
Marine Biology and Sustainable Aquaculture
Bachelor of Science
Next start date is January 15th. Applying is easy and free!
Study and conserve
marine resources.
Examine marine life through a scientific lens. Protect animals, plants, and habitats. Discover responsible, sustainable uses for marine resources!
Marine Biology Degree Program Overview
The B.S. in Marine Biology and Sustainable Aquaculture prepares students for a broad range of careers helping protect, preserve, maintain, and grow marine organisms and environments. This degree provides students with a broad emphasis on both marine biology and aquaculture and encompasses coursework (Introduction to Oceanography, for example) with the rigor to prepare students for further study in graduate school or even starting their own aquaculture enterprise.

Program Features
+ One-on-one academic and professional advising as our world-class faculty and trained staff strive to make your professional and academic goals a reality.
+ Unity Environmental University is an accredited institution by New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
+ Experiential Online. Experiential programs are delivered 100% online with fieldwork designed with the working professional in mind.
+ Study when and where you want and finish your degree while still working full-time.
+ Make professional connections with leaders in your field.
+ Get job placement assistance. Browse our online job board and use free tools through our career services.
+ Multiple start dates. Begin your program on your time. Choose from eight year-round start dates.
+ Transfer friendly! Our staff will work closely with you to determine how coursework completed at other accredited institutions satisfies the requirements of your Unity Environmental University degree. We may accept up to 90 credits.*
* Bachelor’s degree requirements include completion of specific courses and a minimum of 30 credits of 300- or 400-level course work.
Experiential and Immersive Coursework

Distance Sampling Population Estimate
Through a simulation custom created by the Unity Environmental University XR Innovation Lab, students are tasked with identifying different species of whales based on their blow. In addition, students are asked to estimate how far the whales were from the boat and the number of whales in the area giving the students a feel of what being marine researcher.

Orientation of a Field Station
Students are asked to explore an island using a 360° video created by the Unity Environmental University XR Innovation Lab. They are asked to research this remote area and create ethograms based on behavioral observations of the animals on the island.

Sustainable Seafood Watch
In the local communities where each student lives, they are tasked with creating a graph of sustainability based on the seafood offerings at their local grocery store. They are asked to investigate what their local communities are able to offer.

Unity student, Courtney, recently took the Form and Function of Unique Marine Ecosystems course at Unity Environmental University with Professor Tanya Lubansky.
“I am majoring in Marine Biology & Sustainable Aquaculture with a concentration in Animal Health & Behavior and plan to graduate in December 2022.
I started my college career back in 2014 at CSULB and attended classes there for almost three years, but life happened, and I was no longer in a situation where I wanted to participate in college. While attending CSULB, I volunteered at the Aquarium of the Pacific as a Husbandry Volunteer for about a year. That is where I got the aquarist bug. With that experience and working at pet stores in the aquarium section, I was able to get a paid aquarist position at SeaWorld San Diego. My favorite animals that I got to work with are sharks, octopuses, and sea turtles. The three years that I worked there taught me so much and made me realize that I wanted to go back to school to better understand the aquarium world so that I could be a better aquarist. That is when I found Unity! I love how the school is structured so much that I decided to leave my past job to dedicate my time to school and finish faster by taking two classes at once.
One of my favorite classes so far has been Unique Marine Ecosystems with Professor Tanya Lubansky. In Unique Marine Ecosystems, we studied unique marine ecosystems around the world and how the organisms within them interact, and I believe that it strengthened my knowledge of caring for them in an aquarium setting.
I love that this class is directly applicable to my desired field. I look forward to using all of my knowledge from Unity to help me excel and be an inspirational leader in a future dedicated to caring for exotic marine species.“

Unity student, Erin, took the Freshwater & Marine Resources course with Professor Amanda Moeser.
“I love taking classes with Unity because the online format allows me to continue to work while I go to school. The classes are engaging, and the professors are always easily reachable if I have questions about the coursework.
I have always had a passion for caring for those that are unable to care for themselves. Through my studies at Unity, I am learning that by working towards saving our ocean’s ecosystems we can not only save our ocean friends and their environment but also provide small coastal communities with food security.
It is my dream to be a tropical marine ecologist working with small coastal communities to help restore reef systems so that animals and humans can thrive. I believe the education that I gain from Unity will be fundamental in helping me save as much of the ocean as I can.”

Unity student, Courtney, recently took the Form and Function of Unique Marine Ecosystems course at Unity Environmental University with Professor Tanya Lubansky and the Animal Nutrition course with Professor Anooshrokh Rakhshandeh.
“I am majoring in Marine Biology & Sustainable Aquaculture with a concentration in Animal Health & Behavior and plan to graduate in December 2022.
I started my college career back in 2014 at CSULB and attended classes there for almost three years, but life happened, and I was no longer in a situation where I wanted to participate in college. While attending CSULB, I volunteered at the Aquarium of the Pacific as a Husbandry Volunteer for about a year. That is where I got the aquarist bug. With that experience and working at pet stores in the aquarium section, I was able to get a paid aquarist position at SeaWorld San Diego. My favorite animals that I got to work with are sharks, octopuses, and sea turtles. The three years that I worked there taught me so much and made me realize that I wanted to go back to school to better understand the aquarium world so that I could be a better aquarist. That is when I found Unity! I love how the school is structured so much that I decided to leave my past job to dedicate my time to school and finish faster by taking two classes at once.
My favorite classes so far have been Unique Marine Ecosystems with Professor Tanya Lubansky and Animal Nutrition with Professor Anooshrokh Rakhshandeh. In Unique Marine Ecosystems, we studied unique marine ecosystems around the world and how the organisms within them interact, and I believe that it strengthened my knowledge of caring for them in an aquarium setting.
In Animal Nutrition, we learned about animal nutrition, an essential aspect of caring for animals in all zoological settings. It allowed me to understand why animals need a complex diet to grow and maintain their health.
I love that both classes were directly applicable to my desired field. I look forward to using all of my knowledge from Unity to help me excel and be an inspirational leader in a future dedicated to caring for exotic marine species.“
Experts in the Field
At Unity Environmental University, our Faculty is comprised of a wide range of environmental science experts who in addition to teaching, conduct their own research and various fieldwork.

Dr. Tanya Lubansky
Instructor of Marine Biology
Dr. Tanya Lubansky received her B.S. in Environmental Sciences at Wheaton College and her Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolution at Rutgers University. Her research focuses on quantifying individual movement behavior and social networks of humpback whales within the Gulf of Maine. Her field work was conducted in collaboration with Allied Whale, a nonprofit organization within College of the Atlantic of Bar Harbor, ME.
Dr. Lubansky has worked in a variety of positions from non profits to tourism industries. She brings value to the students by sharing her experiences in her career and encourage students to look into a wide range of potential job options.
As Dr. Lubansky creates her coursework, she keeps the students future careers in mind and makes sure to ask them to work on projects that will directly apply to their future goals.

Small Class Sizes
At Unity Environmental University, we believe our students are not just a number. The value of small class size intimacy is just as important to us in our distance education program as it is in traditional classroom settings. We give the benefit of creating tight-knit communities where networking can flourish. By keeping our class sizes small, our faculty can dedicate their time to providing all one-on-one guidance when needed by a student.
Degree Requirements and Courses
The Marine Biology and Sustainable Aquaculture degree requires 120 credits, including 30 that must be completed at the 300 level or above. You may transfer in up to 90 credits from outside accredited institutions. For more details, browse our Marine Biology and Sustainable Aquaculture degree checklist. View our full course catalog for a better look into your program, then apply online for free to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How much does it cost?
Your online education should be affordable and manageable. Our team of distance education concierges will work with you through the admissions process to help you plan and pay for your degree. Learn more about the costs here.
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How fast can I finish?
It depends on whether you have credits earned from other institutions, whether you plan on taking one or two classes per term, and if you take a term off. Our distance education concierges and academic advisors are here to help you plan and stick to your educational goals. Talk to us today!
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How many credits can I transfer?
Apply online (it’s free!) and a distance education concierge will reach out to create an individualized plan for transferring your credits. You may also want to try estimating your transfer credits using Transferology.
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What marine biology courses will I be taking?
For course requirements, browse our Marine Biology and Sustainable Aquaculture checklist or view our full course catalog for a better look into your program. In addition to the core curriculum, we offer a diverse range of electives that allow you to customize your learning experience according to your interests and career goals.
- Do you have more information that I can download?
Career Outlook
Earn your degree.
Unlock new opportunities.
Number of Biologist jobs in the U.S., 2019.
Median pay for Biologists in 2019.
Estimated growth for Biologist jobs in the U.S. through 2029.
Number of Biologist jobs in the U.S., 2019.
Median pay for Biologists in 2019.
Estimated growth for Biologist jobs in the U.S. through 2029.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unity Environmental University cannot guarantee employment. Salary data represents averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience.
Faculty Profiles
Seek out knowledge.
Learn from leaders.
View our full course catalog for a better look into your program. Then apply online for free to get started.
Last Updated on November 22, 2023