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.
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. 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, so Alaska Pacific can be an amazing place to study Marine Biology.
Majoring in Marine Biology, students can earn a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree.
In Marine Biology, students gain expertise in the biological sciences specifically as applied to marine environments. The B.A. degree provides fundamental studies in Marine Biology. The B.S. degree requires additional coursework in the physical and natural sciences while maintaining the traditional liberal arts focus on active learning and project-based experiences. The B.S. degree is recommended for students who intend to pursue a graduate degree or who intend to work professionally in the field of marine biology.