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I live near one of the best schools in the country for Marine Biology and Oceanography (Univ of Rhode Island). I've always loved the ocean, marine life, sharks, etc. When I first went to URI way back when, I majored in Marine Biology…but apparently I liked keg parties better than going to class and studying, so I dropped/flunked out. Seriously contemplating changing majors and going for it.Thoughts? Advice?
No. But I did speak with a history dept head a while back when I was thinking of transferring from AMU. If I majored in history at URI, they would take most of my credits. Since I have more credits now, and more history courses, they might not not take them all but maybe they'll apply most towards my general ed requirements and that would free me up to just work on Marine Biology major courses.
I didn't know you were still taking classes at AMU. I suppose if you're not going to use the degree directly for employment purposes, the answer to your question should really be – what do you enjoy doing? If it is marine biology, then I don't see why you shouldn't do it.Now that I think of it, you could hypothetically use both your interests by trying to get on some underwater archaeological excavations. You might have to do it as volunteer work on the side (at least at first) but that could be very rewarding.
They do have a Marine Archaeology major. Not sure if it's graduate school though. I still like history a lot, but I don't see employment in that field unless I go for a PhD. With Marine Biology there are jobs in this area for it, and I would contemplate moving as well (Florida Keys..oh yes!). Plus the Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institute in Hyannis always has job openings. Most for people with post-grad degrees, but a few for those with a BS. I would love to find a volunteer opportunity/internship, if there are any, studying or tagging these Great Whites in Cape Cod. Plus Wood's Hole always has internship positions available. Only thing is science is not a strong area for me, except biology. But if I can get past all the physics and chemistry courses I'll have to take, maybe I can do it. It is definitely not an easy major, that's for sure. But on the plus side, at URI many of the courses are hands on in the field..well, the ocean.
It sounds like you shouldn't really make any plans until you have a good idea about what you want to do with your education. I dunno…do you even need a degree in a particular field to do what you want to do? In other words, can you break into the field/job area you want simply by trying to get hired on as-is even if you don't have the degree? Have you talked to anyone who works in marine biology to see what kind of requirements are needed for those jobs? It just seems like a degree is a lot of money and effort for something you may not completely need.
I say follow your interests. There is no point in studying anything unless it excites you. That is why I got my degrees in history and am now contemplating doing a send MA in International Relations. I am with you that I find Marine Biology inetersting, I just don't find it interesting enough to get a degree in it.Hey, isn't Woods Hole not far from where you live?
Yes Wood's Hole is about an hour away. This is more like follow your dreams rather than follow your interests. But Phid is correct. I have to think of the costs. I could sell my house, which I'm thinking of doing anyway. I also think there may be a problem conflicting with my current fulltime job. Some of the courses are only available during normal school hours.If I don't do this, I'm at least going to get a modest (but not too modest) sailboat. Have no idea how I would afford it, but I'll try. I definitely want one by the time I retire. In the meantime maybe I'll get a scuba diving license. If the Whites stay on the Cape, maybe I can start a shark cage diving business instead.Wish I was 20 years younger. I'd join the Navy. They have some marine-study jobs I'd be interested in.
Based on what you are saying in this thread, it sounds like you just want some variety in life – of the more adventurous kind. With that in mind, formal classes are not your best course of action.Obviously I only know you based on limited interactions, so I don't know all your concerns/dreams/aspirations/etc. However, if I were you, I would consider getting actual fieldwork - something which would give you practical experience, knowledge, and could be a lot of fun. This site lists many different opportunities - in the U.S. and around the world, on land, underwater, etc.:http://www.pasthorizons.com/worldprojects/defaultSearch.aspThey would allow you to diving while using your knowledge and love of history. It costs money to get on to these excavations, but IMO it would be better than sitting in a classroom. Plus, you could think of it as a vacation of sorts, which would justify the cost.As for selling your house - you sure you want to do that? Why not try renting it out or something? To each his own, yes, but it sounds like you may need a fallback plan.
Do you think my best course of action would be to take a marine biology class to see how I like it? That's kind of what I was thinking. The only thing I have to check out is I think URI is restrictive as to who can take it.It is kind of an adventurous spirit I guess. It's not like I'm sick of my life, but it would be cool to end it (talking retirement, not anything else) with a really cool job that won't feel like a job.As for selling my house, I am very likely going to do it before I hit retirement age. I got it mainly so the kids would have some stability, but now it's just too big for me and a big expense I can do without. Plus it would free me up to move anywhere. That's a cool website. I saw something like that when I was looking for history related digs I can volunteer/vacation. As a matter of fact, I think you were the one who first told me about it here a few years ago.
I'm confused…why are you thinking about taking a course in marine biology to see how you like it? I assumed the whole point of possibly switching schools and majors was because you already knew you liked it and were thinking of following a passion. Also, I'm confused if you actually like *marine biology* (that is, the study of organisms that live in the ocean) or if you just want a job that involves doing stuff in/around the ocean. If you don't really like science, I am even more confused. My suggestion of underwater archaeology was because I thought it combined two interests that you seem to have - history and the sea - but really, I think that it is only partially related to the field of marine biology. I don't want to tell you what to do, but I think your time and money could be better spent apart from formal classes, unless you knew that they were critical for a type of job you definitely wanted. A degree with give you a few lines on a resume, but so will an experience of formal fieldwork for a month or two. Also, you can probably get better references and job connections from doing the latter. I can understand the desire to downsize your living situation and even move to Florida, and I imagine that there are all sorts of sea-related jobs available near the Keys. Perhaps these types of jobs would fulfill your desires just as well where you wouldn't feel like you were "at work"? For example, on our honeymoon a couple years ago we went to St. Croix in the Caribbean, and there were several different chartered mini-trips which brought people out to an uninhabited island and then out snorkeling. There must have been about four tour guides on the boat (and about 20 passengers), and they must have gotten paid decently (and it didn't seem like a stressful job). Could something like that be of interest to you? I'm just thinking that there are ways of doing things to fulfill one's passions without formal education.
I'm going to start a thread compiling history-related jobs. I tried searching on the forum for that post to archaeology volunteer opportunities and could not find it, so I had to search the web again for it. I hope that putting them in a list it will make it easier for everyone.
Funny, but I came across this posting for an expedition which recently took place. URI was one of the sponsoring institutions:
The field school will be conducted in the three-week period from July 15 to August 8, 2013. Advanced scuba training, leading to the American Academy of Underwater Sciences’ (AAUS) Scientific Diver certification, and classroom work related to maritime history and maritime archaeological field methods will comprise week one of the field school. Underwater research and documentation of 16th and 17th century shipwrecks will be conducted in Bermuda during the remaining weeks.
http://shovelbums.net/index.php/view-field-schools?sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=86&sobi2Id=934
It is a passion, but it's also fixing something I've regretted most of my life. I wish I did better when I was first at school. I wish I got a degree when I was in my early 20's. I can do something about that now. That's why I chose to go back to school. It's not that I've lost interest in history, it's just that everytime I'm on the water or standing near the ocean, or reading about all these things they are researching on Narragansett Bay or off Cape Cod, I want to do that. Maybe instead of thinking of moving to Cape Cod or the Florida Keys to retire, I can move there for a job. And maybe it would be a job I love and will never want to retire until I'm dead. I mean really, diving with sharks to study their behavior or following a whale migration would be absolutely fascinating. Yes, I could get a scuba certification and probably have a chance to do some of this without getting a degree, so maybe I'll do that first and maybe that would be enough. But it would be a hobby, not a job.I can understand your confusion because I'm confused as well! What I mean by taking a class is #1 to see how I comprehend it. Writing a paper in biology is far different than writing one in history. Taking a lab course is a completely different world. #2 to see if I get into the aspects of marine biology outside of my main interests. I'll use history as an example: I have little interest n certain eras or topics in history, but a high interest in others (Ancient and British history). With marine bio I know I'm interested in ocean life and behaviors of predatory animals. But will I be interested in studying clam reproduction or fresh water fish sustainability? I doubt it, but I'll have to learn that regardless. As for the sciences, biology I would be OK wth for the most part. But in looking at their program requirements I see a lot of chemistry, some physics, and calculus too. Just the thought of taking those courses is a deterrent. The only reason I'm thinking of a degree is because the type of job I want would likely involve research or deep study of something. I'll definitely need a degree for that. Here's the degree program. Almost all of the biology courses involve Marine life, it's some of those other courses that give me second thought. Also, their Underwater Archaeology program is just available as a minor, but that's some interesting classes. That last link you posted is incredibly interesting. Bookmarking that one!
