As you read through our profiles of people who work in the marine sciences, it's easy to identify some common themes and advice. They include: volunteer, take plenty of math and science courses, and don't give up!
We have compiled a list of resources to help you make informed choices about education, opportunities, and a possible career in the marine sciences. Some links go to sites that offer numerous other links, others go to a very specific site.
- MarineBio’s compilation of the latest information for students and potential students of the marine life sciences, including graduate and undergraduate programs and labs
- Marine education and training information compiled by Alaska Sea Grant
- Comprehensive resource for environmental science degrees and careers
- U.S. News and World Report’s searchable college database
- U.S. News and World Report’s College Rankings and Lists
- The Princeton Review - search for undergraduate programs by major and other categories
- The Princeton Review - search for graduate programs
- U.S. Department of Education's College Navigator
- The College Board - search for colleges by major and other categories
- Monterey Bay Aquarium (California) internships
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (California) summer internships for undergraduate and graduate students
- Dolphin Research Center (Florida) internship opportunities
- Dolphins Plus (Florida) animal care and research internships
- The Florida Aquarium in Tampa internships for college students
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center (Florida) careers and internships
- Mote Marine Laboratory (Florida) internships for undergrads, grad students and recent graduates
- Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) (Florida) marine conservation internship
- University of Georgia's Marine Education Center and Aquarium annual post-baccalaureate internships in marine education
- Shoals Marine Laboratory (Maine) summer student research internships for undergrads
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (Maryland) fellowships and internships
- Geosciences Bridge Program (Maryland) summer internships for graduating high school seniors
- Center for Coastal Studies (Massachusetts) internships and apprenticeship
- New England Aquarium (Massachusetts) internships for college students, recent grads and high schoolers
- The Whale Museum (Washington) summer internships in boater education and marine mammal stranding
- Bimini Shark Lab (The Bahamas) volunteer internships and other opportunities
- Cape Eleuthera Institute (The Bahamas) internships for spring, summer and fall
- Dive classes and shark-related projects with Gili Shark Conservation (Gili Islands, Indonesia)
- Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) listing of student employment, internships, fellowships and graduate student opportunities
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) fellowships and internships
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums jobs and internships
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) student opportunities
- National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates
- National Science Foundation opportunities for students (high school and above) and recent graduates
- National Wildlife Federation career, internship, fellowship and volunteer opportunities
- National Park Service job, internship and volunteer information
- National Academies fellowships
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) student training opportunities in biomedical sciences
- Ocean Exploration Trust ocean science, engineering and video/film at-sea internships
- Smithsonian Institution fellowships
- Smithsonian Institution internships
- Job openings and fellowship opportunities across the Sea Grant network
- Environmental journalism fellowships and workshops compiled by the Society of Environmental Journalists
- School for Field Studies environmental field studies abroad
- Sea Education Association (SEA) semester study abroad programs
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency internships, fellowships and other student opportunities
- Federal Career Intern Program
- American Fisheries Society Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program for high school students
- Sea Education Association (SEA) summer sessions
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) student training opportunities (summer and other)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) student opportunities (summer and other)
- NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries summer programs for students
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab (Alabama) summer programs for undergraduates and graduate students
- Camp SEA Lab through the California State University Monterey Bay
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (California) summer internships for undergraduate and graduate students and educators
- Monterey Bay (California) regional ocean science research experiences for undergraduates
- Dolphin Research Center Dolphin Camp (Florida) for middle and high school students and adults
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center (Florida) summer and internship opportunities
- Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium (Florida) research experiences for undergraduates
- Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) summer field courses for undergraduate and graduate students
- Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) K-12 summer camp and education programs
- Bigelow Laboratory's (Maine) summer Research Experience for Undergraduates program
- Shoals Marine Laboratory (Maine) summer courses and internships
- Geosciences Bridge Program (Maryland) summer internships for graduating high school seniors
- Center for Coastal Studies (Massachusetts) summer internships for high school through post-grad
- Woods Hole (Mass.) Partnership in Education summer science intern program to promote diversity - for undergrads
- Blue Ocean Society (Mass. and N.H.) summer internships on whale watch boats and at shore-based outreach programs
- MarineQuest summer camps (ages 4-17) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington Center for Marine Science
- Stone Laboratory (Ohio) summer classes for undergraduate and graduate students, advanced high school students, and educators
- Stone Laboratory’s (Ohio) Research Experience for Undergraduates program
- Camp Sewee (S. Carolina) marine science camps (ages 8-16) from the Youth Learning Institute at Clemson University (employs college students to lead, instruct, and supervise campers in all areas of the marine science curriculum)
- Texas A&M University at Galveston summer camps for elementary and high school students
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science summer programs for grades 1-8
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science summer internships for college and high school students
- Marine Professional Societies and Membership Organizations compiled by UCSD's Center for Marine Biodiversity & Conservation
- Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence listing of ocean-related professional societies
- National Academies fellowships (both early career and middle-to-late career)
- Stone Laboratory (Ohio) summer classes for undergraduate and graduate students, advanced high school students and educators
- Texas A&M University at Galveston internship for educators
- NOAA education resources
- Alaska Fisheries Science Center teacher activities and educator training opportunities
- New England Aquarium professional development and other resources for teachers
- Monterey Bay Aquarium classroom resources and teacher programs
- Sea Education Association K-12 lesson plans
- National Science Foundation’s classroom and at-home activity resources
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center teacher resources
- NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries resources and training for teachers
- Oregon Institute of Marine Biology resources
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) employment as well as job listings on sciencecareers.org
- American Fisheries Society job listings and employment opportunities
- Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) - positions offered
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums jobs and internships
- Launched by the creators of the conservation blog, Conservation Maven, the Conservation Job Board contains job listings related to fisheries, marine biology, wetlands and more
- gCaptain maritime and offshore jobs
- EarthWorks' listing of jobs in oceanography, paleoceanography, marine science, coastal science and limnology
- Environmental Protection Agency jobs, internships and fellowships
- Search for job opportunities at The National Academies
- National Park Service job, internship and volunteer information
- National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Career Center provides a link between science education professionals seeking positions and educational institutions with vacancies
- National Wildlife Federation career, internship, fellowship and volunteer opportunities
- Society of Environmental Journalists links to job openings in journalism
- World Aquaculture Society employment service
- Monterey Bay Aquarium information on science careers
- Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) information on careers in aquatic sciences and public policy
- NOAA’s OceanAGE Careers site with career profiles and other useful information
- Resources for careers in oceanography, marine science and marine biology compiled by the retired director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Library
- Resources for careers in marine or aquatic sciences compiled by Hopkins Marine Station (Stanford)
- SeaWorld’s guide to what it takes to get started on a career working with animals
- International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association (Careers section) has information on becoming an animal trainer, recommended reading and links to animal training programs
- Guide for women interested in STEM disciplines, including scholarships, careers and interviews
- EngineerGirl website from the National Academy of Engineering
- MarineBio Conservation Society information about careers and degree programs
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center information on careers in marine biology
- Information on careers in environmental science
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) information on science careers
- Career information and job openings with the National Science Foundation
- U.S. Department of Labor tool for exploring career options
- Explore career options and college majors on bigfuture by The College Board
- U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics Occupational Outlook
- Plan for higher education with MappingYourFuture.org