To become a marine geologist, you need an undergraduate degree in geology and an advanced degree in a specialized form of ocean geology. Different employers require different expertise, so it’s best to explore career options early. A master’s degree is usually sufficient for most firms, but a Ph.D. is needed for teaching or high-level research positions. Field experience is valuable, but advancement without additional education is unlikely. Specializing in one area is important, and common marine geology degrees include marine geophysics, marine geochemistry, and oceanography.
To become a marine geologist, you’ll typically need an undergraduate degree in geology and an advanced degree, such as a master’s degree, in a more specialized form of ocean geology. There are many different career options in the field of marine geology, and different employers are looking for different types of expertise. It’s generally a good idea to start exploring your career options early in your education. Tailoring your research and courses to a specific type of study will make you more marketable when you enter the field.
Much of what it takes to become a marine geologist depends on the type of career you are looking for. Some survey companies and marine exploration teams will hire people with only general geology or earth science training to perform basic administrative and mechanical survey tasks. This can provide young graduates with good work experience and exposure to the field. Without additional education, however, advancement is usually quite unlikely.
Marine geology, like most scientific disciplines, is organized according to an educational hierarchy system. No matter how long you work in the field, it’s nearly impossible to get ahead without at least a master’s degree. This is not to say that field experience is not valuable. Low-level researchers are required for the success of most ventures and explorations, and this type of experience can also help graduates better solidify their interests. For most people, however, entry-level experience is not what they had in mind when they decided to become a marine geologist.
If you are really interested in conducting underwater geological surveys, drawing your own conclusions and using your experience to make predictions, you will certainly need a graduate degree. Typically, the type of graduate degree you dictate determines, at least in some respects, the type of career you will enter. Graduate school is where you identify what interests you most in marine geology and is where you make a name for yourself with spot-on research.
Scientists working in marine geology can do a variety of different things. Some study the movement of tectonic plates under the seabed and make predictions about how seismic shifts and underwater volcanoes affect life in the visible world. Others study the mineral content of silt and rock to identify oil wells and other natural resources or focus on map drawings and undersea land surveys. There is often a certain amount of latitude in the field for established professionals, but you should generally specialize in just one area before becoming a marine geologist from the ground up.
Common marine geology degrees include marine geophysics, marine geochemistry, marine petroleum studies, oceanography, and ocean sedimentology and volcanology. A master’s degree or equivalent is usually sufficient to become a marine geologist in most firms and companies. To teach at the university level or to take on the highest research positions, you will generally need to obtain a Ph.D.
It is generally easier to become a marine geologist with an advanced degree, as many employers recruit new scientists directly from the world’s leading programs. The research you create as an undergraduate will give you a name within the scientific community and can serve as a start to your professional reputation. Recruiters will usually contact you depending on your interests and job availability.
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