Marine Science
College of the Atlantic
We’re not just College of the Atlantic. We’re also College in the Atlantic
COA’s oceanfront campus provides an excellent gateway for students and faculty pursuing Marine Science. Every summer, teams of students and faculty conduct research on seabirds, whales, seals, and island ecology on our off-shore research stations . Students also work with Allied Whale , COA’s marine mammal research group, and have access to boat and waterfront resources. Many students go on to do internships and conduct research from the Arctic to the Antarctic, on every continent, and in the oceans and seas around the globe.
You’ll see whales in the Gulf of Maine and, if you’re lucky (and the whale isn’t), you might be able to dissect one
Marine science …
Students interested in Marine Science gain a strong foundation through introductory courses such as Marine Biology , an introductory biology sequence , and Introduction to Oceanography . Intermediate and advanced classes include Marine Mammals , Invertebrate Zoology , Environmental Chemistry , and Ornithology . All of these courses emphasize field work and natural history . Faculty who teach Marine Science and related classes interact to help students carry lessons from one course to another, challenging and focusing scientific tastes and passions.
… and beyond
There are also opportunities for students to learn about marine policy and the conservation of marine resources through courses such as Environmental Law and Policy and Oceans & Fishes: Readings in Environmental History. Our island research stations are also sites for artistic and cultural exploration. Classes such as Environmental History and Water Worlds allow students to combine Marine Science with the humanities.
Marine science at COA is interdisciplinary. It’s definitely not just science
Our location on the Gulf of Maine and our interdisciplinary, self-directed curriculum mean that you can use all academic and creative disciplines to study the marine environment, its inhabitants, and the cultures that live near the ocean and depend on its resources.
Reminder: ‘Areas of Study’ aren’t the only way to think about courses. Browse and explore here.
Check out our Marine Sciences at COA blog; a forum to highlight and discuss marine research and classwork by students, staff, and faculty.
Faculty
David Rockefeller Family Chair in Ecosystem Management and Protection
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Student voices
COA Might be Right for You if…
…you are ready to have your life and identity flipped on its head and dunked in the ocean repeatedly.
Jonna Lynn Nielsen ’27
…you don’t know what you want to study because you have far too many interests to just focus in on one of them.
Wilson Korneev ’28
…you want to be in a small community where people will remember your name.
Alya Kiiashko ’25
…you have an open mind, enjoy small communities, and want a well-rounded (however unconventional) education experience.
Seth Sears ’28
…you want to meet politically, emotionally, and academically engaged people.
Alder Ame ’27
…you think being sent to the oceanside to improve your mental health actually sounds awesome (it totally is).
Carolina de Oliveira Castro ’26
…you are passionate about the natural world and want to study it and love spending time outside.
Conrad Kortemeier ’26
…you want to be surrounded and inspired by people who are excited about niche subjects, and by people who are still figuring out what they’re doing.
Marina Schnell ’25
…you can’t choose between the mountains and the sea.
Megan Maloney ’26
…you want freedom in your class structure.
Andie Piliouras ’26
…you want small, intentional community.
Conlan Lamb ’28
…you want to expand your perspective and knowledge of the world around you, and gain valuable connections from all around the world!
Trinket Lester ’28
…you question the answers to your questions, challenge the status quo, and seek tranquility in the heart of the spruce-fir forests.
Greta Bernier ’27
…you have the desire to choose your own path to a degree.
Béatrice St-Louis ’28