Marine Science

Overview

The Marine Science MSc program offered at University of South Florida allows students to elect a concentration in biological, chemical, geological, or physical oceanography, or Marine Resource Assessment through course work and thesis research. CMS graduates are well prepared for positions in academia, industry, government agencies, and non‐governmental organizations at local to international levels.

Concentrations

• Biological Oceanography

Biological Oceanographers seek to understand the life histories and population dynamics of marine organisms and how they interact with their environment over space and time. Scientists in the College of Marine Science study the full breadth of biological oceanography including microbiology, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthos, coral reefs, fishes, and marine mammals.

• Chemical Oceanography

Chemical oceanographers seek to understand the ways in which various chemical forms are cycled within the oceans, and the reactions that influence biogeochemical cycles. Ocean chemists improve our understanding of the basic conditions under which ocean life thrives in seawater, and help predict the effects of anthropogenic and natural climate change on ocean composition. 

• Geological Oceanography

Geological oceanographers in the College of Marine Science conduct research from the continental margins to the deep-ocean seafloor. Their work extends from modern environments to millions of years present to understand and predict Earth surface and interior processes.

• Physical Oceanography

Physical oceanography involves the study of water movement in the ocean. Energy is introduced to the ocean through wind and solar heating, and these combine with the rotation of the Earth and gravitational effects to drive ocean circulation, tides, and waves. Our physical oceanographers also investigate how the Earth’s oceans are directly coupled with the atmosphere, from local weather patterns to the global climate system. Physical oceanographers in the CMS carry out research on a variety of topics using the latest technology.

• Marine Resource Assessment

The College of Marine Science offers an interdisciplinary concentration in Marine Resource Assessment (MRA) as part of its M.S. and Ph.D. majors. This concentration provides training in the emerging field of ecosystem‐based management. Its mission is to train a new generation of scientists that can effectively address issues concerning the sustainability of the world’s living natural resources.