Who We Are
The USF College of Arts and Sciences is committed to a standard of excellence across the liberal arts and sciences. With more than 900 full-time faculty and staff across 23 academic departments and schools on all three campuses, the college serves 15,000 undergraduate majors and 1,700 graduate students. Our degree programs are structured so students have opportunities for learning both inside the classroom and beyond it.
What We Do
There is a strong need for a well-trained workforce for marine biologist positions in the industry, government and nonprofit organizations. USF’s Department of Integrative Biology offers a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology to address this need, while also offering many opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in the field. As part of this effort, several of our courses teach students the scientific diving skill required to carry out research and monitoring projects in shallow coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs and seagrass beds. These courses are extremely popular, provide students with experiential learning and attract prospective students to USF rather than other institutions.
The Impact
Integrative biology courses that include dive training are pricey and often out of reach for many students. In addition to the standard tuition, special course fees include transportation and access to dive sites, boat charter fees and scuba gear. With your support we aim to build a scholarship fund that will help sponsor more students' ability to participate in our scientific diving courses. Several students who completed these courses found the skills they learned helped them get internships, jobs or opportunities in graduate school.
USF Faculty and Staff: You can give online through this site or complete this payroll deduction form (enter fund #420051, Integrative Biology Operating Fund) and email it to fscampaign@usf.edu.
Spread the Word
We are counting on your help! Make an even bigger impact by sharing your support of this campaign using the social media tools at the top of this page.
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Help our future marine scientists dive deeper! Your #USFGivingWeek support will fund essential dive training that prepares USF marine biology students for real-world research beneath the waves. Make your gift today at usf.to/cas. Thank you and Go Bulls! 🤘
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Choose a giving level
$40
Supporter
You help by providing access to inland dive sites for early training for one student.
$190
Advocate
You support one student by covering their scuba tank fills for the semester.
$300
Champion
You make it possible for one student to participate in a full day of boat diving in the Gulf.
$920
Hero
You empower our scientific divers to explore and discover safely by funding the crucial annual maintenance of all our scuba gear.
$
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