Marine Science
College of Science and Engineering
Dean: James C. Kelley
Department of Biology
HH 534
415-338-1548
Chair: John Hafernik
Graduate Coordinator: Thomas Niesen
Program
M.S. in Marine Science
Program Scope
This degree program, offered by the Department of Biology in cooperation with Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML), provides the opportunity for students to acquire a practical and theoretical education in the marine sciences to prepare them for careers as marine specialists, scientists, and teachers. The program at MLML provides extensive field and laboratory work for advanced study in the marine sciences, which cannot be duplicated on individual California State University consortium campuses.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MARINE SCIENCE
Admission to the Program
The Master of Science in Marine Science is administered through MLML and the Department of Biology at San Francisco State University. For application forms, please contact the Chair, Department of Biology, at San Francisco State University or the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, P.O. Box 450, Moss Landing, California 95039. The prospective student will be considered for admission to conditionally classified graduate status on this campus by the normal admission procedures. Final determination of admission is made by MLML. See "General Admission Requirements."
Fully Classified Status in the Program
A conditionally classified student may become fully classified in the marine science program as set forth in the following steps:
- Obtain an adviser both at MLML and at the Department of Biology at SFSU. Each new student in the master's program at MLML will be assigned an adviser who may or may not be the final thesis adviser.
- Make up any course work deficiencies in either the Department of Biology at SFSU and/or MLML. MSCI 304 (MS 104), Quantitative Marine Science, and three of the following five courses are prerequisites for fully classified graduate standing: MSCI 303 (MS 103), Marine Ecology; MSCI 341 (MS 141), Geological Oceanography; MSCI 342 (MS 142), Physical Oceanography; MSCI 343 (MS 143), Chemical Oceanography; and MSCI 344 (MS 144), Biological Oceanography. These courses may be waived by the graduate committee upon certification that equivalent courses have been satisfactorily completed. MSCI 304 (MS 104) cannot be counted towards the 30-unit degree requirement. Moss Landing Marine Laboratories catalog numbers are listed in parentheses following SFSU catalog numbers.
- Students must either pass a written qualifying examination or pass the courses required above with a grade of "B" or better. Students substituting equivalent courses taken elsewhere must petition to have the courses accepted or take an examination regardless of the grade(s) received in these equivalent courses. The examination, designed by the faculty of MLML, will normally be taken at the end of the student's first academic semester. The exam may be repeated once
and must be passed before the student may be classified.
Advancement to Candidacy
In order to be advanced to candidacy the student must have:
- Attained full classified standing.
- Selected a thesis problem and a thesis advisory committee. The thesis committee will be composed of at least three members, including one faculty member from MLML (who is ordinarily the thesis adviser) and one faculty member from the Department of Biology at SFSU. The other member(s) of the thesis committee may be from MLML, SFSU, or elsewhere, with the approval of the thesis adviser and the Department of Biology, SFSU.
- Filed a Graduate Approved Program after completing approximately half of the program course requirements, and have it approved by the major adviser, graduate coordinator, and the Dean of the Graduate Division.
San Francisco State University students at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories must continue to follow university enrollment regulations and use San Francisco State University Marine Science course numbers.
Program
A student becomes eligible for the master's degree in Marine Science after the following requirements have been satisfied:
- The student has been advanced to candidacy.
- The student has satisfied MLML's requirements for the degree.
- The student has completed the following curriculum requirements:
A minimum total of fifteen required units of 700 and 800 level courses (a minimum of 30 total units), including two units of MSCI 885, MSCI 886, or MSCI 887, and four units of MSCI 898.
A total of not more than fifteen units of upper division courses as approved by the thesis committee.
- The student must have submitted a thesis approved by the thesis advisory committee. The thesis must conform to the regulations set forth by the Graduate Division, SFSU.
- The student must successfully give an oral thesis defense in the form of a seminar open to the general public. The thesis advisory committee must be present, may require further oral questioning after the seminar, and will evaluate the success of the presentation.
Courses Acceptable
Elective courses that may be used to satisfy requirements are listed below. Other electives including courses from SFSU may be included in consultation with the thesis advisory committee. The combination of required units (seminar and thesis) and elective units must total at least 30 units.
SFSU # MLML #
Upper Division
MSCI 305 MS 105
MSCI 312 MS 112
MSCI 313 MS 113
MSCI 324 MS 124
MSCI 325 MS 125
MSCI 331 MS 131
MSCI 361 MS 161
MSCI 373 MS 173
MSCI 374 MS 174
MSCI 375 MS 175
MSCI 377 MS 177
Graduate Level
MSCI 702 MS 202
MSCI 704 MS 204
MSCI 711 MS 211
MSCI 712 MS 212
MSCI 722 MS 222
MSCI 731 MS 231
MSCI 733 MS 233
MSCI 734 MS 234
MSCI 744 MS 244
MSCI 745 MS 245
MSCI 751 MS 251
MSCI 761 MS 261
MSCI 771 MS 271
MSCI 772 MS 272
MSCI 774 MS 274
MSCI 780 MS 280
MSCI 885 MS 285
MSCI 886 MS 286
MSCI 887 MS 287
MSCI 897 MS 298
MSCI 898 MS 299