Advances in the care and conservation of marine mammals have progressed dramatically over the last decade with the development of a greater understanding of marine mammal biology, behavior, and physiology, as well as improved diagnostic and assessment tools and techniques. Students in this degree track will be part of one of the select programs in the nation designed to prepare them for employment in marine mammal management (including associated ecosystems), population assessments, acoustics, and care. Coursework will integrate topics such as 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. Students will have the opportunity to interact with medical, training, and research experts in our community, as well as conduct an internship at one of many marine mammal rehab, managed care, or research facilities. As part of the practical training incorporated into the Marine Mammal Science curriculum, most students will 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.
Marine Mammal Science (MMS)
Students in this program will prepare for employment in marine mammal management (including associated ecosystems), population assessments, acoustics, and care. Please see our departmental web site for more information about this program.
