Course Overview

At the Marine Biology Department of Texas A&M University at Galveston, students have countless opportunities to work with some of the top professors in their field. The location on the Gulf of Mexico provides the perfect setting for invaluable hands-on learning. This program explores the biological sciences through studies in the marine environment. Students follow a strong well-balanced curriculum in general biology that utilizes examples of local marine flora and fauna to illustrate patterns and processess. Students receive hands-on field sampling experience as well as internship and research opportunities. Students may take electives to emphasize certain interests such as vertebrate zoology, coastal wetlands ecology, conservation, comprehensive biology, fisheries biology, mammalogy, and aquatic animal health. Students may also choose electives useful to pursue medical or veterinary degree programs.

Additionally, if desired, this major has a License Option. The Marine Biology License Option program allows the Marine Biology student to prepare for a career as an officer aboard a sea going vessel by participating in the Texas A&M Maritime Academy Corps of Midshipmen. The curriculum provides the basics of Marine Biology as well as courses leading toward licensing as a Third Mate of any gross tonnage upon oceans, steam, or motor vessels, in the U.S. Merchant Marine.

The Marine Biology License Option curriculum is an abbreviated version of the Marine Biology curriculum and is oriented toward field activities consistent with service aboard research vessels. Students who wish to attend a biologically-oriented graduate program, or are interested in the medical professions, are advised to take additional coursework in developmental biology, genetics, biochemistry, and physiology.

General Eligibility

Undergraduate students who meet the following general admission requirements at the time of application are assured admission to  A&M-Central Texas:

• Minimum 2.0 cumulative transfer GPA on a 4.0 scale;

• Minimum 30 academic, college-level transferable semester hours. Applicants pursuing an Applied Science or Aviation Science degree may meet this requirement utilizing select workforce education credit from an approved Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree upon completion of 45 hours, to include all general education courses within the AAS.

• Must be eligible to return to all previously attended colleges or universities.

Part Time Work Details

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Language Requirement

• The University requires all students to take at least one year of a foreign language. This requirement is completed by having taken two units of the same foreign language in high school, completing one year of the same foreign language in college or completing the credit-by-examination process.

  Minimum TOEFL Essentials score of 8.5, or. Minimum IELTS Academic test score of 6.0 overall band (Texas A&M University does not accept the IELTS General test)