Students at Beach Photo The Florida State University Department of Oceanography offers both master of science and doctor of philosophy graduate degrees in oceanography with specialization in biological, chemical, geological, and physical oceanography or a combination of these. No undergraduate major or minor in oceanography is available.

A new non-thesis masters program in Aquatic Environmental Science is offered for students who:

Graduates from the Department of Oceanography hold research positions in industry, private research institutions, and federal and state laboratories and regulatory agencies. Some graduates are teaching in colleges and universities, here and abroad, and many international graduates have returned to their homelands to work for local government and private entities. The placement of our graduates into professional positions attests to the quality of our program in oceanography. In the last five years, 19 M.S., 30 Ph.D. and 2 Masters in Aquatic Environmental Science degrees have been awarded.

The Department of Oceanography is of a size that its students form a cohesive group and enjoy an important sense of camaraderie among themselves and with the faculty. Through both the structured coursework and the informal atmosphere outside of regular classroom teaching, students learn how successful scientists tackle difficult problems on the frontiers of oceanographic understanding. The department has gained both national and international recognition. Faculty members often chair sessions at scientific conferences, participate in international workshops and seminars, and serve as officers for various professional organizations. Their research is reported regularly in a score of scientific journals.

Located in the Oceanography and Statistics Building on Florida State University's main campus in Tallahassee, the Department of Oceanography offers the extensive facilities necessary for graduate education and quality scientific research.

Because excellent graduate programs exist in all areas of the physical and life sciences at FSU, graduate students have full access to a wide variety of university resources. The various science departments and institutes (Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Meteorology, Geological Sciences, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute, Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics) boast outstanding scholars on their faculties. Such strength in the sister sciences enhances education in oceanography both directly, through the courses taken in other departments, and indirectly, through high standards of education that typify Florida State University.

Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, the capital of Florida. Although it is among the nation's fastest growing cities, Tallahassee has preserved its natural beauty. The North Florida location presents a landscape and climate that are substantially different from that found in South Florida. Forest covers much of the area, with groves of giant live oaks covering the clay hills. The five large lakes that surround Tallahassee and the nearby Gulf of Mexico offer numerous recreational opportunities. An ambience of traditional southern living combined with the bustle of a modern capital city gives Tallahassee, and Florida State University, its unique and inviting atmosphere!

For further general information on funding opportunities, news and events, electronic thesis and dissertation (ETD) guidelines, degree programs and certificate programs, fee waivers, as well as links to staff contact information, a searchable scholarship database, important forms for students and much more, visit the Office of Graduate Studies web site.

University-Wide Resources

Close ties with the Departments of Biological Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Meteorology enhance both formal classroom education and research of faculty and students of oceanography. The Consulting Center in the Statistics Department advises students who encounter statistical problems in their research.

Elemental analysis by proton-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) is carried out in the Department of Physics. Some of our ocean circulation modeling experiments are conducted at FSU's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute.

The Department of Geological Sciences' program in marine geology offers faculty and students from oceanography both academic and research support. Their program centers around the NSF-funded Antarctic Marine Geology Research Facility.

The Electron Microscopy Laboratory, operated by the Department of Biological Sciences, offers a Kent Cambridge Mark 4-10 Scanning Electron Microscope and two transmission electron microscopes for use by oceanography personnel.

Faculty, staff, and students in the Department of Oceanography who are affiliated with the Supercomputer Computations Research Institute at FSU have direct access to its Cray Y-MP/432 supercomputer. The University Computing Center is also equipped with IBM RS/6000 and Cyber 180-850 computers.

Prerequisites

Applicants to the Department of Oceanography must hold, or be a candidate for, a baccalaureate degree from an approved college or university and be in good standing at the school last attended. A GPA of at least 3.0 and a GRE score of at least 1100 (combined verbal and quantitative) is also required. International students also must have a TOEFL score of at least 550.

A student usually enters the oceanography program with a degree in some basic science and should have substantial undergraduate work in at least one of the following areas: biology, chemistry, engineering, geology, mathematics, meteorology, or physics. Applicants for graduate study will select an area of specialization in oceanography. The student's prior training should support the chosen area of specialization. For example, an undergraduate major in biology provides a reasonable background for a student planning to specialize in biological oceanography.

Master's and Doctoral Degrees

Graduate students working toward a degree in oceanography will acquire a basic background in all aspects of oceanography and at the same time develop a high level of excellence in their chosen specialty, demonstrated by performing original research and then submitting a thesis or dissertation. Master's candidates in the thesis program must complete at least 33 semester hours of course work. Candidates in the non-thesis masters program in Aquatic Environmental Science must complete 36 semester hours of 5000 level coursework and prepare a final project based on a topical issue or pursue an off-campus internship. Doctoral candidates complete 18 semester hours beyond the thesis M.S. degree, with considerable freedom in course load commensurate with their interest and prior training. Graduate students in oceanography are encouraged to take courses outside the department that supplement offerings in oceanography.

Graduate Certificate in Oceanography

The Department of Oceanography at Florida State University now offers a certificate of graduate studies in oceanography to students who wish to have an introduction to this interdisciplinary field as a presursor to graduate study leading to a degree or to enrich their background for professional work. It is not intended as a diploma or a degree. The certificate requires 15 hours of course work and is intended to be completed in two consecutive semesters.

Financial Aid

The majority of Oceanography students are supported by grant-related research assistantships. There are also a limited number of departmental teaching assistantships, as well as university and departmental fellowships. All applicants will be considered for financial assistance unless they decline consideration. Applications to the Department of Oceanography are not approved without sponsorship by a faculty member. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to write directly to any faculty member whose areas of research interest them.

Fellowship Program

The Florida State University Department of Oceanography is proud to announce the establishment of the Oceanography Fellowship Program to recognize outstanding new applicants for graduate study in the department.

How to Apply

To make formal application for admission to graduate study in oceanography at Florida State University, submit the required forms and documents nine months before anticipated enrollment. Applications for fall semester enrollment ordinarily are acted upon between November 1st and February 15th. See the on-line application page for specific instructions and deadlines.