Uncharted Waters

Kenaro Malcolm (AS, Marine Env Tech ’20) is among the first students in CFK’s new BS in Marine Resource Management. Originally from Nassau, Bahamas, Kenaro earned a prestigious Bahamas Environmental Stewards Scholarship and chose CFK to train for a career in marine science.

Uncharted Waters: CFK Launches Unique Marine Science Degree

The College of the Florida Keys embarked into uncharted waters this August with the launch of the nation’s first-ever Bachelor of Science in Marine Resource Management (BS-MRM). The new baccalaureate degree program prepares future marine scientists to be ready to enter the workforce directly after graduation.

Unlike many university-based marine science programs where students are high and dry in lecture halls, CFK’s BS-MRM program encourages students to get their feet wet and their hands dirty with a curriculum that emphasizes the development of technical skills. The College’s ideal location — on an island chain, in the heart of a national marine sanctuary, and just five miles away from the only barrier coral reef in the continental U.S. — allows students to learn in environments representative of where they may actually work one day.

Courses include field work in marine settings around the Keys that enable students to integrate knowledge learned in class with real-world practice. Students acquire specialized skills in restoration and conservation biology/ecology as well as extensive practical skills in data collection techniques and technology. The program also covers best management practices and policies for both biological and submerged cultural resources.

In the senior capstone course, students build their bridge to employment. The College will work with each student and partner organizations to match students with internship experiences that best align with the students’ interests. The four-credit internship provides opportunities for students to hone their skills in a professional setting and build their resume with real experience. The organizations benefit from the students’ contributions and the chance to observe their work ethic, which could lead to a job offer.

Marine resource management careers abound throughout the U.S. and beyond. As modern society places more value on natural resources, the need for professional environmental leaders is expected to grow. Graduates may work for state or federal entities or for non-profit organizations, leading and contributing to projects such as marine environmental assessment and monitoring; marine restoration operations in coastal, nearshore, and offshore environments; or managing abiotic cultural resources like archeological sites and artificial reefs.

The College consulted with its marine science advisory board, comprised of businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations that manage marine resources, to create the new BS-MRM degree. Such collaboration ensures that graduates of the program are well equipped to lead as the next generation of marine stewards. In addition, the College works closely with other industry partners: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, NOAA Fisheries, National Park Service, Mote Marine Lab, Rising Tide Conservation, Reef Relief, Coral Restoration Foundation, Key West Aquarium, and the American Academy of Underwater Sciences.

CFK’s BS-MRM follows a “2+2” model, in which students first earn an Associate in Arts, an Associate in Science, or equivalent before entering two years of upper level, bachelor’s degree coursework.

The BS-MRM is CFK’s third bachelor’s degree following a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management, which began in 2017, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which began in 2019.