Institute of Marine and Coastal Studies "IMCS" <imcs barney nova fred edu>

The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 90 credits beyond the baccalaureate. At least 48 credits must consist of dissertation research and 42 credits must be in upper-level course work, which usually consists of tutorial studies with the major professor. The student also must successfully complete the Ph.D. comprehensive examination (normally taken after the majority of the coursework has been completed and within 1.5 years of starting the Ph.D. program) and defend the completed dissertation before the committee, interested faculty, and students. The student's Ph.D. committee consists of at least four people. The major professor must be either from the Oceanographic Center or from another center within Nova Southeastern University. At least two of the committee members must be Oceanographic Center faculty. It is recommended that the fourth committee member be a suitably qualified external expert in the chosen area of research. The committee monitors all phases of the candidate's progress. Students are expected to complete the program in nine years or less, a minimum of three years of which must be in residence.

The Ph.D. degree consists of a program of upper-level course work and original research on a selected topic of importance in the ocean sciences. Courses consist of required general core courses as well as tutorial studies with the major professor. Applicants may be fully or provisionally accepted. If applicants do not make minimum provisional guidelines, the applications may be rejected out of hand and not circulated through the Admissions Committee. For Ph.D. applicants, previous degree(s) should be in the area of mathematics (for physical oceanography) or an appropriate area of the natural sciences (for marine biology). A master's degree in biological oceanography, biology or marine biology, or a related science is preferred, especially for the biological sciences Ph.D.

Ph.D. applicants should have obtained agreement from a faculty member to serve as major professor. For the biological sciences, Ph.D. applicants should have a completed draft dissertation proposal that must be submitted with the application. The proposal content will be a major factor in acceptance.

Master's Degree Programs In:
	Marine Biology Coastal Zone Management Marine Environmental Science Joint MS Degrees

Online Application Information

Each quarter, graduate classes typically meet one evening per week in a three hour session. Exceptions are field courses which usually entail seven days of intensive study. Thesis and capstone tracks are offered for all programs; these are explained below. Note, both tracks lead to equivalent MS degrees.

All students enter the programs in the capstone review paper track. Conversion to the research thesis track is possible only after agreement with a major professor and completion by the student of an approved thesis proposal. The capstone option is appropriate for all three MS degrees (marine biology, marine environmental science, and coastal zone management). On the other hand, the thesis option is best suited to marine biology majors; only in exceptional cases can a bench research topic be carried out as a part of the marine environmental science and coastal zone management degrees.

3.1.1. Capstone Track

The capstone review paper track requires a minimum of 45 credits, including 13 three-credit courses and a six-credit capstone review paper. Commencement of the MS capstone review paper may begin only after the MS student has an approved proposal. An approved proposal must be signed off on by the student's committee and submitted to the Graduate Program Office before registering for capstone credits. The completed capstone paper is defended openly before the student's advisory committee and interested faculty and students. The capstone review committee consists of at least two members, one of which must be a faculty member of the Oceanographic Center.

3.1.2. Thesis Track

The thesis track requires a minimum of 39 credits, including 10 three-credit courses and at least nine credits of master's thesis research. The number of thesis research credits above the minimum is dependent upon the length of time needed to complete the thesis research, which may be more than a minimum of three terms. Commencement of the MS thesis may begin only after the MS student has an approved proposal. An approved proposal must be signed off on by the student's committee and submitted to the Graduate Program Office before registering for thesis credits. Once thesis credits have been started, students must continue to register until the thesis is complete. Students not yet having an approved thesis proposal, but desiring to prepare one under guidance, should register for directed independent study (DIS) credits. This involves directed bench research to enable the student to gain research experience, try out research ideas and formulate a research proposal. The thesis advisory committee consists of three qualified members. The major professor can be from the Oceanographic Center faculty, or a faculty member from another Center of NSU. At least one committee member must be from the Oceanographic Center faculty. The third committee member can be an external advisor, an adjunct professor of the Oceanographic Center, or an Oceanographic Center faculty member.

3.1.3. Joint Capstone or Thesis Track

The joint specialization MS degrees require a minimum of 51 course credits (17 courses) or 42 course credits (14 courses) for capstone review paper or research thesis option, respectively. In addition 6 credits for the capstone review paper or 9 credits minimum thesis research are required. Thus the total minimum requirements are 51 credits for the thesis and 57 credits for the capstone review paper track. For the joint programs, students should take approximately equal numbers of courses within each of the two specialties. The same procedures for single-track capstone and thesis options apply to the joint programs (see above).

Marine Biology M.S. Degree

This course of study is designed to equip students with a substantial understanding of the nature and ecology of marine life and grounding in the other overlapping areas of marine science. Program flexibility provides preparation for further graduate study, secondary education career enhancement, or employment in technical research institutions, government agencies, or environmental consulting firms. Applicants should hold a bachelor's degree in biology, oceanography, or a closely related field, including science education.

Coastal Zone Management M.S. Degree

This program leads to a multidisciplinary professional MS degree, intended for employees of government and industry seeking career enhancement, as well as for recent college graduates seeking careers in planning and management with governmental agencies, industries, and other activities depending on or affecting the coastal zone or its resources. The program also can be of value for enhancement of careers in education. It focuses on contemporary problems and conflicts arising from increased use of coastal areas and emphasizes the evaluation of alternative policy management solutions. Coastal studies combine elements of ecology, geology, physics, engineering, economics, law, the social sciences, and management. Because of this diversity, applicants with any undergraduate major will be considered for admission. A science major is most useful. A science background including general biology, chemistry, and organic chemistry is essential.

Marine Environmental Sciences M.S. Degree

This master's degree program results from the need to educate professionals beyond the bachelor's in a synthesis of diverse disciplines, each of which views the marine environment in disparate ways. We anticipate that students who complete the M.E.S. Program will enter, or re-enter, the work force directly. This professional degree program is designed to serve working professionals in Florida and across the nation with training and education beyond the bachelor's degree. It is also appropriate for marine scientists who are interested in learning how the marine system works. Graduates can find employment in environmentally oriented agencies/organizations and hopefully 'make a difference' in the ways of the world. The M.E.S. is not designed as an intermediate degree for the Ph.D., although some M.E.S. graduates will be well prepared for, and may later apply to, a Ph.D. program either at the Oceanographic Center or elsewhere. The program is of value for prospective or actual employees of government and industry seeking careers in areas of marine science. Because of this diversity, applicants with any undergraduate major will be considered for admission. However, a science major is most useful and a science background is essential.

It is important to differentiate the Marine Environmental Sciences MS Program from the Coastal Zone Management MS Program. We view the M.E.S. as a more broadly based degree without the management emphasis of C.Z.M. The potential M.E.S. curriculum contains some, but does not accentuate management elements.

Joint MS Degrees

The joint MS degrees are combinations of essential elements of the separate majors: marine biology/coastal zone management, marine biology/marine environmental science, or coastal zone management/marine environmental science. These options give students a broader training in marine science. They do, however, require that students take additional courses to satisfy requirements of the joint MS degree.