Program Details

The Applied Coastal & Ocean Sciences doctoral program is based at the Center for Marine Science (CMS), which is comprised of over 100 faculty members across several departments working in marine-related areas of:

• aquaculture & fisheries
• marine & coastal processes
• drug discovery & natural products
• marine biotechnology
• conservation & ecosystem recovery
• genomics
• microbiology
• ocean observing & sensor development
• climate change & coastal hazards
• modeling & prediction
• sea level rise research & mitigation
• remote sensing & geospatial studies
• ecosystem function & organismal adaptation
• water quality & pollution
• coastal & ocean policy
• blue economy

learn more about cms

Sample curricula
for student entering with M.S. in science and engineering

FALL AY1

• CHM 575 Chemical Oceanography
  (if needed as deficiency) REQUIRED, 3 credit hours
• GLY 550 Marine Geology
  (if needed as deficiency), REQUIRED, 3 credit hours
• 500-level elective
  (could be quantitative methods/stats, or in spring), REQUIRED/ELECTIVE, 3 credit hours
• CHM 576 Methods in Seawater Analysis
• Field course. Elective or field-based courses such as CHM 576 Methods in Seawater Analysis, GEO 503 Advanced Field Methods, MSC 526 Cruise or Field Sampling, other courses as relevant. All students must have field work as part of their programs through dissertation research and/or field-based courses. Consult with program director if in question.

Cumulative credits: 12

SPRING AY1

• BIO 564 Biological Oceanography
  (if needed as deficiency; could be taken in fall), REQUIRED, 3 credit hours
• PHY 575 Physical Oceanography
  (elective) REQUIRED, 3 credit hours
• MSC 595 Grad Seminar in Marine Science
  REQUIRED, 1 credit hour
  
  

After deficiencies, Ph.D, would start roughly here +/- a few credits – Needs 40

• 500-level elective in quant methods/stats
  (e.g. BIO 515 Intro Biostat) REQUIRED/ELECTIVE, 3 credit hours

Reasonable # of credits taken by end of AY1: 21-24

Written comprehensive exam mid-May (if pass, move into Ph.D. track. If fail, remediate or dismiss)

FALL AY2

• MSC 601-00x Advanced Topics in Coastal and Ocean Science (1/2)
  REQUIRED, 2 credit hours
• Elective discipline (assuming a 1 credit lab in some course)
  ELECTIVE, 4 credit hours
• MSC 611 Topics in ACOS (career readiness course 1/2)
  REQUIRED, 1 credit hour
• MBA 552 Commercialization and Venture Management
  REQUIRED, 3 credit hours

Cumulative credits: 32

SPRING AY2

• MSC 601-00x Advanced Topics in Coastal and Ocean Science (2/2)
  REQUIRED, 2 credit hours
• MSC 698 or other elective
  ELECTIVE, 2 credit hours
• 600-level elective
  ELECTIVE, 3 credit hours
• MSC 610 Research Assessment and Triage
  REQUIRED, 1 credit hour
• MSC 611 Topics in ACOS (career readiness course 2/2)
  REQUIRED, 1 credit hour

Cumulative credits: 41

FALL AY3

• 600-level elective
  ELECTIVE, 3 credit hours

Cumulative credits: 44

SPRING AY3

• MSC 699 Dissertation
  REQUIRED, 3 credit hours
• MSC 698
  ELECTIVE, 2 credit hours

Cumulative credits: 49

FALL AY4

• MSC 699 Dissertation
  REQUIRED, 3 credit hours
• MSC 698
  ELECTIVE, 2 credit hours

Cumulative credits: 54

SPRING AY4

• MSC 699 Dissertation
  REQUIRED, 3 credit hours

Cumulative credits: 57

FALL AY5

• MSC 699 Dissertation
  REQUIRED, 3 credit hours

Cumulative credits: 60

SPRING AY5

• MSC 700 GRC
  0 credit hours

Wondering how much it will cost to earn your ACOS Ph.D.? Learn more about the estimated annual cost for graduate students per academic year.  

estimated cost of attendance

If you have questions about tuition and fees for Ph.D. students, please contact the ACOS program coordinator.