At least a bachelor's degree
To become a marine biologist, you will likely need at least a bachelor's degree, and possibly graduate work, such as a master's or Ph.D. degree. Since marine biology jobs are competitive, it will usually be easier to get a position if you have gained relevant experience during high school or college.  Education Requirements. To gain an entry-level job in marine biology, you need to have a Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology or a related field such as biochemistry, biology, botany, ecology, microbiology or zoology.  Master's and PhD degree programs in marine biology are also available, and they may even offer specializations, like molecular biology, aquaculture genetics or chemical ecology. Also, graduate degree programs in biology may offer concentrations in marine biology or ocean sciences. These programs include research requirements, and programs often have several institutes and centers that provide research facilities. Bachelor's Degree. A Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology takes four years of education. A B.S. teaches students the biological principles and skills needed to master labs, exams and classroom and field courses within the marine biology core curriculum. A typical B.S. requires four years. 3. The Master of Science in marine biology is a graduate program designed to offer students advanced training and research experience in the biology sub-disciplines as they apply to marine organisms or ecosystems. Core courses include biological oceanography, physiology, ecology and molecular biology.  The following is our list of all U.S. schools that offer degrees in Marine Biology or related fields such as Biological Oceanography, Marine Science, Fisheries, etc. Please note that most degrees in Marine Biology are earned at the Masters level or higher and usually require a Bachelor's degree first in Biology, Zoology or another life science. For example, the College of Charleston's graduate program in marine biology requires students to enroll in a minimum of 30 semester hours of classes in subjects such as marine life, physical oceanography and biometry. Normally, full-time students can finish a master’s degree program in two to three years. The MarineBio Conservation Society indicates that a master’s degree is preferred by employers for research, management or product development positions. Many master’s degree programs require 30 semester hours of graduate coursework. In order to conduct most independent research and teach at the postsecondary level in the field of marine biology, you must have a Ph.D. Doctoral programs require a certain number of credit hours after a bachelor's degree program is completed. Sometimes credits from a master's degree can count toward the requirements. At least a bachelor's degree for entry-level jobs; a master's degree for higher-paying consulting, teaching or research jobs; a Ph.D. for teaching at the postsecondary level and for most research jobs. Degree Fields. Marine biology or other biological sciences (e.g. ecology, molecular biology, zoology). Experience. Some schools offer a marine biology degree and most of these are located in coastal states, but the undergraduate degree need not be in marine biology. On the East Coast, some of the schools that offer marine programs are the University of Miami, University of Rhode Island, University of Massachusetts, University of Georgia, the University of Maryland (Chesapeake Biological Lab),and Cornell. Marine biologists need at least a bachelor's degree in marine biology, and many continue on to receive master's and doctoral degrees in marine biology, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Undergraduate Coursework. To become a marine biologist, students must select a major in marine biology or an equivalent. To achieve a bachelor of science in marine biology, students study physics, genetics, oceanography, chemistry and general marine biology.
http://marinelife.about.com/od/marinecareers/tp/Marine-Biologist.htm http://www.degreequery.com/degree-need-marine-biologist/ http://learn.org/articles/What_Does_a_Marine_Biologist_Do.html http://classroom.synonym.com/long-school-marine-biology-5770.html http://uncw.edu/bio/grad-faq.html http://marinebio.org/marinebio/careers/us-schools/ http://education.seattlepi.com/long-school-marine-biology-2857.html http://study.com/articles/How_to_Become_a_Marine_Biologist_Education_and_Career_Roadmap.html https://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx?id=54 http://work.chron.com/college-requirements-marine-biologist-6888.html
what masters degree does a marine biologist need