REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION

You must fulfill the requirements for the university, the department and your academic section. Courses you took as a master's student in the department do not need to be repeated. For more information, contact a Graduate Advisor in your field.

Note: The Department of Oceanography requires all students to remain registered for a minimum number of hours each semester, including summer sessions.

• University Requirements:
  • One year in residence beyond the first year of graduate study
  • 64 credit hours for students who enter with a master's degree
  • 96 credit hours for students who enter without a master's degree
  • Degree plan
  • Preliminary Examination
  • Dissertation Proposal
  • Dissertation
  • Dissertation Defense
• Department of Oceanography Requirements:
  • Oceanography 608 Physical Oceanography
  • Oceanography 620 Biological Oceanography
  • Oceanography 630 Geological Oceanography
  • Oceanography 640 Chemical Oceanography
  • Oceanography 681 Oceanography Seminar (Two Semesters) in College Station
  • Oceanography 691 Research (At least one credit hour with each committee member)
• Biological
  • Qualifying Exam
  • Oceanography 625 Current Topics in Biological Oceanography (two semesters)
  • Plus three of the following five courses:
    • Oceanography 610 Ecological Modeling
    • Oceanography 622 Benthic Ecology
    • Oceanography 627 Continental Shelf
    • Oceanography 650 Aquatic Microbial Ecology
    • Oceanography 654 Plankton Ecology
• Chemical
  • Qualifying Exam
  • Oceanography 641 Marine Chemistry
• Geological
  • Qualifying Exam
• Physical
  • Qualifying Exam
  • Three of the following courses:
    • OCNG 609 Dynamical Oceanography
    • OCNG 612 Elements of Ocean Wave Theory
    • OCNG 614 Dynamics of Ocean and Atmosphere
    • OCNG 615 Numerical Modeling of Ocean Circulation I
    • OCNG 616 Numerical Modeling of Ocean Circulation II
    • OCNG 617 Theories of Ocean Circulation
    • OCNG 651 Meteorological Oceanography
      

Qualifying Exam only applies to students who wish to bypass the M.S. or students admitted to the Ph.D. program without an M.S. in oceanography or an allied field.