Information for Prospective Students

Prospective Undergraduates

The URI Marine Biology Program (BS Marine Biology) involves a rigorous curriculum that allows students to explore the vast world of marine biology while providing an important foundation in modern biological sciences, chemistry, math, physics, and oceanography. Thus, we encourage high school students to take as much science and math as they can to prepare themselves for acceptance into the Marine Biology Program.

Students can take an interdisciplinary approach to cultivate interests in other marine-related areas such as Aquaculture and Fisheries, Geology and Geological Oceanography, Marine Affairs, Marine Environmental Economics, Marine Archaeology, Oceanography, History and Literature, Ocean Engineering, and/or involvement in URI’s Honors Program. Students majoring in marine biology may also choose to complete a minor or double major in one of these areas (or others), depending on their interests.

Alternatively, students interested in marine biology may work towards a BS in Biological Sciences or a BA in Biology and take appropriate marine-related courses that count towards those majors. Students doing majors in other departments may choose to do a BS Marine Biology as a double major or complete a Minor in Marine Biology.

Undergraduate courses in marine biology taught by CELS faculty and courses offered Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) faculty are held on URI’s Kingston campus. Undergraduates have access to the facilities of the Bay Campus (home of the Graduate School of Oceanography) through jobs and internships in research laboratories, aquarium facilities and administrative offices.

For more information, please read through this entire website including the FAQ page (see Undergraduate Study in Marine Biology). If you have questions, please contact Dr. Jacqueline Webb (Director of the Marine Biology Program).

Visiting URI?

Tours of URI’s Inner Space Center (on the Narragansett Bay Campus) are available. See: http://innerspacecenter.org/tours/
For schedule of CELS “Academic Information Sessions” (held on the Kingston campus), see: https://web.uri.edu/admission/visit-us/

Useful URI Links:

URI Office of Admission (information about campus tours, etc.)
University Honors Program
URI Centennial Scholars Program (merit scholarships)
“A Science or Engineering Bachelor’s Degree is Good For You” – 2006 Press Release from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

High School and Gap Year Students

Students who wish to explore marine science while still in high school should investigate the following excellent summer programs:

Shoals Marine Laboratory – residential courses on Appledore Island, Off Kittery ME (Marine Environmental Sciences, Introduction to Sharks, Skates, Rays)
SEA Education Association – residential courses in Woods Hole, MA and/or at SEA aboard a tall ship.
Seacoast Science Center, Odiorne Point State Park (Rye, NH) – daily programs and day camps for all different age groups (not just HS)
Hurricane Island – Women of Water (WoW)- High School young women entering grades 9-12 in Fall 2019
Project Oceanology – (Groton, CT)
Exploration Trust – Honors Research Program – brings a group of honors-level high school seniors to URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography (4 weeks – research) and to E/V Nautilus (1 week – cruise) during the summer.
Inner Space Center’s Ocean Science Exploration Camp (at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography)
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences (East Boothbay, ME; Keller BLOOM Program)

Prospective Graduate Students Interested in the Field of Marine Biology

Prospective graduate students interested in studying Marine Biology through either the MS or PhD program in Biological and Environmental Sciences in the College of the Environment and Life Sciences or the MS or PhD programs in Oceanography (at GSO) should first contact prospective mentors (see Marine Biology Faculty) to learn more about their research programs, whether they have openings in their labs for new students, and to arrange campus visits.

Applications for admission in the Fall semester are due on January 15 for full consideration for financial aid (eg. Teaching Fellowships).
For applications, please visit the Graduate School webpage for instructions on how to apply on-line.
All applicants to the MS or PhD programs in Biological and Environmental Sciences (BES) must specify which of the five specializations to which they are applying as described on the BES website.
Teaching Assistantships (stipend and tuition remission in exchange for 20 hours/week teaching responsibilities) are available to qualified MS and PhD students.
Summer Teaching Assistantships may also be available.
Research Assistantships (academic year, summer) may be available in faculty laboratories depending on available funding.
Research Fellowships (one year, by application) are available from the Graduate School.
Students are encouraged to apply for NSF Graduate Fellowships and other external sources of funding to support their work.
Small grants for the support of graduate research and travel to conferences are available via application from the CELS Dean’s office, the Graduate School, and the Graduate Student Association.

The College of the Environment and Life Sciences (CELS) also has graduate programs in the fields of Environmental Science and Management, Marine Affairs and Marine Resource Economics, which integrate approaches from the fields of environmental science, policy, economics, law, history and sociology.

Useful Links: