Scientist examining specimen in petri dish

Department of Biology & Marine Biology

Biology & Marine Biology Biology & Marine Biology

Whether it's using cutting-edge technology to decode the molecular basis of cell function or SCUBA diving to assess the impact of global climate change on coastal habitats, biology in action is our passion.

Welcome to the Department of Biology and Marine Biology!

When you graduate as a major from our department, you will have all the skill sets and training that you will need for the next step in your life: a job in your field, or attendance at a graduate or professional school.

Our Degree Programs

Marine biology students collect specimens for benthic community ecology class

Undergraduate Programs We offer a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology. Our minors include biology, marine biology and neuroscience. View More

Graduate biology students help in the Marine Mammal Stranding program and laboratory.

Graduate Programs We offer programs leading to a Master of Science degree in biology and Master of Science in marine biology, as well as a Ph.D. in integrative, comparative and marine biology. Learn More

Grant Supports North Sea Research

UNCW Assistant Professor of Biology and Marine Biology Matthew McLean and doctoral student Adrian Gonzalez-Ortiz received a $400,000 NSF EMBRACE (EMpowering BRoader Academic Capacity and Education) grant.

Learn More

UNCW Adds New Research Vessel to Fleet

This vessel will provide UNCW faculty, students and partners with a state-of-the-art platform to explore and study the marine environment, contributing significantly to the university's mission of advancing marine science and promoting stewardship of coastal environments.

Get on board

RV Cape Fear will be joined by a new research vessel.

Living with Water

UNCW labs evaluate the effect of groundbreaking flood mitigation efforts on the ecosystem surrounding the Battleship North Carolina on the Cape Fear River in downtown Wilmington

Delve deeper

UNCW Researchers Identify Previously Undescribed Trematode

The parasite was first discovered in 2012 by Ami E. Wilbur ’85, a professor in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology, who has been studying scallops for 30 years.

Discover more

Seminar Series

Our popular seminar series is conducted by UNCW faculty and visiting experts. Sessions are at 3 p.m. on Fridays in Dobo Hall, Room 1006, and streamed live via Zoom.

See the Speaker Schedule

Other Resources

Student Opportunities Learn more about internships, study abroad, involvement and opportunities that await you as a biology or marine biology major. Get Started

Explore the College of Science & Engineering We have nine departments and units including mathematics and statistics, computer sciences, natural sciences, psychology, and pre-engineering and engineering. View More

Seahawks, Check Out myUNCW!

Are you a current Seahawk? Visit myUNCW to find more information, quick links and resources for faculty, staff and students.

Visit myUNCW

College & Department News

UNCW Student Enrollment Surges Near 19,900 READ MORE

2025 Million Dollar Club Announced; Bingham Tops $5M READ MORE

UNCW Introduces Career Focused AI Certificate Program READ MORE

Visiting Campus

Come and meet our biology and marine biology faculty and tour our world-class teaching and research facilities! Our tours are offered September through May and limited space is available. Tours fill up quickly during peak times and registration is required.

Contact Us

Department of Biology and Marine Biology