Online Courses in Marine Biology

Become a Marine Biologist or Oceanographer With Online Classes

May 15, 2009 Megan Jungwi

Online courses are becoming more and more popular in a variety of fields; not to be left out marine biology and oceanography classes can also be found online.

Most continuing education courses target jobs in accounting, finance, hospitality, and marketing. Many adults pursuing further education learn technical skills in electrical engineering, dental hygiene, or computers. However, sometimes the imagination takes a person farther afield. For the adult that wants to become a marine biologist or simply learn more about the field there are several online marine biology courses available.

An Online Degree in Oceanography

The University of West Florida offers an online distance learning program in oceanography. Students pursuing this program earn a Bachelor of Science degree and prepare for a career as a biological oceanographer, a marine geochemist, or for a position in coastal zone management. This marine biology degree is best for those hoping to pursue a career needing a basic understanding of oceanography, but are not planning to pursue a research based master’s program later on. Students can also opt to take only one or two marine biology classes they are interested in. Undergraduate online courses range from $123.77 for Florida residents to $553.16 for non-Florida students.

Marine Biology Courses Online for Credit

Most online schools offer biology courses in some form, however few specifically offer marine biology courses. Oregon State University offers several distance learning marine biology classes. Courses include “Marine Biology”, “Introduction to Marine Life in the Seas”, “Dynamics of Marine Biological Resources” and many others. A course at this school can cost $624 for an undergraduate student and $1284 for a graduate student. The University of California Berkeley Extension Program offers one marine biology course that can be had for $740.

Environmental Studies Programs and Marine Biology Classes

Sometimes it helps to look into a university’s environmental studies program to find oceanography or marine biology classes. The American Public University offers a B.S in Environmental Studies and an M.S. in Environmental Policy and Management. Its undergraduate program offers the course “Introduction to Oceanography” while the master’s program offers courses in water management. Meanwhile, the University of Exeter offers non-credit bearing courses in its Environmental Studies program with online courses in oceanography and environmental management.

Take Marine Biology Online Courses for Free

For the student who just wants to learn more about marine biology and isn’t worried about gaining credit, there are plenty of resources available on the web. An especially good resource is MIT’s OpenCourseWare program which posts the syllabus, lecture notes, and suggested readings for roughly 1800 MIT courses. These include “Marine Chemistry”, “Marine Organic Geochemistry”, “Marine Hydrodynamics”, and many others. This option is excellent for a self-motivated learner interested in taking a free marine biology course online.

There are many opportunities available on the Internet for someone hoping to further their marine biology or oceanography education. Whether its a degree or a few courses there is an online course available for everyone.

The copyright of the article Online Courses in Marine Biology in Marine Biology & Oceanography is owned by Megan Jungwi. Permission to republish Online Courses in Marine Biology in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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