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 Marine Biology Department Alaska is a crucible for marine scientists. Alaska's oceans and seas are large (more than 70% of the U.S. continental shelf area is beneath Alaskan waters); Alaska fisheries are the largest employer in the state, and they provide more than half of U.S. domestic seafood. Nearly 30 species of marine mammals are found in Alaskan waters, including beluga whales that occur along Anchorage shorelines. Over 100 species of seabirds, shorebirds, and ducks use marine habitats in south central Alaska alone. Drastic changes in the populations of some species (including ongoing beluga declines) call attention to the need for better scientific understanding and management of marine systems. Fascinating deep-sea communities occur on the Alaska sea floor, at underwater sea mounts and deep-ocean trenches: the study of these communities and the processes that control them are on the cutting edge of marine biology and marine geology. Together, these convey a definite urgency and purpose to studying Marine Biology at Alaska Pacific University. The Marine Biology major is part of the Environmental Science Department, which also offers the Environmental Science, Environmental Policy and Planning, and Outdoor Studies majors. This combination of specialties within one department is unique; and means that as an Environmental Science student, you will have a real opportunity to develop your own area of interest and knowledge. Our educational philosophy is hands-on, student-directed, and issue oriented. We emphasize field intensive, outdoor classes, which are offered three times a year in the September, January and May Blocks. For students in Marine Biology, outdoors means 36,000 miles of Alaska coastline, more than all other coastal states combined. We use those miles as our classroom during the Blocks, so Alaska Pacific can be an amazing place to study Marine Biology. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Marine Biology is offered for students who want an education founded in the Liberal Arts, but who have a strong interest in Marine Biology. Students earning this degree will be well prepared for careers in public policy, business, law, or other professional areas, particularly where these areas intersect with the marine world, such as the seafood industries. This degree is also excellent preparation for students who want to enter graduate school or entry-level professional work in marine biology, fisheries science, or aquarium science. Marine Biology offers plenty of opportunity for self-directed study, culminating in your capstone senior project. However, even our core classes require each student to carry out some kind of self-directed project. Your Senior Project can be as unique and exciting as your imagination allows, and will comprise a large portion of your academic work in your final year at Alaska Pacific. To support self-directed learning, Marine Biology facilities include an aquarium lab (home to over 500 gallons of tropical and cold-water aquaria and their occupants), an energetics lab for ecological research, a scientific dive program, and access to a marine field lab on Kachemak Bay. These facilities are used as learning materials for marine courses, for student projects, and for student/faculty research on the ecology of the Giant Pacific Octopus. Our faculty is dedicated to enhancing your journey of professional and personal development. There is no better setting than Alaska in which to study Marine Biology. |
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