While California universities do offer marine biology degrees at the undergraduate level, many students pursue bachelor's degrees in zoology or life sciences with biology majors, to be followed by a master's degree or doctorate in marine biology. A master’s degree often is required to work as a marine biologist, according to the MarineBio website, and some jobs require a doctorate.

Bachelor's Degrees in Marine Biology

Candidates for bachelor's degrees in marine biology and marine science study general sciences with an emphasis in marine studies. This allows students to gain a wide education in the field, as well as an in-depth knowledge of math and physics crucial to graduate studies. Undergraduates studying to earn a Bachelor of Science in marine science at the University of California Berkeley take classes in physics and calculus, along with studying ocean life. Other universities in California with marine biology and marine science bachelor's degrees include Sonoma State University, Stanford University, the University of California Los Angeles, the University of California Santa Cruz and California State University at Long Beach.

There are several undergraduate degrees available at California universities that focus on fields related to marine biology. Humboldt State University offers a fisheries biology major that focuses on conservation of aquatic wildlife. Other programs include the biology Bachelor of Science degree at San Diego State University with a concentration in marine biology and ecology. California State University Monterey Bay, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University and California Lutheran University offer biology bachelor's degrees with an emphasis in marine biology. The University of California Santa Barbara has three related fields to marine biology, with bachelor's degrees in zoology, aquatic biology and biology.

Master’s Degrees in Marine Biology

Future marine biologists can seek advanced degrees at several universities in California where they study the aquatic environment and creatures living in the Pacific Ocean. The University of Southern California has a master's program in marine and environmental biology; San Francisco State University, California State University Fresno, the University of California Los Angeles, the University of San Diego and the University of California Berkeley offer master's degrees in marine biology. Sonoma State University has a master's in biology with an emphasis in marine ecology. Master's degrees in marine biology also are available at San Francisco State University and the University of California San Diego.

Doctorate in Marine Biology

Several colleges in California offer doctorate programs in marine biology. The location allows students to study marine science near the Pacific Ocean. The University of California Berkeley and and the University of California Los Angeles have marine biology doctorate programs. The University of California Santa Barbara offers a doctorate in marine biology and zoology. The University of California San Diego offers students the opportunity to study at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography for their doctorate in marine biodiversity and conservation. The University of Southern California also offers a degree in marine biodiversity and conservation.

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Emily Meehan began freelance writing in 2007. She wrote for her graduate school newspaper "The Public Servant," covering subjects ranging from politics to arts education. Meehan has a Master of Public Service and Administration from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor of Science in sociology from Brigham Young University.