Marine Biology is an interdisciplinary program sponsored jointly by the College of the Environment and the College of Arts and Sciences to immerse undergraduate students in the study of marine organisms and ecosystems. Drawing upon the courses, faculty expertise and fields of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, Biology, Friday Harbor Laboratories and Oceanography, students enhance classroom learning with field and research experiences.
Marine Biology is the study of life in saltwater environments. This encompasses genetics, physiology and ecology of organisms such as plankton, marine plants, crustaceans, molluscs, fish, and marine mammals. Habitats including the rocky intertidal, estuaries, coasts and the deep sea are studied as is the influence of physical, geological and chemical processes and changing climate on marine life.
The Undergraduate Minor in Marine Biology is designed to give students a foundation in the study of life in saltwater environments. The minor integrates coursework in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Biology, and Oceanography. Students are encouraged to complete some requirements for the minor at the UW’s marine field station at Friday Harbor Labs. This minor can be completed by students pursuing any major.
35 credits