B.S. in Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy

Monmouth University’s Biology Department offers a Bachelor of Science in Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy (MEBP) for students who have a passion for nature and the environment, and want an immersive, hands-on experience in their undergraduate education.

The B.S. in Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy is a multidisciplinary program with a curriculum that allows students to gain a solid foundation in the sciences, together with an understanding of their application to addressing environmental problems, and conserving and managing natural resources.

Core Courses

• Ecology
• Zoology
• Marine Biology
• Botany
• Environmental Biology and Policy
• Coastal Zone Management
• Natural Resource Conservation and Management

Electives Include

• Oceanography
• Ichthyology
• Marine and Environmental Field Methods
• Herpetology
• Tropical Island Ecology
• Research-based courses, and others that allow students to focus on their own area of special interest.

Related Strategic Minors

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Global Sustainability
• Chemistry
• Public Policy

Facilities

Our campus is located within a mile of the Atlantic Ocean and in close proximity to a number of estuarine and terrestrial ecosystems that provide a wealth of natural outdoor classrooms.

In addition, the MEBP Program offers students access to fully equipped classrooms and teaching laboratories during their on-campus studies in the recently renovated science building.

These facilities are complemented by an array of other assets, including:

• Vessels from 14 – 49’ used for classes and research
• State-of-the-art sampling equipment
• Undergraduate access to faculty research laboratories
• Small class sizes
• Faculty members that teach all lecture and lab courses

Research & Internships

The MEBP Program offers undergraduate students opportunities to gain hands-on experience in applied science by working collaboratively on faculty-directed research projects.

In addition, we offer students experiential education and internship opportunities with off-campus partner organizations including local, state, and federal government agencies, local and regional environmental organizations, and private environmental planning and consulting firms.

Additional Opportunities

• Participate in programs at the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium Sandy Hook field station.
• Study tropical ecosystems at the Cape Eleuthera Institute in the Bahamas, which is the location of our annual Tropical Island Ecology field course.
• Participate in the annual School of Science Student Research Conference held as part of the University’s Student Scholarship Week.
• Participate as a paid research assistant in the School of Science Summer Research Program.

Student Outcomes

Employment

After graduating with a B.S. in Marine and Environmental Biology and Policy, students will be ready for careers in the public or private sector investigating environmental quality, dealing with conservation and management of natural resources, or implementing environmental policy.

For example, recent MEBP graduates are employed by government agencies such as the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Others work for local, regional, and national environmental organizations, environmental consulting firms, or private research organizations.

Graduate Degrees

Many of our students pursue graduate degrees leading to a number of career paths. The University of Delaware, UMASS Amherst, Villanova University, Rutgers University, Pace University, the College of Charleston, the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, Clemson University, the University of Florida, and the University of Hawaii are among the many institutions that graduates of the MEBP Program have attended to further their education.

In addition, under a cooperative agreement, qualified juniors majoring in MEBP at Monmouth can gain early acceptance into the Stockton University graduate program in Coastal Zone Management.