Master of Arts in Marine Science

Requirements for the MA degree in Marine Science:

• Four-course core: MSC 501, MSC 502, MSC 503 and MSC 504.

• A total of 30 semester hours graduate-level work (500 or above) with approval of the student’s graduate advisor.

• For six of the 30 semester hours, choose one of the following two options:

  •  A field and/or laboratory experience of not less than six semester hours approved by the graduate advisor.

  • Six credit hours of residential summer, intensive field or laboratory experience taken as MSC 595 (3 weeks, 3 SH) and MSC 695 (3 weeks, 3 SH) to be completed over one or two summer periods.

• A written comprehensive examination to be taken at the completion of all degree coursework.

• The remaining 24 semester hours may be fulfilled with completion of courses offered in an online or in-person setting, or a combination of both.

• We are now offering a low-residency option for students in our MA in MSC program. This option allows students to take up to 24 credit hours of the degree online. The only credits that will need to be taken in person are the six credit hours of field/lab experience. Students will have the option to take these in-person lab courses during the traditional 14-week semester or in three-week accelerated summer sessions (in one or two sessions).