The Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science offers two graduate degrees: The Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Science. The Masters program is very small and by thesis only. Most students enter the Ph. D. program without a Masters degree.

Requirements for the M.S. degree in Marine Science

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree is viewed as a goal in its own right, rather than as a stepping stone to a Ph.D. The M.S. degree in Marine Science is by thesis only. The M.S. requirements are designed to provide maximum flexibility to accommodate individual student interests while also assuring a basic level of competence within Marine Science. M.S. candidates follow an integrated course of study recommended by their thesis advisor and thesis committee. The thesis committee will be nominated by the end of the first year in consultation with the student and the thesis advisor/major professor. It will consist of 3 faculty from the Interdepartmental Program, with the major professor serving as Chair. The requirements for the M.S. degree in Marine Science include:

1. Completion of the 4 course, Marine Science core curriculum:
   EEMB 243 (Biological Oceanography)
   GEOL 266(Chemical Oceanography)
   GEOL 276 (Geological Oceanography)
   GEOG 263 (Introduction to Physical Oceanography)
2. Twenty-four additional units of graduate and upper-division coursework in the student's area of interest, of which no more than 8 may be courses numbered 596 and above.
3. Presentation of one seminar per year at the Marine Science Graduate Seminar (MARSC 595)
4. Submission of a satisfactory thesis.
5. Presentation of a research seminar in open forum at the completion of the thesis.

Requirements for the Ph.D. in Marine Science

The student must demonstrate by coursework and a written and oral examination superior competence in the field of specialization, broad knowledge of the field of marine science, and satisfactory knowledge of sciences other than marine sciences that are relevant to the dissertation topic. Ph.D. candidates will follow an integrated course of study recommended by their thesis advisor and dissertation committee. The dissertation committee will be nominated by the end of the second year in consultation with the student and the thesis advisor/major professor. It will consist of 3 faculty from the Interdepartmental Program, with the major professor serving as Chair. The requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Marine Science include:

1. Completion of the 4 course, Marine Science core curriculum:
   EEMB 243 (Biological Oceanography)
   GEOL 266 (Chemical Oceanography)
   GEOL 276 (Geological Oceanography)
   GEOG 263 (Introduction to Physical Oceanography)
2. Completion of 16 units of upper-division and graduate level courses in marine science and in the student's area of specialty, exclusive of courses numbered 596 and higher.
3. Presentation of one seminar per year in the Marine Science Graduate Seminar (MARSC 595).
4. Satisfactory performance on a written qualifying exam covering a broad synthesis of marine science at the end of the first year. All students will take the same exam.
5. Satisfactory performance on an oral qualifying exam administered by the student's dissertation committee. The exam will include the student's area of specialty and the dissertation prospectus. It should be taken by the end of the third year of study, at the latest. Students petition to be advanced to candidacy after passing this exam.
6. Submission of a satisfactory dissertation.
7. Presentation of a research seminar in open forum at the completion of the dissertation.

Interdepartmental Graduate Program in Marine Science
University of California Santa Barbara
Last Modified 9/17/07