Full details about course syllabus fees and progression will be provided.
Periodic Tutor-Marked Assignments, No Exams.
**Reasonable standard of literacy**
£9.99 – £29.99
Prior study is not a prerequisite – you just need a passion for the subject matter!
Our brand-new Marine Biology study pack will give you a thorough grounding in the fascinating and stimulating subject of life in the sea. You will learn all of the underpinning knowledge required for pursuing a career in Marine Biology, or perhaps getting involved in any of the pastimes and sports associated with the sea, including sub aqua diving, Maritime archaeology, Marine conservation, and many others. The ocean is explored as an ecological habitat, and the incredible way aquatic animals, flora and fauna have evolved and adapted to be able to live, breed and flourish in the harsh marine environment. The seas all over the earth, from the Arctic north and Antarctic South to the Equator, and from the sunlit surface to the pitch black of the deepest ocean trenches, are examined in detail. Perhaps the most interesting part of the materials deal with the human impact on the marine ecosystem.
One of the key benefits of studying with Distance Learning Plus is that you get access to your full course materials online once you enrol.
You’ll receive access to our Online Student Community where you’ll be able to view your course materials, submit your work, contact your tutor, and interact with other learners via the online forums.
A reasonable level of literacy is required, but there are no entry restrictions.
You just need a keen interest in the subject, and will ideally have studied the subject or ancillary disciplines at a lower level if you want to progress quickly.
This is a non-regulated qualification endorsed by Focus Awards under their Focus on Quality Provision (FQP) Scheme.
Focus Awards is a member of the Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) and is regulated by Ofqual. Established 2011, Focus Awards is founded on three core values – Honesty, Integrity and Fairness – that underpin everything they do.
The FQP scheme is designed to give endorsement to non-regulated qualifications in a wide range of subjects. On successful completion you will receive a Focus Awards Certificate of Achievement and a certificate of completion from Distance Learning Plus.
Although the materials are comprehensive and informative, we do expect you to carry out your own investigations. After all, if you are not prepared to do your own research, you should be asking yourself if this is the right subject choice for you!
Although, there are no entry requirements, you do need a reasonable level of literacy to be able to both understand the concepts introduced, and get the
The Ocean Takes Shape
Life Evolves
Continental Drift
The Major Oceans
An Ocean is Born
An Ocean Dies
Consequences
Reversal
Basic Oceanography
Ocean Structure
Benthos
Ocean Zones
Major Habitats in the Ocean
Intertidal Zone
Challenges in the Intertidal Zone
Marine Life in the Intertidal Zone
Threats to the Intertidal Zone
The Polar Regions
Location and Countries in the Polar Regions
Weather
Mangroves
Marine Life in Mangroves
Threats to Mangroves
Sea grasses, or Sea Grass Beds
Sea grass Marine Life
Threats to Sea Grasses
Reefs
Coral Reef Formation
Major Types of Reefs
Tropical Coral Reefs
Cold Water Corals
Marine Life in a Coral Reef
Nudibranch
Threats to Coral Reefs
Pelagic Zone
Marine Life in the Pelagic Zone
The Deep Sea
Ocean Depth
Challenges Faced by Marine Life in the Deep Sea
Marine Life Found in the Deep Sea
Anglerfish
Pseudoliparis amblystomopsis
Hydrothermal Vents
What Are Hydrothermal Vents?
Types of Hydrothermal Vents
Where Are Hydrothermal Vents Found?
Kelp Forests
Ecosystem Architecture
Threats to Kelp Forests
Polar Regions
The Chemistry of Seawater and its Physical Properties
Salinity
Geochemistry
Compositional Differences from Freshwater
The Hydrologic Cycle
Human Consumption
Standard
Human Impacts
The physics of Light and Sound Propagation in the Ocean
Sound
Underwater Acoustics
Features of Underwater Sound Propagation
Speed of Sound Underwater
General Frequency Changes Underwater
Scattering and Reflection in Water Surface
Scattering and Reflection on the Seafloor
Application of Underwater Acoustics in Nature
Human Application of Underwater Acoustics
Sonar
Underwater Communication and Data Transfer
Marine Biology
Measurements
Sound speed
Comparison with Airborne Sound Levels
Hearing Sensitivity
Light
The Dynamics of Tides and Major Currents
Physics of Currents
Coastal Currents
Open Ocean Currents
Currents: Measurements and Data
How Life Evolved in the Ocean
Monoplacophora
Agnathan
Doliodus
Cooksonia
Tiktaalik
The Point of Origin
The Ingredients
Animals that Live in these Habitats
Food Webs in the Sea
Level One: Photoautotrophs
Phytoplankton
Sea grasses
Level Two: Herbivores
Level Three: Carnivores
Level Four: Top Predators
Alternative Food Chains
Marine Phytoplankton and Zooplankton
The Importance of Plankton
How does Plankton Underpin the Marine Food Web?
Primary Productivity
Marine Food Webs
Trophic levels
Producers
Consumers
Migration Patterns of Zooplankton
Endogenous Factors
Exogenous Factors
Types of Vertical Migration
Reasons for Vertical Migration
Significance with the Biological Pump
Global Distribution Patterns of Plankton
Differences from Season to Season
Differences from Year to Year
How life is Adapted to the Harsh Marine Environment
Salt Regulation:
Oxygen:
Temperatures:
Water Pressure:
Wind and Waves
Light
The Structures and Adaptations to Marine Living
Mola Mola
Reptiles
Mammals
Animals with Shells
Chiton
Biological Systems
Osmoregulation
Thermoregulation
Aquatic Locomotion of Marine Mammals
Aquatic Locomotion of Fish
Aquatic Locomotion of Marine Reptiles
Terrestrial Locomotion
Respiration
Solutions
Carbon Dioxide Release
Reproduction
Life Cycles
The Marine Life Cycle
Simple versus Complex Life Cycles
A Simple Life Cycle
A Complex Life Cycle
Life Cycle Pressures
Sexual or Asexual?
Seasons and Rhythms
Habitat use by Marine Organisms
Types of Marine Life Cycles
Microscopic Life Cycles
Marine Plant Life Cycles
Bacteria versus Multicellular Organisms
Fish
Fisheries
Pollution
Threats
Eutrophication
Introduced Species
Ocean Acidification
Environmental & Socioeconomic Impacts
The Impacts of Over-fishing
Open Access Fisheries
Poor Fisheries Management
Pirate Fishing
Subsidies
Lack of Protected Areas
Marine Life Imbalance
Decreased Food Security
Economic Loss
This is a non-regulated qualification which is endorsed by Focus Awards under the FQP scheme. They are not nationally recognised qualifications; on successful completion of your studies you will receive a Focus Awards Certificate of Achievement and a certificate of completion from Distance Learning Plus.
Focus Awards is regulated as an Awarding Organisation by Ofqual, the qualification regulators for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Non-regulated qualifications endorsed under the FQP scheme are ideal for professionals required to demonstrate commitment to CPD (Continuous Professional Development), and for those wanting to gain specialist knowledge of a particular subject.
Anybody with a reasonable standard of general education will be able to cope with the academic demands. If you can read and write well enough to complete a job application, and have a good grasp of basic maths (add, subtract and divide) you should have no problems. The learning materials are written in simple everyday language and the answers to your assignments will be completed in the same style. In addition to the comprehensive learning materials provided, you will receive a Study Guide to assist you, and, of course, you will have the support of your tutor.
Your studies will cover the areas of study listed above through detailed exploration of the subject matter. You will also receive tasks and prompts for further personal exploration and research to carry out so that you can gauge how much you have learned. There are plenty of examples to help you but personal research is a prerequisite, so be prepared to use your initiative to fully answer the assignments.
This is a non-regulated qualification endorsed by Focus Awards under the FQP scheme.
Although the learning materials are comprehensive and informative, we do expect you to carry out your own investigations. After all, if you are not prepared to do your own research, you should be asking yourself if this is the right subject choice for you!
Your work is not graded; assignments are simply identified as Pass, Fail or Referred. For assignments not passed at first attempt, your tutor will advise on the improvements to be made to obtain a Pass on a reworking. A certificate of achievement will be issued by Focus Awards on successful completion of all the assignments.
No, this is a non-regulated qualification which has been endorsed by Focus Awards under their FQP scheme
The learning materials and accompanying tasks will help you to develop the necessary knowledge and confidence to successfully complete the tutor marked assignments. The tasks are designed to encourage you to apply your knowledge, and help you to develop relevant research and academic writing skills.
Yes, your tutor will ask you to resubmit your assignment and give you some pointers as to where you could improve.
You email your assignments one at a time for marking. This enables your tutor to properly assess the standard and style of your work for each section, and give you feedback which will be used on your next assignment; a process of continuous improvement. On obtaining feedback and comment you will either move on to the next assignment or review and rework the one you submitted.
You will receive login details to our Online Student Community. Here you will be able to access your course materials, contact your tutor, submit your work, and interact with other learners via the online forums.
Your studies should be completed within 12 months, but can be extended for a small fee if your tutor supports your request. As a rough guide, depending on your circumstances and commitment, you can complete your studies in about 100 study hours. There are no other deadlines to meet.
Although a word count is not given for the tutor marked assignments, it is important that you demonstrate to your tutor that you have fully understood the questions; a comprehensive Study Guide is included with your materials. Many students start slowly at first, but your tutor will give guidance to help and encourage you to improve.
Yes, you will need access to email and the internet to access your materials, submit assignments and do research. Most students also find word-processing their assignments is much more convenient than writing by hand.
All of the learning materials are online. You will receive a login to the online student community when you enrol, where you will be able to access the full set of materials and assessment tasks for your course.
Marine biology is the focus on the study of oceans, seas and all life that lives there (plants and animals). Oceanographers have very similar roles as marine biologists but they solely focus on oceans and seas.
A marine biologists looks closely at plant and animal life within seas and oceans. Much of the work is based on research and findings on investigations or projects that take place. You would be expected to write reports on these findings and publish them.
Employers would expect you to have a first/second class honours degree in maths or a science related subject. You would then have to undertake a Master’s degree in Oceanography or Marine Biology. In order to study at degree level you are usually expected to have five GCSE’s A*-C level including maths, English and science. You would then need three A-Levels one which would have to be science related. Please be aware different universities have different entry requirements.
Starting salaries for marine biologists can be between £18,000 – £25,000 a year.
Experiences marine biologists can earn around £38,000 to £44,000 a year
We have a number of innovative subscription plans available to sort all budgets and support needs.
Simply choose your course and subscription package; your first payment will be taken by credit or debit card when you enrol, with subsequent payments due by monthly direct debit until you complete your studies
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