USC Marine Science Undergraduate Careers

Marine Science includes many areas of study, all concerned with increasing our knowledge of marine systems. Marine Scientists are working on current problems and future needs in the preservation, use and development of the marine environment. As our concern increases for the protection and intelligent use of our natural resources, the importance of Marine Science as a discipline vital to these endeavors increases dramatically. A solid academic background in Marine Science will prepare the student for numerous career opportunities, including the following:

• Government agencies at the federal, state and local levels employ Marine Scientists to regulate the use of marine resources, solve problems and conduct research.
• Private industry provides jobs for Marine Science graduates in the fields of aquaculture, exploratory geology, satellite imagery and computer ecological modeling, depending upon the extent of an individual's training. Private consulting firms hire Marine Science graduates to work on environmental impact projects.
• Marine technology careers, i.e., related to the construction of buildings or transportation systems in marine or coastal areas, are available to Marine Science graduates.
• Teaching and research positions in colleges and universities offer another area of career opportunities.
• The military (particularly the Navy), in conjunction with R.O.T.C. programs, offers careers for Marine Science majors. Many previous graduates are now serving in the Navy as pilots, oceanographers and ships' officers as well as in other positions.
• The Peace Corps recruits Marine Science graduates to teach courses, such as aquaculture, in less developed nations.
• A number of Marine Science graduates have joined the NOAA Corps and are serving as Commissioned Officers onboard the NOAA research vessels.

Although a B.S. in Marine Science qualifies an individual for careers in these areas, graduate study is often advantageous and is required for some positions. Approximately 75% of our Marine Science graduates pursue further studies in schools throughout the U.S. In addition to M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Marine Science, Biology, Geology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Environmental/Public Health, and Geography, many of our students go on to pursue degrees in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Law and Business Administration.

To aid students in their search for career opportunities, the Marine Science faculty annually holds two workshops on 1) "How to prepare a resume and find a job," and 2) "How to apply to graduate school."

For more information on Marine Science Careers:

http://www.marinecareers.net/
http://oceanlink.island.net/
http://scilib.ucsd.edu/sio/guide/career.html
http://www-marine.stanford.edu/HMSweb/careers.html
http://www.sciencecareersweb.net/OceanWeb/OceanCareer.htm
http://www.usgs.gov/ohr/student/apply/index.html

And just in case you wondered, here's why we LOVE our job.