Want to study Marine Biology at UW? The resources below will help you start the process wherever you are in your academic career.
In-Person Advising Availability – August Update
Zoom visits remain available and can be booked as usual through the link below.
In-person visits will be limited during August. Previously scheduled in-person visits will still take place, but new in-person appointments cannot be self-scheduled online at this time.
To inquire about possible in-person availability, please email marbiol@uw.edu.
Newly Admitted or Prospective Student Virtual or In-person Visit
Students and families can meet with the advisers as part of a campus visit or via Zoom. The Marine Biology program is unable to give guided tours of labs or facilities, but an advising appointment can overview our programs, answer questions and assist with planning for UW.
- For current high school students (including students in Running Start or IB programs) of any grade, or students currently or previously enrolled in other community colleges or universities considering transfer to the UW.
- Families are welcome to join virtual or in-person appointments.
- Marine Biology Campus Visits can be booked up to 90 days in advance.
Book a UW Marine Biology Advising Visit
Newly Admitted & Current UW Undergraduate Students
Recommended Courses
You can declare a major in Marine Biology anytime, but you can also explore and prepare for the major through the following courses.
- Explore Marine Biology
- FISH/OCEAN/BIOL 250 (5 credits): Marine Biology: no prerequisites, offered annually in autumn.
- MARBIO 301 (1 credit): Current Topics in Marine Biology: weekly speaker series open to nonmajors, no prerequisites, offered annually in winter.
- OCEAN 200, OCEAN 201 (3, 2 credits): Introduction to Oceanography, Intro to Oceanography Lab (both courses recommended): no prerequisites, offered annually in spring.
- First Foundation courses in Science and Mathematics
- First quarter calculus (MATH 124 or Q SCI 291)
- Statistics (Q SCI 381 or STAT 311)
- Chemistry (either CHEM 120 or CHEM 142)
- Biology (BIOL 180)
How will prior credit apply to my degree?
Run a Degree Audit (DARS)!
The DARS report, or degree audit, shows how evaluated transfer courses and your University of Washington classes apply toward degree requirements.
Advanced Placement (AP)
UW Admissions and Advanced Placement: Earning credit depends on the test taken and the score earned.
- Students can match course numbers from AP to Major Requirements.
- AP tests which can grant relevant course credit for the Marine Biology Major requirements (requires a specific score on AP tests):
- Mathematics: Calculus AB or BC (MATH 124, 125)
- Chemistry (CHEM 142, 152, 162)
- Physics 1, Physics 2, Physics C: Mechanics, or Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism (PHYS 114, 115, 121, 122)
- AP tests which grant credit for courses not used in major (credit can be applied to general requirements):
- Biology (BIOL 161 and BIOL 162)
- Statistics (STAT 290)
- Environmental Sciences (ESRM 100)
International Baccalaureate (IB)
UW Admissions and International Baccalaureate Earning credit depends on the test taken and the score earned.
- Students can match course numbers from IB to Major Requirements.
- IB tests which can grant relevant course credit for the Marine Biology Major requirements (requires a specific score on tests):
- Mathematics HL (MATH 124)
- Chemistry HL (CHEM 142, 152, 162)
- Physics HL (PHYS 114/117, 115/118, 116/119)
- IB tests which grant credit for courses not used in major (credit can be applied to general requirements):
- Biology SL/HL (BIOL 161 and BIOL 162)
- Chemistry SL (CHEM 110)
- Mathematics SL/HL (MATH 120)
- Environmental Systems and Societies (ENVIR 102)
College in the High School or Running Start
At the University of Washington we welcome students who have chosen to begin college coursework for college credit while still in high school. These programs are challenging and demanding, and we believe they provide excellent preparation for university study.
Running Start allows academically qualified students in grades 11-12 to take college courses online or on the campus of the college offering the courses.
College in the High School allows academically qualified students in grades 10-12 to enroll in college courses that are offered at their high school. These programs are offered by many Washington colleges and universities.
- Students can match course numbers from Major Requirements to those from Washington State community or technical colleges with the UW Transfer Equivalency Guide.
- Students from outside of Washington state can contact an adviser with questions about course equivalency for major or minor requirements.
A Level & AS Level Exams
UW Admissions and A Level & AS Level exams Earning credit depends on the test taken and the score earned.
- Students can match course numbers from A Levels to Major Requirements.
- A Levels tests which can grant relevant course credit for the Marine Biology Major requirements (requires a specific score on tests):
- Chemistry A Level (CHEM 142, 152, 162)
- Marine Science A Level (FISH 250, FISH 2XX)
- Physics A Level (PHYS 114, PHYS 115, PHYS 117, PHYS 118, PHYS 1XX)
Declare a Major in Marine Biology
Marine Biology is an open major with no pre-requisites. Current UW students should schedule an appointment with a marine biology adviser to declare the major.
Current High School Students
High School Coursework
As you plan your high school coursework, we encourage you to complete the UW College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs) in combination with the following:
- Math
- Pre-calculus (preferred)
- Calculus (optional)
- Science
- Chemistry (preferred)
- Biology (preferred)
- Physics (optional)
Advanced Placement (AP)
Earning college credit through AP exams is optional, but can help complete major requirements before you start at UW. Earning credit depends on the test taken, the score earned and what equivalent UW course credit is granted as listed here: UW Admissions and Advanced Placement.
- AP tests which can grant relevant course credit for the Marine Biology Major requirements (requires a specific score on AP tests):
- Mathematics: Calculus AB or BC (MATH 124, 125)
- Chemistry (CHEM 142, 152, 162)
- Physics 1, Physics 2, Physics C: Mechanics, or Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism (PHYS 114, 115, 121, 122)
- AP tests which grant credit for courses not used in major (credit can be applied to general requirements):
- Biology (BIOL 161 and BIOL 162)
- Statistics (STAT 290)
- Environmental Sciences (ESRM 100)
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Earning college credit through IB exams is optional, but can help complete major requirements before you start at UW. Earning credit depends on the test taken, the score earned and what equivalent UW course credit is granted as listed here: UW Admissions and International Baccalaureate.
- IB tests which can grant relevant course credit for the Marine Biology Major requirements (requires a specific score on IB tests):
- Marine Science (SL level): OCEAN 200, 201
- Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL level): MATH 124
- Chemistry (HL level): CHEM 142, 152, 162
- IB tests which grant credit for courses not used in major (credit can be applied to general requirements):
- Biology (BIOL 161 and BIOL 162)
- Environmental Systems and Societies (ENVIR 102)
Running Start (or other college credit)
High school students can sometimes earn college credit through Washington State Running start or other college in the high school programs. Those credits can transfer to your UW transcript to fulfill Marine Biology Major requirements. Please follow our course recommendations on our transfer admissions page.
Visiting UW Marine Biology
High school juniors or seniors starting the application process are encouraged to schedule a visit to campus. You can meet with the Marine Biology Adviser and tour the campus. Other activities such as class visits, info sessions, or lab tours may also be available depending on the time of year.
Apply to UW
When you’re ready, apply at:
Current Community College or Other College Students
If you have earned some college credit after leaving high school, you will probably apply to UW as a transfer student. Please follow our recommendations for transfer admissions.