Career options for Marine Science at Murdoch University

Our Degrees are changing.

In 2014, Part I (first year) units will be introduced with Part II (second year and higher) units becoming available in subsequent years. Detailed information about Part II will be available here from mid-2014.

Find out more about our new degrees, or to get in touch and ask us what this means for you head to AskMurdoch. Continuing students can still access information for degrees commencing 2013 and prior in the Course Handbook.

Career options

Australia is an island continent with some 86% of its population living in coastal regions. The sea has great economic value to Australia with extensive economic activity in marine tourism, fisheries, marine transport and offshore petroleum industries. The coast also provides a vast recreational industry that many Australians use on a regular basis and have a deep and abiding interest in.

Your employment outlook, as a Murdoch Marine Science graduate, is bright, especially when combined with other disciplines. Depending on which skill combinations or specialisations you have, your degree may lead you towards work and study opportunities in a number of areas. Listed in the following are some of them:

Marine Biologist

Marine Biologists study salt water organisms, and limnologists study fresh water organisms. Much of the work of marine biology centres on molecular biology, the study of the biochemical processes that take place inside living cells.

Marine Environmental Ecologist

Marine Environmental Ecologists study the relationships between marine organisms and their environments and the effects of influences such as population size, pollutants, rainfall and temperature.mists may study the toxicity of various chemicals-how those chemicals affect plants, animals, and people. Environmental Chemists may study the toxicity of various chemicals-how those chemicals affect plants, animals, and people.
Environmental Scientists conduct research to identify and abate or eliminate sources of pollutants or hazards that affect people, wildlife, and their environments. These workers analyse and report measurements or observations of air, food, water, soil, and other sources and make recommendations on how best to clean and preserve the environment. Understanding the issues involved in protecting the environment-degradation, conservation, recycling, and replenishment-is central to the work of environmental scientists, who often use their skills and knowledge to design and monitor waste disposal sites, preserve water supplies, and reclaim contaminated land and water to comply with Federal environmental regulation.

Ecotourism Consultant

Ecotourism Consultants offer ecological advice or designs that balance ecological, economic and human needs to individuals, businesses, community-based organisations, and local and regional governments in other countries.