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.

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      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

      Closeup of Kevin Hovel

      Kevin Hovel, Ph.D.

      Assistant Chair
      Director of Undergraduate Advising and Curriculum
      Professor of Biology

      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

      Closeup of Chun-Ta Lai

      Chun-Ta Lai, Ph.D.

      M.S. Program Advisor: Ecology
      Professor of Biology

      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

      closeup of Rebecaa Lewison.

      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
      Professor of Biology

      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

      Closeup of Luke Miller

      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

      Closeup of Forest Rohwer

      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

      Closeup of Catherine Schrankel

      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