Environmental and Marine Biology

We are living in a continually changing environment, with the changes largely caused by human activity and lifestyles. The climate is changing, irreplaceable natural areas are being destroyed, and flora and fauna are being affected. Your studies in environmental and marine biology will provide you with an understanding of how ecosystems, populations and species function and can be protected. Environmental and Marine Biology is based on ecology, a discipline that studies the interaction of organisms, populations and species with each other and their environment.  During your studies, you will gain extensive knowledge on ecology and its applications. The work of a marine biologist involves, for example, seagrass meadows and gulfs, the deep bottom areas of the Baltic Sea, or island vegetation. Benthic fauna, fish and aquatic flora are among the essential organisms. In addition, you will learn about the behaviours of fish and birds as well as evolutionary biology.

You may rather freely include courses that interest you – ranging from laboratory and field courses to lectures – in your Environmental and Marine Biology studies in order to find your own study profile and area of specialisation.  Teaching is done at sea and on land, as well as at the field station in Åland. In addition to your major subject, you will select a minor subject within the biosciences or natural sciences, for example, Biochemistry, Geography or Geology. If you want to become a subject teacher in Biology, you must complete two long minor subjects, namely Education and another teaching subject.  Students majoring in other subjects may include certain courses in Environmental and Marine Biology as minor subjects in their degree, and teacher students can study Biology as their secondary teaching subject.