Learning Outcomes

Degree Requirements (30 Hours)

General requirements for degrees in Marine Science are the same as those established by the Graduate School. The M.S. program of study and other specific degree requirements are planned in consultation with the graduate student, the graduate student’s advisory committee, the Marine Science Graduate Studies Committee, and the Marine Science Program Director.

The M.S. degree requires the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours, including 12 hours of core courses and one additional course numbered 700 or above (other than 799, Thesis Preparation). The remaining credits may be earned in courses numbered above 500, including 6 hours of 799.

M.S. students must achieve and maintain an overall GPA of 3.00 on all courses taken for graduate credit and complete each of the core courses with a minimum grade of B.

A written thesis is required of all Masters students. Students must successfully defend their thesis in a final Comprehensive Examination according to the calendar approved by the Graduate School. As a portion of the comprehensive assessment of the thesis, the material will be presented in a public seminar. This presentation must take place no earlier than sixty (60) days after successful MS Thesis Research Plan presentation. The student’s major professor must notify the Graduate Studies Director of an impending defense in writing (an email is sufficient) not less than 14 days prior to the scheduled defense date. This notification must include an abstract of the thesis. The defense must be publicly announced not less than seven days prior to the defense and is open to all faculty and students. At the end of the seminar, the audience will be excused and the defense will continue with only the candidate, the advisory committee and interested members of the faculty present. The thesis advisor must inform the Graduate Studies Director via appropriate form when the thesis is satisfactorily defended and accepted by the committee.