Introduction
The program leading to a doctorate in ocean sciences is designed around a core training in oceanography for all students, supplemented and focused by advanced training in oceanography and in the traditional disciplines—biology, chemistry, Earth sciences, and physics—as chosen by the student and their advisers. The core training is provided through courses in ocean sciences; a subset of which is taken by all students in the first two years, and reinforced by attendance of department seminars throughout the program. Preparation also includes upper-division/graduate courses in ocean sciences and in the specialty discipline, graduate seminars, independent study research credits, giving research talks, and a minimum requirement of one quarter as a teaching assistant. There is no formal language requirement. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program may receive a master's degree en route to the Ph.D after meeting the requirements for the M.S. II and successful completion of the Departmental Exam.
A scheduling meeting in the first quarter of enrollment is used to map out the course program in the first year. The course program is determined by a faculty advisory committee in consultation with the student and courses are drawn from Ocean Sciences and other science departments (e.g., Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Physics). A departmental oral examination covering material from the core courses is taken at the end of the student’s first year in the program, typically during finals week of spring quarter. The purpose of this examination is to ensure that the doctoral student candidate has acquired sufficient fundamental knowledge of oceanography to proceed toward the doctoral degree.
A qualifying examination, requiring a ~15-page NSF-style written research proposal covering three chapters, is to be defended orally in front of the student's qualifying examination committee. The dissertation will demonstrate original thought and research. This examination is recommended to be taken during the fall quarter of the third year, and no later than the end of the spring quarter of the third year.
Sample Pathways
The pathways within the ocean sciences Ph.D. program are differentiated from related degrees in the traditional disciplines by their focus on global-scale problems and interactions, a focus on the ocean, and their inherently interdisciplinary approach. Interdisciplinary projects across and between pathways are encouraged, as are interactions with faculty in related departments.
Biological Oceanography
This area of study involves the interactions of organisms with their chemical and physical environments. It includes research on the physiology and ecology of organisms, but differs from marine biology in its focus on the oceanographic setting of the organism in relationship to, for example, biogeochemical cycling and the effects of ocean currents on distributions of organisms.
Chemical Oceanography
The measurement of chemical distributions in the sea to understand fundamental ocean processes is the focus of this area of study. Research includes development of analytical techniques, measurement of inorganic and organic species and isotopes in marine particles, seawater and sediments, and investigation of marine biogeochemical processes using analytical and modeling approaches.
Geological Oceanography
Paleoceanography, paleoclimatology, and sediment geochemistry are the focus in this pathway. Research areas include the history of global geochemical cycles and composition of the ocean on various timescales, the fate and diagenesis of materials in sediments and their contribution to the paleoceanographic record, understanding ocean and climate history by the use of records of stable isotopes and trace elements, and paleoclimate modeling.
Physical Oceanography
The physics and dynamics of the ocean and atmosphere are the main aspects of this program. Research includes observational, computational, theoretical, and experimental physical oceanography, geophysical fluid dynamics, ocean acoustics, dynamical meteorology, climate, and global change.
Advancement to Candidacy
Course Requirements
To introduce students to the breadth and depth of the field of ocean sciences, students will be required to complete the following.
The four core ocean sciences courses are expected to be completed in the first year of the program prior to taking the departmental oral examination:
Three Graduate-Level or Upper-Division Elective courses:
A minimum of three graduate-level or upper-division elective courses is required to provide depth in the chosen area of emphasis or supporting disciplines, one of which must be a 5-credit graduate-level course in statistics/data analysis, such as OCEA 260 (Introductory Data Analysis in the Ocean and Earth Sciences) or OCEA 267 (Applied Environmental Time Series Analysis). These courses are selected in consultation with the student's adviser and the department's graduate advising committee. A maximum of one course may be a graduate-level seminar (OCEA 290), and at least two courses must be graduate or upper-division undergraduate lecture courses.
Attendance in the following course is required each quarter of enrollment:
Independent Studies or Thesis Research:
A minimum of three courses in independent studies (OCEA 297, before advancing to candidacy), or thesis research (OCEA 299, after advancing to candidacy) under the direction of an adviser. Students beyond their first year will usually take 10 or 15 credits of independent study or thesis research each quarter.
The following course is taken prior to, or concurrent with, being a teaching assistant
Recommended for fall quarter of the first year; generally offered during the fall quarter each year.
En-Route Master’s Requirements
Ph.D. students may request an en-route (Plan II, non thesis) master's degree after successfully passing the Departmental Exam and completing equivalent course requirements for the Plan II M.S. degree. These requirements are identical to the Ph.D. requirements other then the required course credits (40 credits for the en-route M.S.).
Applying for the En-Route M.S.
The en-route M.S. can be requested at any time once the requirements are met, but would typically occur either after completion of course requirements, or prior to the Qualifying Examination. Once requirements for the degree have been met, including approval from their academic adviser and the Ocean Sciences Department, Ph.D. students may apply for the degree by the deadline for the quarter in which they would like to receive their degree. Deadlines are published in the Academic and Administrative Calendar each year.
Teaching Requirement
Teaching experience is satisfied by one quarter of teaching assistant experience in ocean sciences or related departments at any time in their Ph.D.
Pre-Qualifying Requirements
Ph.D. students must pass a department examination typically taken at the end of their first year. The purpose of this exam is to ensure that the Ph.D. student has acquired sufficient fundamental knowledge of oceanography before developing their thesis proposal and taking their qualifying examination.
After successful completion of the Departmental Exam, Ph.D. students meeting the requirements for the M.S. II track are allowed to petition for the en route M.S. II degree.
Qualifying Examination
Ph.D. students must pass a departmental qualifying examination to advance to candidacy. Students will submit a written research proposal to their qualifying examination committee, then defend this proposal orally before the committee.
Dissertation
Dissertation
The Ph.D. dissertation, demonstrating original thought and research, must be written, presented in an open seminar, and defended to the student's dissertation reading committee. It is intended to help guide and evaluate the student's program, study, and progress. The Ph.D. dissertation, satisfying all format and content requirements, must be submitted to the Graduate Division before the deadline in which all degree requirements are to be completed within the term of receiving the degree.
Dissertation Defense
The Ph.D. dissertation defense is composed of two parts: one part is the open presentation of the dissertation; the second part is a meeting, following the presentation, with the dissertation reading committee to determine completion of degree requirements. The Ph.D. dissertation defense must be presented before the deadline in which all degree requirements are to be completed within the term of receiving the degree.
Academic Progress
Ph.D. students meet with their primary research advisor every fall to discuss mutual expectations using the Annual Student/Sponsor Yearly Discussion form. They also meet with a member of the Ocean Sciences Department's advisory committee once each fall and spring to check on progress on program requirements (Mandatory Advising Meetings). Finally, in addition, during spring quarter each year, beginning with the second year and continuing until degree completion, students must meet with their thesis committee members and provide a research-focused annual academic progress report to the department. In the year a student completes the qualifying exam with their committee, the exam can take the place of a committee meeting.
Applying for Graduation
Once requirements for degree have been met, including approval from their academic adviser and the Ocean Sciences Department, Ph.D. students may apply for the degree by the deadline for the quarter in which they would like to receive their degree. Deadlines are published in the Academic and Administrative Calendar each year.