Marine Science, M.S.

Marine Science (M.S.) 45 units

Program Description

This degree program, offered through the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 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 Moss Landing provides interdepartmental work and a field facility for advanced study in the marine sciences which cannot be duplicated on the Cal State East Bay campus.

Admission to the Program

The master’s degree program is administered through either the Department of Biological Sciences or Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, depending on the choice of the student. The prospective student must meet the admission  requirements of either of these departments. Refer to descriptions of these department graduate programs for complete information. Students will be accepted as “Conditionally Classified Graduate” students in the department of their choice upon completion of the admission requirements. The student will become a “Classified Graduate” student upon completion of MLML’s requirements (below).

MLML Classification in the Program

A “Conditionally Classified Graduate” student may become a fully “Classified Graduate” student in the marine science program as set forth in the following steps:

1. Obtain an adviser at MLML and one from the science department at the home campus. Each new student in the master’s program at MLML will be assigned an advisor who may or may not be the final thesis advisor.
2. Make up any coursework deficiencies in either the home campus department (see their regulations) and/or at MLML. MSC 4104 - Quantitative Marine Science, and three of the following five courses are prerequisites for “Classified Graduate” standing: MSC 4103 - Marine Ecology, 4141 Geological Oceanography, 4142 Physical Oceanography, 4143 Chemical Oceanography, and MSC 4144 - Biological Oceanography. These courses may be waived by the graduate committee upon certification that equivalent courses have been satisfactorily completed. MSC 4104 - Quantitative Marine Science cannot be counted toward the 45 unit degree requirement.
3. Students who do not receive a grade of “B” or better in the courses described in (2) above taken at MLML, or who wish to substitute equivalent courses taken elsewhere regardless of the grade(s) received, must petition to have the courses accepted, or must pass a written qualifying examination given by the faculty at MLML. The examination will substitute for any equivalent examination given by home campus departments. There is no official time limit, but the exam should be taken as soon as possible; only a limited number of units taken while in “Conditionally Classified” status can be counted toward the degree. The exam may be repeated once, and must be passed before the student can be “Classified.” The examination will consist of a choice of five out of six questions designed to test knowledge of the concepts and principles of oceanography, marine ecology, and statistics as covered in the courses listed under (2) above. It will be used to evaluate the student’s background in these subject areas and the ability to write well and formulate answers logically. Each answer will be graded “pass” or “fail” by two faculty members (a third faculty member will resolve disagreements) on accuracy, content, and ability to clearly communicate. For a reading list covering the required material and further details concerning the exam, see MLML’s Assistant to the Director.
4. Students must have satisfied the University Writing Skills Requirement according to Cal State East Bay standards. For information on meeting the University Writing Skills Requirement, see the Testing Office website at www.csueastbay.edu/testing or call 510.885.3661.

Advancement to Candidacy

In order to be Advanced to Candidacy, the student must have:

1. Attained “Classified Graduate” standing;
2. Selected a thesis problem and a thesis advisor committee. The thesis committee will be composed of at least three members, including one faculty member from MLML (who is ordinarily the thesis advisor) and, at the discretion of the home campus, a representative from that campus. The other member or members of the thesis committee may be from MLML, the home campus, or elsewhere, with the approval of the thesis advisor.

Course Descriptions

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Other Graduate & Post-Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

In addition to departmental requirements, every student must also satisfy the university requirements for graduation as described in the Graduate/Post-Baccalaureate Admission and Degree Information  chapter in this catalog. These include the 32-unit residence requirement, the five year rule on currency of subject matter, the minimum number of units of 6000-level courses, the 3.00 grade point average, and the University Writing Skills Requirement. For information on meeting the University Writing Skills Requirement, see the Testing Office website at www.csueastbay.edu/testing or call 510.885.3661.