Completing the Marine and Environmental Science degree opened up a great abundance of opportunities including getting dive certified, building connections with non profit organizations, and learning about a variety of different ecosystems. I was able to gain hands on experience and conduct a senior thesis project right off the dock about the most amazing marine organism (sea turtles of course). Overall, I was able to grow as a student and find what I am truly passionate about which is conserving our marine ecosystems.
Bachelor of Arts
Environmental and Marine Science
Major
Study on Land and Under the Sea
You’ll learn to be a scientist out in the field, not just in the classroom.
Environmental and Marine Science at Goshen College studies Earth’s ecosystems on land and under the sea, combining biology, chemistry, earth science, and environmental policy with real fieldwork, from Indiana wetlands to coral reefs in the Florida Keys.
You’ll work in two extraordinary outdoor classrooms with faculty mentors who know you by name: the 1,189-acre Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, and the J.N. Roth Marine Biology Station in the Florida Keys. You’ll graduate ready to lead in conservation, research, sustainability, and environmental education.
Built for People Who Want to Do the Work
This major is for students who are curious about the natural world and want to get their hands dirty, in a marsh, on a reef, in a lab, while building toward real outcomes. Goshen graduates go on to careers in conservation and natural-resource management, marine biology, environmental education and policy and advocacy. Many continue to graduate and professional school. Goshen College is #1 in Indiana for the percentage of graduates who go on to earn doctorates. You’ll find alumni working in national parks, marine research labs, government agencies, environmental consulting firms and education programs.
Where You’ll Learn It
Starting in your first year, you’ll explore ecosystems in person and tackle real problems through fieldwork, research and immersive experiences like these:
- Study coral reef ecosystems at the J.N. Roth Marine Biology Station in the Florida Keys
- Conduct field research at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, banding birds, analyzing soil and water quality and monitoring habitats
- Intern with local farms, land trusts, conservation agencies and sustainability-focused nonprofits
- Join the Maple Scholars Summer Research program
You’ll work in some of the most distinctive spaces available to undergraduates: the 1,189-acre Merry Lea natural area, the J.N. Roth station’s reefs and mangroves and the labs of Schrock Science Hall.
Laci Munger '26
Paying for Goshen
Environmental and marine science students are eligible for a variety of Goshen College scholarships, and most students receive financial aid.
To see your own price after aid, run the net price calculator or explore your options at the financial aid and scholarships pages.
Common Questions About Environmental and Marine Science Major
In two extraordinary outdoor classrooms: the 1,189-acre Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, with forests, wetlands and prairies, and the J.N. Roth Marine Biology Station in the Florida Keys, with direct access to coral reefs, mangroves and coastal ecosystems. You’ll also use the labs in Schrock Science Hall on campus.
Graduates work in conservation and natural-resource management, marine biology and oceanography, environmental education and environmental policy and advocacy, in national parks, marine research labs, government agencies and consulting firms. Many continue to graduate and professional school, and Goshen is #1 in Indiana for the percentage of graduates who earn doctorates.
From your first year, you can study coral reefs in the Florida Keys, run field research at Merry Lea, banding birds and testing soil and water, intern with farms, land trusts and conservation agencies, join Maple Scholars Summer Research and take off-campus programs like the Agroecology Summer Intensive.
Environmental and marine science students are eligible for a variety of Goshen College scholarships, and most students receive financial aid. Use the net price calculator on the financial aid page to see your real number, explore available scholarships and talk with a financial aid counselor about your situation.
Start your application at the Goshen College apply page, or request information first if you’d like to talk through fit and the field stations before committing. You can also schedule a visit to meet faculty and see campus. Admission to Goshen is the first step into the major.
Phil Allman
Professor of Marine Biology
Andy Ammons
Professor of Biology
Raquel Montanez Gonzalez
Associate Professor of Biology
Jonathon Schramm
Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education
Department Chair
