Marine Studies - Oceanography Concentration (MS)

Requirements for the Degrees

All students in the master’s program are required to complete a minimum of 30 graduate credits. A course outside of the Oceanography program and the student’s area of concentration is also required. All students must write a thesis. Students may bypass the master’s degree and work directly toward the PhD upon petition. Requirements for the PhD degree are similar to those for the master’s degree, but are more intensive. In addition to the required coursework, written and oral qualifying examinations are required before students are admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree.

Required courses (30 credits minimum):

Any two of the following core courses:¹

MAST 602 - Physical Oceanography (3cr.) or equivalent
MAST 627 - Biological Oceanography (3cr.) or equivalent
MAST 637 - Geological Oceanography (3cr.) or equivalent or
MAST 646 - Chemical Oceanography (3cr.) or equivalent

Oceanography Seminar or equivalent

MAST 853 - Oceanography Seminar (1 to 12cr.) or equivalent (must be taken at least one semester during each year of residence.)²[1 cr each]

At least three credits of 800-level courses

At least three credits of 800-level courses other than courses used to meet seminar and core required courses must be completed.

One three credit course

One three credit course in Marine Policy or one three credit course outside of the student’s declared subdiscipline of interest (not including courses taken to meet the program core course requirement) as approved by the advisor and the program director must be completed.

Additional courses required by the student’s advisory committee

Student will work with his/her advisors to determine what additional coursework must be completed and how many research credits must be taken to account for the remaining credit hours for a minimum total of 30 prior to graduation.

Master’s Thesis

MAST 869 - Master’s Thesis (1 to 6cr.) 6 credits

Minimum credits needed for degree completion: 30 credits

¹Equivalency previously taken or alternative courses is to be determined by current instructor and approved by the Associate Director of the program. A higher level course may be substituted for these courses on approval of the advisor and committee.

²An alternative seminar may be substituted for MAST 853 in request of the student and with permission of advisor and the Associate Director of the program.