Ph.D. Program
The marine sciences program offers courses and opportunities for research in four main areas: biological, chemical, physical, and geological oceanography. Each student receives formal training in each of these disciplines while concentrating in a specific research area. The requirements and procedures that follow are specifically for the Department of Marine Sciences. However, the general rules and policies of the Graduate School also apply.
Core Courses
A field of specialization is required of all candidates for the Ph.D. degree. All
students must have formal course work in all of the core marine science subdisciplines.
This requirement is normally met by completion of four (4) core courses (see below)
and seminar, representing eighteen (18) credit hours.
The four (4) core courses consist of four (4) semester hours each for a total of 16 semester hours in physical (MAS 601), chemical (MAS 602), geological (MAS 603), and
biological oceanography (MAS 604), or equivalent transfer courses.
Other Required Courses
At least 46 semester hours in courses beyond the baccalaureate degree are required
in addition to the core courses, at least half of which must be taken in formal courses
exclusive of directed studies or directed research. No more than 18 hours of dual-listed courses (400- and 500- level listing for the
same course) may be counted toward meeting the minimum hours required for a degree.
Graduate students will only receive graduate credit for the 500 level version of dual-listed
courses.
At least 12 semester hours of dissertation course credit is required. Not more than
15 hours in this category can be counted toward the minimum requirement of 60 semester
hours.
At least two (2) semester hours of seminar (two, one (1) semester hour enrollments)
are required.
| Core Courses (4 of 4) | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MAS 601 | (4 cr) |
| MAS 602 | (4 cr) |
| MAS 603 | (4 cr) |
| MAS 604 | (4 cr) |
| Seminar | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Seminar I | (1 cr) |
| Seminar II | (1 cr) |
Marine Sciences Electives (as determined by advisory committee, but at least six (23) semester hours)
| Electives | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Directed Studies | (8 cr) (maximum) |
| Dissertation (1-5 per semester) | (12 cr) (15 cr maximum) |
Comprehensive Examinations
Written and oral examinations in marine sciences are required of all students seeking
the Ph.D. degree in marine sciences. These examinations are given after at least two
full years but before five full years of graduate study are completed. The written
comprehensive examination is taken first and normally is more general in scope than
the oral comprehensive examination. The examinations may be taken no more than twice.
Candidacy
A doctoral student is admitted to candidacy upon passing both the written and oral
comprehensive examinations and after completing all formal course work requirements.
The doctoral candidate is a student who has fulfilled all preliminary requirements
for the Ph.D. and has only completion of the dissertation research as the remaining
requirement.
Defense Of Dissertation
The final oral defense of the dissertation is scheduled after the dissertation is
completed except for such revisions as may be necessary as a result of the defense.
The final oral defense will not be given earlier than one semester after admission
to candidacy and not before all required course work has been completed or is currently
in progress.