you can get your doctorate degree in the field.

Who Is Getting a Marine Science Degree?

This is a less frequently chosen major. Only 100 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marine science in 2017. This major is dominated by women with about 67.8% of recent graduates being female.

Racial Distribution

At the countrywide level, the racial distribution of marine science majors is as follows:

• Asian: 1.7%
• Black or African American: 1.7%
• Hispanic or Latino: 16.9%
• White: 70.3%
• Non-Resident Alien: 0.8%
• Other Races: 8.5%

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in marine science. About 0.8% of those graduating in 2017 were international students. The most popular countries sending marine science majors to the U.S. are China, Canada and India.

What Will You Learn as a Marine Science Major?

An O*NET survey asked people with careers related to marine science to rate how important certain subject areas were to their job. The following are some of the results of that survey. Importance was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Marine Science Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

Skills for Marine Science Majors

A major in marine science prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

Abilities for Marine Science Majors

Marine science majors often go into careers where the following abilities are vital:

What Can You Do With a Marine Science Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with marine science:

Careers Related to Marine Science

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists	6.8%	$107,230
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	11.1%	$71,130
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists	7.7%	$63,420
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	14.1%	$91,130
Natural Sciences Managers	9.9%	$123,860
Clinical Research Coordinators	9.9%	$123,860
Water Resource Specialists	9.9%	$123,860
Climate Change Analysts	11.1%	$71,130
Professors	9.4%	$65,660
Environmental Restoration Planners	11.1%	$71,130

Marine Science Major Salary

Marine science majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $77,000 to $110,000. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, the typical high school graduate makes between $29,000 and $57,000 a year. The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $44,000 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,000 and $120,000.

Your salary will be largely dependent on the career path you follow and what area of the country (or world) you work. Getting a graduate degree may open up more options with higher salary potential.

Amount of Education Required for Marine Science Major Jobs

Some careers associated with marine science require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for marine science careers below.

Education Levels for Careers Associated With Marine Science

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Less Than a High School Diploma	0.3%
High School Diploma or Equivalent	1.1%
Post-Secondary Certificate	1.2%
Some College Courses	0.1%
Associate's Degree or Equivalent	1%
Bachelor's Degree	42.4%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	3.7%
Master's Degree	33.2%
Post-Master's Certificate	1.3%
First Professional Degree	0.6%
Doctoral Degree	9.7%
Post-Doctoral Training	5.2%

Online Marine Science Programs

There are 5 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in marine science, with 0 of them offering at least some courses online.

Online learners must listen or watch video lectures, participate in group chats or forums, submit papers and assignments electronically, take tests, and meet deadlines.

Getting your degree online is not easy and includes watching and listening to hours of lectures, participating in group charts, submitting papers by the appropriate deadline and taking tests. Some online programs will also feature internships or in-person clinical hours.

Is a Marine Science Major Worth It?

The median salary for a marine science grad is $84,000 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 115% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $894,000 after 20 years!

Related Majors

• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Biological & Physical Science
• Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution
• Systems Theory
• Mathematics & Computer Science
• Biopsychology
• Gerontology
• Historic Preservation
• Medieval Studies
• Museum Studies
• Science, Technology & Society
• Accounting & Computer Science
• Behavioral Science
• Natural Sciences
• Nutrition Science
• International Studies
• Holocaust Studies
• Classical & Ancient Studies
• Multicultural & Diversity Studies
• Cognitive Science
• Cultural Studies & Analysis
• Human Biology
• Dispute Resolution
• Maritime Studies
• Computational Science
• Human Computer Interaction
• Marine Science
• Sustainability Science
• Other Interdisciplinary Studies

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
O*NET Online
Image Credit: Daderot via License