Northwest Missouri State University
800 University Dr, Maryville, MO 64468, United States

Northwest Missouri State University is a public university in Maryville, Missouri. It has an enrollment of about 8,505 students. Founded in 1905 as a teachers college, its campus is based on the design for Forest Park at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair and is the official Missouri State Arboretum.

Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology

Although we are located in the center of the Midwest, Northwest's marine biology program is one of the most popular programs offered on campus! Yep, you read that right. If you're interested in studying marine life and its habitats, the marine biology major could be for you. 

Why Study Marine Biology at Northwest

Marine biology majors study marine organisms and their ecology, habitat and interaction. You'll learn about ecology, or the study of organisms and their habitats, diversity, in organisms and adaptations of organisms and diatoms, or the unicellular life of oceans. Students also learn best practices for surveying marine organisms.

This program is perfect for analytical thinkers who enjoy solving problems and coming up with solutions. Because this is a science-heavy field, students also should be prepared to spend lots of time performing experiments and conducting research in a laboratory setting. The nature of the job involves a lot of patience and flexibility, as marine biologists must be comfortable working individually and collaboratively.

With that being said, we know how important it is to get real experience before diving into a career (no pun intended). That's why we have an articulation agreement with the University of Southern Mississippi Oceanography program that allows students to take up to four courses in large water facilities. We also have an affiliation with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL), an educational and research institute located in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, that provides students the opportunity to take field courses in marine science at GCRL during the summer. Cool, right?

If you've made it this far, you are probably a prime candidate for this program. Keep scrolling to learn about possible careers in this field.

Career Opportunities

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR IN MARINE BIOLOGY?

https://www.nwmissouri.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors/marine-biology.htm 

Freshman admission for international students is evaluated on an individual basis. Admission is offered to students who possess academic qualifications equivalent to those required for domestic first-time freshmen. Consideration is given to the courses taken and grades received in secondary school, as well as to results of school leaving examinations and certificates. The integrity of the student's native educational system is respected in regard to the university entrance requirements in the native country. Students not eligible for university admission in their native country will not likely be granted admission to Northwest.

For comparison purposes, admission requirements for domestic first-time freshmen must include the following:

  1. A minimum high school grade point average of 2.00 or "C" average and;
  2. A college-preparatory curriculum in secondary school, including courses in mathematics, science, language and social studies.

Application fee of $75 in U.S. currency

This is a nonrefundable processing fee required of every applicant. It must accompany your application in order for your request for admission to be considered. Fees are payable online via credit card or fees can be paid in U.S. dollars via check made payable to Northwest Missouri State University.

Official academic transcripts from each secondary and post-secondary institution attended.

Students currently enrolled in a high school, college or university should send official transcripts with any certificates of graduation, if applicable. Transcripts must be certified and placed in a sealed envelope by the issuing institution and sent to Northwest via post. All transcripts become the property of Northwest and cannot be released. In addition to transcripts in the native language, certified translations must be attached to the official transcripts.

  • Undergraduate admission:
    • Applicants must have a minimum, cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (after conversion to the U.S. scale).
    • Applicants with GCSE/IGCSE/O Level results must complete 5 subjects with passing grades of D or better.
    • Nepalese applicants must have transcripts attested by USEF Nepal.
    • Transfer applicants should provide syllabi (course descriptions) for all courses taken at any university outside the United States.
  • Graduate admission:
    • Applicants should consult the Graduate Catalog for GPA requirements. 
    • Please note that individual mark sheets for college coursework are required for evaluation.

Bank statement (submit after acceptance)

A bank document verifying that your sponsor has a balance of at least $31,817 USD for undergraduate students and $16,967 USD for graduate students should be submitted after acceptance. Information may be submitted electronically and should contain the available funds, account holder’s name and number, date of issue, and bear a bank officer signature.

English proficiency exam score report

Students entering Northwest are required to have reading, writing and conversational knowledge of the English language.

If a student is not a citizen of a country where the native language is English, then he or she is required to meet minimum score requirements on one of the tests listed below:

  • IELTS - 5.5
  • DUOLINGO - 95
  • TOEFL - 61
  • PTE - 44

Visit Language Requirements for additional conditions that fulfill the English proficiency requirement. 

Acceptance

The items below are for after you receive your acceptance email from Northwest.

Copy of passport

A photocopy of the personal data page of your passport.

Northwest statement of support form (submit after acceptance)

This form should be filled out by sponsor, stating amount and years of support and submitted after acceptance. A separate Affidavit of Support is not necessary. (If student is supporting his or her self, this form is not necessary.)

Other options

Below are items specific to international transfer students or international graduate students.

Transfer recommendation form

This is required only if applying as a transfer student from another United States university.

ACT/SAT scores

If available, may be considered for undergraduate scholarship eligibility. Not required for admission.

https://www.nwmissouri.edu/admissions/international/criteria.htm 

https://www.nwmissouri.edu/admissions/international/apply.htm 

 

For students applying from their home country, the application and documentation must be received by the Office of Admissions prior to the deadline noted. Applications not complete by the deadline will be considered for the next admission session. These deadlines allow for the evaluation of transcripts for admission and for transfer of credit, review of graduate applications by the respective departments, time to process, send and receive an I-20 and time for the student to obtain a visa.

Which semester are you enrolling?      Application Deadline        Document Deadline
Fall (August) Semester                                 June 15                             July 1
Spring (January) Semester                          November 1                      November 15

https://www.nwmissouri.edu/admissions/international/timeline.htm