Marine mammal conservation has advanced significantly in recent years due to greater understanding of marine mammal biology, behavior, and psychology, and improved diagnostic methods.
The Marine Mammal Science MPS track is one of the select programs in the nation that prepares students for employment in marine mammal management, population assessments, acoustics, and care. Students interact with medical, research, and training experts in our community, as well as conduct an internship at one of our many marine mammal rehabilitation, managed care, or research facilities. As part of the practical training of the curriculum, students have the opportunity to participate in mark-recapture surveys, public education, wild health assessments, behavior analysis and modification studies, clinical care and diagnostics, necropsies, and regional and national conferences.
Bachelor’s degree in any field; one year of general biology and labs, one year of general chemistry, at least one semester of calculus, and nine credits in natural science. Research in these fields may, in some cases, substitute for coursework
marine mammal medicine and pathology, medical diagnostics and laboratory analysis, population assessment and management, state and federal regulations, applied ocean acoustics, research education, and applied behavior analysis.
Fall | Course Title | Credit Hours |
MBE 604 | Biology of Marine Mammals | 3 |
RSM 612 or EVR 624 |
Statistics for Marine Scientists or Statistics and Data Analysis for Environmental Science and Policy |
3 |
EVR 670 | Conservation and Management of Marine Mammals | 3 |
EVR 660 & EVR 661 |
Introduction to Marine Geographic Information Systems and Introduction to Marine Geographic Information Systems - Laboratory |
3 |
RSM 700 |
Research Ethics |
0 |
Credit Hours | 12 | |
Spring | Course Title | Credit Hours |
MBE 605 | Marine Mammal Disease and Medicine | 3 |
MBE 746 or EVR 645 |
Marine Population Biology: Processes and Modeling or Marine Population Assesment Surveys and Analysis |
3 |
MBE 606 |
Procedures in Marine Mammal Health and Disease * |
1 |
MBE 607 | Marine Mammal Applied Behavior Analysis and Managed Care * | 3 |
OCE 651 | Applied Ocean Acoustics and Marine Mammals * | 3 |
Credit Hours | 13 | |
Summer | Course Title | Credit Hours |
MBE 632 | Marine Mammal Research Techniques * | 3 |
MBE 805 | MPS Internship 1 | 2-6 |
Credit Hours | 5 | |
Total Credit Hours | 30 |
* or Elective
1 Enrollment in 2 - 6 internship credits required during a student's time in MPS. Completion of less than 2 internship credits must be approved by MPS Director. Students may enroll in more than 6 internship credits with the approval of the Program Director. Typically 2 semesters are needed to complete all aspects of the internship phase of MPS.
Students may request elective courses with the consent of their Academic Advisor. Refer to the course schedules for a list of classes available on the Rosenstiel School campus. The course offerings may vary from semester to semester. For more details, visit the UM Academic Bulletin.