Oceanography

Oceanography, sometimes called marine science, is a major where students study the world’s oceans in all their variety and complexity. Students in this major learn the important role the ocean plays in our environment, and focus in on oceanography after they have been prepared with a thorough foundation in the more general sciences, such as chemistry, biology and physics. They study ocean plant and animal life, the topography of the ocean floor, weather patterns that work changes in the ocean, and the major issues affecting the ocean, such as climate change, chemical spills and overfishing. Courses you may encounter may include: Marine Biology, Chemical Oceanography, Marine Seismology, and Coastal Landscape and Ecology. Field research and hands-on lab work are also included in most oceanography programs.

If you have a great appreciation for nature, especially the ocean, then oceanography may be the major for you. It is also a good major for those with a strong desire to protect the environment, as conservation is a major theme in most oceanography programs. An oceanography major can also prepare you for your future career, especially if you continue to pursue the major at the graduate level. Possible career paths in oceanography might include: marine biologist; hydrologist; college professor; marine chemist; oil exploration; primary or secondary school teacher; environmental consultant; manager of a fishery or even certain niche careers with the U.S. Navy. Career opportunities also exist in the nonprofit realm with various conservation groups.