The NSU Oceanographic Center offers two four-course graduate certificates, with courses available in a convenient and flexible online or evening (in-house) format. Students may take either a Graduate Certificate in Coastal Studies, or in Marine and Coastal Climate Change. Applicants with any undergraduate major will be considered for admission. All of NSU's programs are fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and students accepted into the program may be eligible for financial aid.
The Graduate Certificates aim to provide:
a credible, holistic, and timely introduction and knowledge of key ecological and socio-environmental issues related to the oceans and coastal zone. The core courses for the Graduate Certificate in Marine and Coastal Climate Change focus upon climate-related ecological and socio-economic impacts.
an understanding of the international, national, and local importance and impact of ocean and coastal issues, and sensitivity to cross-cultural and international perspectives.
a web-based forum for sharing topical national and international information, perspectives, and case studies with their peers and professionals in a variety of related fields and locations.
a stand-alone Certificate from an accredited university for working professionals in a variety of related fields.
credit towards further Masters study at the Oceanographic Center, whether online (MA in Coastal and Ocean Studies, MS in Coastal Zone Management) or in-house (MS in Coastal Zone Management, Marine Biology or Marine Environmental Science). Credit can also be applied towards an MA in Cross-Disciplinary Studies (Coastal Environment and Society track) offered in partnership with NSU Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Students can enroll in courses in any semester (Summer, Fall 1 or 2, or Winter 1 or 2). Students studying towards a Marine and Coastal Climate Change certificate must complete two core online courses, MCCC 5300 Climate Change: The Scientific Basis and MCCC 5350 Climate Change: The Societal Perspective. There are no required core courses for the Graduate Certificate in Coastal Studies program. Elective courses may be chosen from any course offered with a CZMT, MCCC or MA prefix. While the majority of courses are offered in an online format, students accepted into the Graduate Certificate program may apply to fulfill one or more of the required elective courses from in-house or field-based offerings, pending instructor's acceptance.
For the Graduate Certificate program, courses do not have to be taken over consecutive semesters; students can enroll according to the schedule most convenient for them as long as all course work is completed within five years of initial registration. The Certificates are awarded upon successful completion (C grade or higher) of four appropriate courses.
Click on the following link for more information about jobs related to this program: Marine Sciences
Cost
How much will the total program cost?
Tuition and fees:
12 credits x $898/credit hour: $10,776
Registration fees: $25/term
Annual Student Services fee: $750 maximum
Books and supplies: approximately $500
Total: approximately $12,101
Financing
What are my financing options to pay for the program?
In addition to any grant and scholarship aid for which they are eligible, students have taken loans to finance their education. A list of sources is available through the Office of Financial Aid.
In addition to any grant and scholarship aid for which they are eligible, 48 percent of graduates used federal loans. The median federal loan debt for Coastal Studies graduates was zero.
Success
The Graduate Certificates are designed to be completed in 1 year.
For the Graduate Certificate in Coastal Studies:
81 percent of graduates completed the program in this time
For the Graduate Certificate in Marine and Coastal Climate Change:
100 percent of graduates completed the program in this time
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