About Marine Biology
San Diego State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Marine Biology. This program provides students with an education in marine ecosystems, focusing on marine ecology, evolutionary biology, and the physical sciences. Core courses include cell and molecular biology, ecology, and organismal biology, with hands-on lab and fieldwork integrated into the curriculum. The Coastal and Marine Institute (CMI) plays a key role, offering valuable research opportunities in San Diego Bay and surrounding coastal environments, helping students develop skills in applied and theoretical marine sciences. Graduates are well-prepared for careers in marine biology, environmental science, or further graduate study.
News & Announcements
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Climate Change is Impacting the Ocean’s Top Fish Predators
SDSU Teamed up with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, NOAA and Other Institutions to Model the Impact of Warming Oceans on Large Migratory Fish.
Recent Publications
Recent Grants
Related Faculty
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Matt Edwards, Ph.D.Professor of Biology Department of Biology Ecology Doctorate, Focus on Causes and Consequences of Variability in Biological Communities San Diego |
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Brian Hentschel, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Biology Department of Biology Marine Invertebrates, Benthic Ecology, Complex Life Cycles, Ontogenetic Nicheshifts, Larval Ecology, Deposit Feeding, Organism-Flow Interactions San Diego |
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Kevin Hovel, Ph.D.Assistant Chair Department of Biology Marine Invertebrate Conservation Ecology, Relationship Between Habitat Structure and Faunal Survival and Abundance, Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Fauna in Marine Systems, Crustacean Ecology, Larval Dispersal and Recruitment, Seagrass Community Ecology, Kelp Forest Ecology San Diego |
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Chun-Ta Lai, Ph.D.M.S. Program Advisor: Ecology Department of Biology Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions, Biological Control of Carbon and Water Transfer,Hydrological and Ecological Impacts of Climatic Change, Applications of Stable Isotopes in Globalchange Studies San Diego |
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Rebecca Lewison, Ph.D.Professor of Biology Department of Biology Vertebrate Conservation, Population Ecology, Behavioral Ecology, Estimating the Impact of Anthropogenic Disturbances, Resource and Land Use San Diego |
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Jeremy Long, Ph.D.Ecology Joint Doctoral Program Director Department of Biology Ecology, Environment, Marsh, Baja, Invasive Species, Abalone, Snail, Urchin, Seaweed, Restoration, Aquaculture, Marine Biology, Human Impacts, Anthropogenic Impacts, Species Range and Plants San Diego |
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Luke Miller, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Biology Department of Biology Climate Change, Marine Ecosystems, Shoreline Habitats, Technology and Sensor Design, Marine Invertebrate Animals, Temperature Stress, Wave Action, Water Flow San Diego |
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Forest Rohwer, Ph.D.Professor of Biology Department of Biology Genomic Analysis of Marine Phage, Opportunistic Infections and Coral Disease, Diversity of Coral-Associated Bacteria, Viruses, Mircobes, Coral, Coral Reef Health San Diego |
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Catherine Schrankel, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Biology Department of Biology Development and Evolution of Innate Immune and Xenobiotic Defense Systems, Molecular Mechanisms of ABC and SLC Transporters in Host-Microbe and Host-Environment Interactions, Gut Epithelial Immunity, Sea Urchin Larva and Mammalian Cell Line Models, Crispr/Cas9 Gene-Editing and Generation of Stable Transgenic Sea Urchin Lines San Diego |