Marine Biology
College or University: Occidental College
Type of degree: M.S.
Brief overview of program: Occidental College is a small, private liberal arts college with an undergraduate enrollment of about 1600 students and a long standing commitment to marine science. Of our 30 students who graduate with a BA in Biology each year, approximately 5 complete an emphasis in Marine Biology. Our Biology department has 10 faculty of which three have ongoing research involving marine organisms. Our marine emphasis includes courses in Zoology, Marine Biology, Invertebrate Morphology and Physiology, Marine Fishes, Biological Oceanography, Biodiversity and Organization of Marine Ecosystems, Evolution and Statistics. A small number of students continue on for a MA in Biology studying marine systems. We pride ourselves in providing our students with strong background courses complemented by the ability to get them involved in ongoing research projects with the faculty. Oxy is a member of the Southern California Marine Institute (http://www.scmi.us/) a consortium including USC and Cal State Universities. This association provides access to vessels capable of investigating the various habitats between the southern California mainland and the Channel Islands. This combination of courses, field and lab research has proven effective in training students to compete effectively at the graduate level. We also offer a 5 week summer program in Marine Biology for rising High School seniors which involves lab and field work and students earn college credit (see www.oxy.edu/ony/marinebio/summer).
Website: Click here for program website
Tuition (2007):In State: $17,220 for 12, Out of State: same
Number of students enrolled in 2007: ~20 un
For the students that enter the workforce, what are the most common occupations that they pursue with this degree or certificate? With our small, personalized program, the year to year variation is great. Many of our Marine emphasis students to on the graduate programs while others move into other areas of biology, education, or the general work force.
Program of Study:
Description of Facilities: The Department of Biology is housed within the Bioscience building which is contiguous with the Moore Laboratory of Zoology. These excellent facilities are well suited for studies in all areas of biology. Facilities include the bird and mammal collections (70,000 specimens) of the Moore Laboratory of Zoology, greenhouses, herbarium, transmission electron microscope, fluorescence-activated cell sorter, fluorescence microscopes, ultracentrifuges, scintillation counters, a tissue culture suite, equipment for PCR and DNA sequencing, several field vehicles, and three research vessels for nearshore marine studies and SCUBA diving. Occidental College is ideally suited for field and laboratory studies in marine biology.
Program Faculty: Dr. Gary G. Martin, Professor of Biology, teaches courses in zoology, invertebrate biology, histology and electron microscopy. His research centers on the structure and function of cells and tissues that help fight infection and disease in penaeid shrimp and mollusks.
Dr. Dan Pondella, Assistant Professor of Biology, teaches biology of marine fishes, marine exosystems, marine biology and biological oceanography. His research interests include: 1) the ecology of California marine fish, 2) the evolution of marine fishes in the tropical eastern Pacific, and 3) the life history of fishes including species from the Gulf of California.
Dr. Joseph Schulz, Assistant Professor of Biology, teaches biochemistry and vertebrate physiology. His research focuses on the activity and evolution of venom peptides in fish-hunting cone snails. The venom peptides are neurotoxins and are valuable tools for basic research and biomedicine. Student Support: The majority of Oxy students receive financial aid.
Program Point of Contact: Dr. Gary Martin
Email: gmartin@oxy.edu Department: Biology Institution address: 1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles,CA 90041 Phone: (323) 259-2890
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