Marine Biology, B.S.

Our goal is to train the next generation of scientists and educators and prepare you to make sound judgments based on a solid foundation of biological principles.

We accomplish this by coupling excellent teaching with diverse research opportunities. Be a part of research that creates solutions to real-world problems; many that address issues in our region and beyond.

• The marine conservation concentration is designed for students interested in the biological aspects of conservation science in marine environments (e.g., community ecology, population biology, biogeography, conservation genetics and assessment of threatened or endangered species and habitats).

Conduct Undergraduate Research

UNCW’s location provides a perfect natural laboratory due to its short distance from the ocean, marsh, tidal flat and estuarine habitats.

You will have unique opportunities to partner with faculty and graduate students in research projects, from examining many aspects of global change and conservation to invasive species, population monitoring, physiological and molecular adaptation, habitat quality and coastal resilience.

You can take part in research in several ways: Honors, directed independent research, internships or student research assistantships.

Groundbreaking faculty research and classes take place in Dobo and Friday halls, where you will find lecture halls, teaching laboratories, seminar rooms and a computer lab.

The Richard M. Dillaman Bioimaging Facility in Dobo Hall offers courses in electron microscopy and bioimaging for credit, and research students are also individually trained in every aspect of sample preparation and equipment operation to independently conduct their imaging research.

Our Center for Marine Science, located a short distance from the main campus, houses labs for student research, a large teaching laboratory, aquarium and collection rooms, a wet lab with running seawater and a shellfish research facility.