MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.S.) DEGREE
The Master of Science (M.S.) program in marine sciences is designed to train and prepare superior students for a career in this field. The marine sciences program offers courses and opportunities for research in four main areas: biological, chemical, physical, and geological oceanography. Each M.S. student receives formal training in at least three of these disciplines while concentrating in a specific research area. Thus, the program is structured to develop the capacity for productive and innovative research, founded on a solid background of broad scientific knowledge. The requirements and procedures that follow are specifically for the Department of Marine Sciences. However, the general rules and policies of the Graduate School also apply.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
Application before March 1 is encouraged; beginning April 1, the admission committee will make initial recommendations about applicants for the following Fall class, with formal letters sent to applicants by the end of April. Although students are normally admitted in the Fall Semester, depending on availability of space and funding, applications may be approved and students admitted throughout the year. In addition to the general admissions requirements of the Graduate School, minimal requirements for admission in full standing to the Marine Sciences M.S. program are:

1. A baccalaureate degree in marine sciences or in a discipline related to marine sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, geology, physics) from an accredited four year college or university.

2. An undergraduate minimum grade-point average of 3.0 overall (4.0 point system).

3. A minimum score of 1100 combined on the verbal and quantitative subtests of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

The applicant will be required to submit:

1. A completed application including a statement indicating the student's interests and professional goals.

2. Official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended.

3. Three letters of recommendation.

4. Official scores from the Graduate Record Exam (General Test).

Assessment of credentials will be supplemented by evaluation of letters of recommendation and the educational background of the student. Foreign applicants will be required to pass the TOEFL exam with a score of 550 or greater.

Conditional admission may be granted upon recommendation of the departmental admissions committee. Full standing can be attained after conditional admission by satisfactorily completing (with a grade of no lower than B) eight (8) semester hours of course work in marine sciences at USA.

To insure compatibility between the student's research interests and the faculty expertise in the Marine Sciences Department, particular attention will be given to the statement of research interests. A faculty member will be asked to act as a "sponsor" for the applicant based on the statement of interest and, if necessary, a personal interview. Through this process the student's interests will be matched to the expertise available within the faculty. Moreover, the sponsor also may be able to offer the student financial support if a departmental stipend is not available. Students whose interests do not correspond to those of a faculty member and/or have not identified a faculty willing to serve as a sponsor, will not be admitted into the M.S. degree program in marine sciences.

Application forms for admission to the program and for fellowships (see below) are obtained by writing to: Chair, Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688-0002.

FELLOWSHIPS AND ASSISTANTSHIPS
The Department of Marine Sciences offers at-large fellowships to M.S. students annually on a competitive basis. In addition, there are a variable number of research assistantships that are sponsored by externally funded grants and contracts. The current stipend for M.S. students is $9,600 per year plus a tuition fellowship and waiver of out-of-state fees. Information about assistantships is available from the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School, AD 300, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688-0002.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The Master of Science degree in Marine Sciences is awarded in recognition of the student's demonstrated ability to successfully complete a prescribed program of courses. It also is strongly preferred that students undertake original scholarly research, which culminates in writing and defending an acceptable thesis.

GENERAL
Required Credit
A minimum of thirty-two (32) semester hours of course credit beyond the baccalaureate degree is required for students pursuing an M.S. degree. Details about the curriculum are given below.

Transfer Credit
A maximum of eight (8) semester hours of graduate courses taken at another accredited university in the same (or closely related) subject as that of the masters program may be considered as part of the M.S. degree requirements at USA. Only grades of A or B may be accepted as transfer credits. The student's sponsor (major professor), in consultation with the Chair, and if necessary, the student's advisory committee, will evaluate transfer credit; the transfer credit is approved by the Dean of the Graduate School only after completion of a minimum of 8 semester hours of graduate course work in the M.S. program in marine sciences at USA.

Residence, Full-Time Study, and Continuous Registration
A minimum of 2 consecutive semesters of full-time study in residence is required. The residency requirement may be met at USA or the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

Employment other than approved University activities directly associated with graduate study is not allowed during full-time study.

Time Limit
All requirements for the M.S. degree must be completed within 5 years from the date of matriculation. A student who has not satisfactorily completed a M.S. degree in a 5-year period must apply for a defined extension to complete the degree. This request must be recommended by a major professor, the Chair, the Director of Graduate Studies, and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. If the student does not complete the degree requirements in the defined extension period, the Director of Graduate Studies may recommend, and the Dean of the Graduate School may take, whatever action is necessary up to and including dismissal.

The comprehensive examination must be passed within three (3) years of the beginning of the M.S. program of study.

Failure to complete the work within the periods specified shall necessitate reevaluation of the student's program, and may result in a recommendation of dismissal by the Director of Graduate Studies to the Graduate Dean.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
A field of specialization and a minor is required of all candidates for the M.S. degree. All students must have formal course work in at least three (3) of the following general areas of marine sciences: biological, chemical, geological, and physical oceanography. This requirement is normally met by completion of three of the four core courses and seminar, representing fifteen (15) credit hours.

Core Courses
The four (4) core courses consist of four (4) semester hours each for a total of 16 semester hours in physical (MAS 601), chemical (MAS 602), geological (MAS 603), and biological oceanography (MAS 604), or equivalent transfer hours. At least three (3) semester hours of seminar (three, 1 semester hour enrollments) are required.

The remaining course work will be determined by the student's advisory committee. Although a thesis is not an absolute requirement, this program is strongly oriented toward research, and students will be expected to demonstrate research capability, preferably through completion of an acceptable thesis. For students pursuing a thesis program, the M.S. degree program of study may include up to six (6) hours of thesis credit toward the minimum requirement of thirty-two (32) semester hours.

Schematic of Typical Program
Core Courses (3 of 4)

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATIONS
A written comprehensive examination in marine sciences is required of all students seeking the M.S. degree. These examinations are general in scope and are given by the advisory committee after at least 1 full year, but before 3 full years of graduate study are completed. The examination may be taken no more than twice.

NON-THESIS PROGRAM
Students pursuing the M.S. degree in Marine Sciences are strongly encouraged to follow the thesis option. However, a non-thesis curriculum is available for students, upon agreement of the major professor and advisory committee, who so elect. The student will be required to complete the same degree requirements as those for a student who chooses the thesis option, with the following exceptions:

1. A thesis will not be required, consequently MAS 599 (Thesis) may not be taken, and the 6 semester hours normally associated with it must be earned through formal course work.

2. Course work must include all four core courses.

3. The student must take an oral comprehensive exam, to be given by the advisory committee, in addition to the written exam.

4. The student must complete MAS 594 (Directed Studies) under the direction of the major professor. The student must also have an advisory committee whose members will decide if the student's report relating to the directed study is satisfactory. The committee normally will consist of the major professor and two others. The student is required to present an open seminar about the directed study during the last quarter of residency.

DEFENSE OF THESIS (when applicable)
The final oral defense of the thesis is scheduled after the thesis is completed except for such revisions as may be necessary as a result of the defense. The final oral defense will not be given before all required course work has been completed or is currently in progress.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D.) PROGRAM
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in marine sciences is designed to provide a formal course of training and advanced research in the marine sciences that produces significant, original contributions to knowledge. The Ph.D. degree is awarded to students who have reached and formally demonstrated a level of competence and accomplishment that enables them to pursue careers as marine science professionals. The Ph.D. degree confers eligibility for many positions in academia, industry, and government.

The marine sciences program offers courses and opportunities for research in four main areas: biological, chemical, physical, and geological oceanography. Each student receives formal training in each of these disciplines while concentrating in a specific research area. The requirements and procedures that follow are specifically for the Department of Marine Sciences. However, the general rules and policies of the Graduate School also apply.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
Students are normally admitted in the Fall Semester. Although applications for admission and fellowships are accepted throughout the year, application before March 1 is encouraged; beginning April 1 the admissions committee will make initial recommendations about applicants for the following Fall class, with formal letters sent to applicants by the end of April. Depending on availability of space and funding, applications may be approved and students admitted throughout the year. In addition to the general admissions requirements of the Graduate School, requirements for admission to the Marine Sciences Ph.D. program are:

1. A narrative statement indicating the student's research interests, professional goals and commitment to full-time study for completion of degree requirements.

2. Three letters of recommendation.

3. For students with baccalaureate degrees:

1. Official scores from the Graduate Record Examination General Test with a minimum score of 1100 combined on the verbal and quantitative subtests.

2. A baccalaureate degree in a discipline related to marine sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, geology, physics) from an accredited four-year college or university.

3. An undergraduate minimum grade-point average of 3.0 overall (A=4).

4. For students with M.S. degrees:

1. An M.S. degree in a discipline related to marine sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, geology, physics) from an accredited four-year college or university.

2. A graduate minimum grade-point average of 3.25 overall (A=4).

3. For fellowship applicants, official GRE scores are required.

5. International students must submit an official score of at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

To insure research compatibility between the student and the faculty in the marine sciences program, attention will be given to the statement of research interests. A faculty member will be asked to act as a sponsor for the applicant based on the statement of interests and, if necessary, a personal interview. Through this process, the student's interests will be matched to the expertise available within the faculty. Moreover, the sponsor may also be able to offer the student financial support if a regular stipend is not available. Students whose interests do not correspond to those of a particular faculty sponsor, and/or have identified a faculty member willing to serve as a sponsor, will not be admitted into the Ph.D. degree program in marine sciences.

Application forms for admission to the program and for fellowships (see below) are obtained by writing to: Chair, Department of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688-0002.

FELLOWSHIPS AND ASSISTANTSHIPS
The Department of Marine Sciences offers at-large fellowships to Ph.D. students annually on a competitive basis. In addition, there are a variable number of doctoral assistantships that are sponsored by externally funded grants and contracts to faculty. The current stipend for Ph.D. fellowships is $12,000 per year plus a tuition fellowship and waiver of out-of-state fees. Information about assistantships is available from the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School, AD 300, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688-0002.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The Doctor of Philosophy degree is awarded in recognition of the student's demonstrated ability to conduct original, scholarly research at the highest levels without extensive supervision. The degree is not granted upon completed of a stated amount of course work, but rather after demonstration by the student of a comprehensive knowledge and research capability in a specialized field of study. The student must demonstrate this ability in writing and by defending a dissertation based upon the results of an original investigation.

GENERAL
Required Credit
A minimum of 60 semester hours of approved graduate credit is required. Details about the curriculum are given below.

Transfer Credit
Graduate courses taken at another accredited university, such as for students with M.S. degrees in the same (or a closely related) subject as that of the Ph.D. program, may be considered in the Ph.D. plan of study up to a maximum of 32 semester hours. Only grades of A or B may be accepted as transfer credit. The student's sponsor, in consultation with the Chair, and if necessary, the advisory committee, will evaluate transfer credit; the transfer credit is approved by the Dean of the Graduate School only after completion of a minimum of eight semester hours of graduate course work in the doctoral program at USA.

Residence, Full-Time Study, and Continuous Registration
A minimum of two consecutive semesters of full-time study in residence is required. The residency requirement may be met at USA or the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

Employment other than approved University activities directly associated with graduate study is not allowed during full-time study.

Time Limit
All requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be completed within eight years from the date of matriculation. A student who has not satisfactorily completed a dissertation in an eight-year period must apply for a defined extension to complete the degree. This request must be recommended by the major professor, the chair of the department, the Director of Graduate Studies, and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

If the student does not complete the degree requirements in the defined extension period, the Director of the Graduate Program may recommend and the Dean of the Graduate School may take whatever action is necessary up to and including dismissal.

The comprehensive examination must be passed within five years of the beginning of doctoral study, or within four years if the student entered with a master's degree in the same or a closely related field.

The dissertation prospectus should be completed within six months of formation of the advisory committee.

Failure to complete the work within the periods specified shall necessitate reevaluation of the student's program and may result in a recommendation for dismissal by the Director of Graduate Studies to the Graduate Dean.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Core Courses
A field of specialization and a minor is required of all candidates for the Ph.D. degree. All students must have formal course work in all of the core marine science subdisciplines. This requirement is normally met by completion of four (4) core courses (see below) and seminar, representing nineteen (19) credit hours.

The four (4) core courses consist of four (4) semester hours each for a total of 16 semester hours in physical (MAS 601), chemical (MAS 602), geological (MAS 603), and biological oceanography (MAS 604), or equivalent transfer courses.

Other Required Courses
At least 25 semester hours in marine sciences courses beyond the baccalaureate degree are required in addition to the core courses, at least half of which must be taken in formal courses exclusive of directed studies or directed research. Up to 16 semester hours of dual-listed and 400-level courses may be counted, with no more than 12 hours of either type. The remaining courses must be solely graduate level.

At least 12 semester hours of dissertation course credit is required. Not more than 15 hours in this category can be counted toward the minimum requirement of 60 semester hours.

At least three (3) semester hours of seminar (three (3) enrollments) are required.

Schematic of Typical Program
Core Courses

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATIONS
Written and oral examinations in marine sciences are required of all students seeking the Ph.D. degree in marine sciences. These examinations are given after at least two full years but before five full years of graduate study are completed. The written comprehensive examination is taken first and normally is more general in scope than the oral comprehensive examination. The examinations may be taken no more than twice.

CANDIDACY
A doctoral student is admitted to candidacy upon passing both the written and oral comprehensive examinations and satisfying the Minor/Research Skill Requirement, and after completing all formal course work requirements. The doctoral candidate is a student who has fulfilled all preliminary requirements for the Ph.D. and has only completion of the dissertation research as the remaining requirement.

DEFENSE OF DISSERTATION
The final oral defense of the dissertation is scheduled after the dissertation is completed except for such revisions as may be necessary as a result of the defense. The final oral defense will not be given earlier than one semester after admission to candidacy and not before all required course work has been completed or is currently in progress.

*See departmental section of this Bulletin for complete course information in subdisciplines of Marine Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Geology).

DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL MARINE SCIENCES (MAS) COURSES