Why Study Marine Science at PBA?
In PBA’s Bachelor of Science in Marine Science degree, students will develop essential skills in organizing and analyzing marine science data, enabling them to make accurate, insightful conclusions. They’ll also dive into the critical analysis of scientific papers, learning to differentiate between data-supported conclusions and those that lack evidence.
Students will undertake a research project that combines marine science and their chosen concentration (biology, chemistry, or physics) exploring how marine organisms are shaped by their environments—or even how these organisms can impact the physical nature of marine ecosystems.
Students will benefit from hands-on learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom. With the university’s South Florida location near diverse marine ecosystems, students can study local habitats firsthand, from coral reefs to the Everglades, gaining practical fieldwork experience that deepens their understanding of marine science. Access to state-of-the-art labs and research equipment allows students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, preparing them for both research and conservation-focused careers.
Marine Science Careers
Graduates will have a solid foundation in marine science, experience in interdisciplinary research and the practical skills necessary to thrive in fields such as environmental consulting, marine conservation, or further scientific study.
Other possible career options for marine science graduates include:
- Environmental health specialist
- Marine ecologist
- Marine biotechnologist
- Dolphin trainer
- Aquarium manager
- And much more!
Concentrations & Course Catalog
- Students enrolled in the biology concentration will learn how to blend marine science and biology together. You will engage in a research project recognizing how organisms in marine habitats are influenced by their environment OR how organisms can influence the physical nature of the marine environment.
Students enrolled in the chemistry concentration will learn how to blend marine science and chemistry together. You will engage in a research project showing how chemistry is influenced by either physics principles or biological organisms OR how physics or biological organisms can shape the chemistry of the marine environment.
Students enrolled in the physics concentration will learn how to blend marine science and physics together. You will engage in a research project showing how the physical properties of seawater are influenced by either chemistry or biological organisms OR how chemistry or biological organisms can shape the physical properties of the marine environment.
Program Details
As a student in the School of Arts & Sciences, you’ll find a rich array of programs—from creative writing and philosophy to mathematics and the sciences—all of which are delivered with a Christian worldview. And you’ll discover opportunities that could include studying marine wildlife in the Galapagos, the Atlantic or the Everglades; interning at a Fortune 500 company; or exploring the ancient architecture of Rome. On any given day as a student in the School of Arts & Sciences you may find yourself:
- Presenting research at a national psychology conference
- Analyzing polling data as an intern for a candidate for Congress
- Studying sea turtles in the Atlantic
- Participating in exciting educational trips, including to the Galapagos or the Everglades.
- Supporting the computer network for one of West Palm Beach’s Fortune 500 companies
- Analyzing DNA
- Publishing a story in PBA’s literary journal Living Waters Review
- Walking the stages of London’s renowned theaters
- Enhancing your knowledge and skills through clubs and organizations, like the Mathematics Club or the Marine Biology Club
The program provides exciting hands-on labs and other learning opportunities, including field trips to places such as the Everglades, the Galapagos Islands and Costa Rica. Our students also intern at leading scientific organizations and agencies, some of which include:
- Max Planck Institute
- Scripps Research Institute
- Loggerhead Marine Life Center
- Mote Marine Laboratory
- MacArthur Beach State Park
- Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management
- South Florida Water Management District
Our location on the Lake Worth Lagoon, only minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and less than an hour drive from the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee, provides easy access to a number of fascinating natural habitats.
You’ll benefit from learning in South Florida, which has an increasing concentration of companies involved in medical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and biochemistry areas, including:
- Scripps Research Institute
- Max Planck Research Institute
- Torrey Pines Research Institute
- South Florida Science Center and Aquarium
- Palm Beach County’s Environmental Resource Management
PBA’s graduates are prepared to excel in a broad range of scientific disciplines. They’ve been accepted at top medical and graduate schools such as:
- Florida State University Medical School
- University of Georgia Medical School
- New York University College of Dentistry
- Johns Hopkins University
- University of Oxford
- Scripps Research Institute
- University of Michigan
- University of Notre Dame
- University of Southern California
And you’ll find them working with impressive organizations including:
- Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management
- Florida State Park System
- Shedd Aquarium
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center
- Rand Eye Institute
- Palm Beach Zoo
- Palm Beach County School District
PBA awards over three million dollars in scholarships every year and 97% of PBA undergraduate students receive financial aid.
