Advanced degrees are often required in these positions, especially for research and to qualify for more advanced opportunities in marine science.
Consider earning a master’s degree to be more competitive for education and laboratory/field research positions.
Earn a Ph.D. to teach in universities and colleges.
Supplement curriculum with additional science and math courses in relevant areas (e.g., genetics, animal behavior, microbiology, differential equations).
Pursue extensive laboratory and research experience by working in faculty laboratories through independent research classes, as a student employee, or through other departmental programs.
Seek internships, summer jobs, or volunteer positions to gain experience. Some professionals in the field will begin their careers in temporary jobs.
Develop physical stamina, outdoor skills, and comfort in being in water and working on a boat.
Learn to set up, operate, maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, and monitor experiments.
Develop public speaking skills through coursework or experience. Practice good communication and problem solving skills.
Exercise close attention to detail.
Seek experience with data management, analysis, and statistical tools used in research.
For law enforcement jobs, be prepared to complete additional officer training and to go through a background check as part of the hiring process.
Attain experience with boat safety, laboratory and chemical safety, and first aid training. OSHA HAZWOPER training may be required for some positions.
Attain certification in SCUBA.
Become familiar with government job application procedures and use your college career center for assistance.
Be prepared to relocate to areas with abundant natural resources. Seek knowledge of technology used in natural resource management including software, geographical information systems, and global positioning systems.
Seek leadership roles in student organizations.
Maintain an excellent GPA, particularly in the sciences, and build relationships with faculty. Strong recommendations from professors are needed for graduate and professional schools.
Marine Biology can serve as a pre-vet bachelor’s degree. Research veterinary programs, take prerequisite courses to meet veterinary school requirements, and prepare for the application process.
Join professional associations and environmental groups as way to learn about the field and network.
Marine Geology/Geographical Oceanography
Environmental Geology
Sedimentology
Hydrogeology
Shallow geophysics
Coastal geology
Geochemistry
Energy
Stratigraphy
Sedimentology
Structural geology
Geophysics
Geochemistry
Economic geology
Geomorphology
Paleontology
Fossil energy
Geologic mapping and remote sensing
Natural hazards
Mineral mining
Consulting
Environmental remediation/Compliance
Natural resource management
Research
Coastal/Wetland restoration
Technical writing
Employers
Federal government agencies:
US Geological Survey
Army Corps of Engineers
Environmental Protection Agency
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Department of Defense
Forest Service
Department of Interior (e.g., Bureau of Reclamation, Office of Surface Mining, Bureau of Land Management)
State, city, and county government agencies dealing with natural resources and resource management
Water management districts
Universities and colleges
Environmental consulting firms
Oceanographic research institutes
Civil engineering firms
Land use planning agencies
Mines, well services, and drilling companies
Chemical instrumentation companies
Petroleum industry (e.g., oil and gas exploration, production, storage, waste disposal facilities)
Nature centers and parks
Geological and environmental societies
Publishing companies (e.g., scientific and nature magazines, professional journals, periodicals, textbooks, newspapers, online publishers)
Educational and scientific software companies
Strategies
Consider earning a master’s degree to be more competitive for education and laboratory/field research positions.
Pursue extensive laboratory and research experience by working in faculty laboratories through independent research classes, as a student employee, or through other departmental programs.
Field work experience is also very important.
Seek internships, summer jobs, or volunteer positions to gain experience. Some professionals in the field will begin their careers in temporary jobs.
Supplement curriculum with additional courses in relevant areas (e.g., environmental studies, GIS, remote sensing, biology, and physics to complement geology coursework).
For geologic engineering careers, consider an additional major or minor in physics, geophysics and/or engineering; knowledge of engineering is essential.
Learn to set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, and monitor samples.
Develop public speaking skills through coursework or experience. Practice good communication and problem solving skills.
Exercise close attention to detail.
Seek experience with data management, analysis, and statistical tools used in research. Gain experience with computer modeling and Global Positioning System (GPS). Both are used to locate geological deposits.
Gain a thorough understanding of federal and state government guidelines for the management of solid, liquid, and gaseous waste. Investigate certification programs for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard (HAZWOPER).
Prepare to work with teams of scientists and other staff in the field for extended periods.
Many geologists who work in the oil and gas industry may work in the geographic areas where deposits are found including offshore sites and in overseas oil-producing countries. This industry is subject to fluctuations, so be prepared to work on a contract basis.
In mineralogy, consider specializing in a particular mineral or metal to build an area of expertise. Seek opportunities to develop strong technical skills, as mining geologists rely heavily on computerized models to learn about mineral deposits.
Become familiar with government job application procedures and use your college career center.
Maintain an excellent GPA, particularly in the sciences, and build relationships with faculty. Strong recommendations from professors are needed for graduate and professional schools.
Join professional associations (e.g. Geological Society of America, Geophysical Union) and environmental groups as way to learn about the field and network.
To work in publishing fields, take advanced courses in technical writing or journalism classes or consider a minor in either. Research an advanced degree in a communications field to specialize, (e.g., scientific journalism or public relations).
Marine Chemistry/Chemical Oceanography
Environmental testing and analysis
Geochemistry
Consulting
Research
Environmental safety and health
Fuels and energy conversion
Environmental regulation
Environmental remediation/Compliance
Natural resource management
Coastal/Wetland restoration
Technical writing
Employers
Industries:
Chemical
Pharmaceutical
Biotechnology
Food
Environmental
Petroleum and mining
Energy
State, city, and county government agencies dealing with natural resources
Universities and colleges
Environmental and engineering consulting firms
Oceanographic research institutes
Water testing labs
Mines, well services, and drilling companies
Chemical instrumentation companies
Petroleum industry including oil and gas exploration, production, storage, and waste disposal facilities
Chemical, oceanographic, and environmental societies
Strategies
Consider earning a master’s degree to be more competitive for education and laboratory/field research positions.
Earn a Ph.D. to teach in universities and colleges. Grant writing skills are essential in academia.
Pursue extensive laboratory and research experience by working in faculty laboratories through independent research classes, as a student employee, or through other departmental programs.
Seek internships, summer jobs, or volunteer positions to gain experience. Some professionals in the field will begin their careers in temporary jobs.
Choose courses with laboratory components to build experimental and instrumentation skills. Develop effective technical laboratory skills for work with instruments including chromatography and spectroscopy.
Seek experimental design and analytical research chemistry experience.
Knowledge of computer programs with 3D modeling capabilities may be advantageous along with knowledge of statistics.
For careers in environmental chemistry, pursue additional coursework in biology, environmental science, water chemistry, soil chemistry, geology, etc. to support understanding of environmental impact.
For careers in geochemistry, build a strong background in analytical, physical and environmental chemistry. Pursue courses in hydrology, sedimentology, toxicology, ecology, and oceanography for environmental work.
Maintain awareness of current environmental issues including policy, conservation, and industry trends for entry into environmental management or remediation.
Geochemists working with the oil industry may work in areas where deposits are found. The industry is subject to fluctuation making some work contractual.
Become familiar with government job application procedures and use your college career center for assistance.
Seek leadership roles through student organizations and obtain work experiences for project management positions.
Maintain an excellent GPA, particularly in the sciences, and build relationships with faculty. Strong recommendations from professors are needed for graduate and professional schools.
Join professional associations (e.g. American Chemical Society, Geophysical Union) and environmental groups as way to learn about the field and network.
Education
Elementary
Secondary
Post-secondary
Non-classroom education
Employers
Public and private schools, K-12
Two-year community colleges/technical institutes
Four-year institutions
Professional schools
Zoos, aquariums, museums, and other collections of animals
Strategies
For K-12 teaching, complete a teacher preparation program, which varies by state. Acquire multiple certifications for increased employability in secondary education.
Earn a Ph.D. to teach in universities and colleges. Grant writing skills are essential in academia.
Gain experience working with youth through tutoring, interning, or volunteering. Learn to work well with all types of people.
Seek leadership roles in student organizations.
General Information
Within the many facets of marine science, there is often overlap of job functions. However, many marine scientists find advantages in becoming more specialized in one of the major subfields (e.g., marine geology, marine chemistry).
As an undergraduate, seek laboratory experiences such as research projects, volunteering with professors, summer jobs, or internships. Learn laboratory procedures and become familiar with instrumentation.
Participate in summer research programs. Submit research to local poster competitions or research symposia.
A bachelor’s degree will qualify one for work as a laboratory assistant, lab coordinator, technician, technologist, or research assistant in education, industry, government, museums, parks, and hatcheries.
Combine an undergraduate degree with a degree in journalism, law, business, education, computer science, or other discipline to expand career opportunities. Become familiar with the specific entrance exam for graduate or professional schools in your area of interest.
A master’s degrees allow for greater specialization in marine science, and more opportunities and autonomy in research and administration. Some community colleges will hire master’s level teachers.
Ph.D. degree is required for university teaching and advanced positions in management and research and development.
Postdoctoral experience may be required for research positions in industry, universities, and government.
In the United States, doctoral students typically receive partial or full tuition waivers and annual salaries to attend graduate school because there is a strong need for teaching assistants in introductory science courses such as General Chemistry.
There is also excellent federal and industrial monetary support available for research.
Secure strong relationships and personal recommendations from professors and/or employers. Recommendation letters are needs for graduate and professional schools.
Learn to work independently and as part of a team.
Develop exceptional computer skills, learn how to make professional figures (graphs, tables), and use statistical software.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential. The ability to market your skills and write proposals is critical to maintain steady work. Grants may be necessary to start and continue projects.
Join professional, environmental, and community organizations, and read related journals to stay abreast of current issues in the field and to develop contacts.
Learn federal, state, and local government job application process. The federal government is the largest employer of scientists.
Develop physical stamina to work and conduct field research, often in remote areas under various conditions.
