Marine Science

Degrees Offered

Master of Arts
Doctor of Philosophy

Facilities for Graduate Work

Facilities for graduate work in marine science are located in Austin and at the shoreside laboratory of the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas. The institute is located on the Aransas Pass ship channel among the dunes at the tip of Mustang Island, with easy access to bays, beaches, and the Gulf of Mexico. Environmental systems nearby include the hypersaline Laguna Madre, seagrass meadows, fresh and salt water marshes, and the continental shelf. The Port Aransas facility offers a specialized library, classrooms, laboratories, and a flowing seawater system. The institute's primary research vessels are the 105-foot RV Longhorn and the 57-foot RV Katy. In addition there is a fleet of small boats and a pool of four-wheel-drive vehicles for work in and around shallow bay systems. There is a wide assortment of modern research equipment typically found in university laboratories. The shoreside research and teaching facilities also include a cafeteria, dormitories, and graduate student apartments.

Graduate students take part of their coursework in Austin, including supporting work in other natural sciences. One academic year is normally spent on the main campus. Most students then reside in Port Aransas while they undertake thesis and dissertation research at the Marine Science Institute. These students also take additional instruction at the institute, including organized courses, seminars, and training cruises.

Areas of Study

Graduate study in marine science is offered in the areas of marine biology/ecology, marine chemistry, and marine geology. Each of these broad core areas includes specialized topics. Further information is available from the graduate adviser.

Graduate Studies Committee

The following faculty members served on the Graduate Studies Committee in the spring semester 1998-1999.

Admission Requirements

The student's undergraduate training should include twenty-four semester hours in one of the life or physical sciences. At least twelve of these hours must be in upper-division work. Adequate preparation in mathematics is expected of all students.

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts

For the Master of Arts degree, students must complete at least thirty semester hours of acceptable graduate work in marine science and related natural sciences, including Marine Science 698. Each student must complete the three core courses listed below. Six to nine hours of graduate credit in the natural sciences, outside of the area of specialization selected by the student, make up the minor or supporting area. These may include courses from the other core areas of marine science.

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctoral candidates must complete the three core courses listed below, for a total of twelve hours. While additional courses are not specified, each student is expected to complete advanced courses as required by the Graduate Studies Committee or the supervising committee.

Students are expected to fulfill all requirements for candidacy by the end of the second year. This involves, as a minimum, completion of the required core courses, passage of a qualifying examination to demonstrate competence in the core areas, passage of a comprehensive examination to demonstrate a mastery of the chosen area of specialization, and the selection of a dissertation committee and supervising professor.

Further information on graduate work and on available fellowships and assistantships may be found in departmental brochures and by consultation with the graduate adviser.

Core Courses

Marine Science 481C, Marine Ecosystems Dynamics

Marine Science 482C, Marine Biogeochemistry

Marine Science 483C, Adaptations to the Marine Environment

For More Information

Location: 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, phone (361) 749-6721, fax (361) 749-6777

Mailing address: Graduate Program, University of Texas Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, Texas 78373-5015

E-mail: gradinfo@utmsi.utexas.edu

URL: http://www.utmsi.utexas.edu/

Marine science courses: MNS

Contents |  Chapter 1 |  Chapter 2 |  Chapter 3
Chapter 4 |  Chapter 5 |  Appendix

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