Ph.D. Marine Sciences

1. Narrative statement

indicating the student's research interests,professional goals and commitment to full-time study for completion of degree requirements. It is highly encouraged that prospective students reach out to the faculty to discuss research interests. Most of our Ph.D. students are funded through grant-funded research assistantships. Thus, acceptance of new students may be a condition of available funding as well as matching students to faculty with new grant funded projects.

     2. Three (3) Letters of recommendation

To ensure 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 mentor 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. The mentor may also be able to offer the student financial support if a stipend is not available. Students whose interests do not correspond to those of a particular faculty mentor or who have not identified a faculty member willing to serve as a mentor will not be admitted into the Ph.D. degree program in marine sciences.

Requirements for admission with a B.S. Degree

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

b. Applicants to graduate programs in Arts and Sciences typically have a minimum GPA of at least a 3.0 on all undergraduate work. In exceptional cases, applicants may be considered with at least a 2.5 GPA on all undergraduate work, or at least a 2.75 GPA on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work.

Requirements for admission with a MS Degree

a. An MS degree in a discipline related to marine sciences (e.g.,biology, chemistry, geology, physics) from an accredited college or university.

b. A graduate minimum grade-point average of 3.0 overall.

International students must submit an official score of at least 71 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or equivalent score on computer administered tests.

The GRE score is not required for admission. You may optionally submit your GRE scores if you wish for them to be considered as part of your application to any graduate program in the Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences, but this is not required. Individual faculty members may consider available GRE scores as part of a holistic evaluation of the candidates.

Graduate courses taken at another accredited university, such as for students with MS 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 30 semester hours.

Only grades of "A" or "B" may be accepted as transfer credit. The student's mentor, in consultation with the Director or Associate Director, and if necessary, the advisory committee, will evaluate transfer credit. The final approval is by the Dean of the Graduate School

A minimum of two (2) consecutive semesters of full-time study in residence is required.

The residency requirements may be met at USA or the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.

Students are considered full-time if registered for six (6) or more hours during fall and spring semesters.

Students on assistantship must be registered continuously, i.e., every semester (fall, spring, and summer), during their program. Typical summer registration is 3 hours.

Employment other than University activities directly associated with graduate study is not allowed during full-time study, unless specifically approved by the Chair.

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

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.

• The required three (3) core courses are each four (4) semester hours.
• In addition, two (2) semester hours of seminar (two, one (1) semester hour enrollments) and
• a minimum of twelve (12) dissertation hours are required.

Dissertation hours are taken after completion of the student'sresearch prospectus (described below), which is due within three (3) semesters (fall and spring semesters only) of matriculation.

The remaining coursework will be determined by the student's advisory committee and may include marine sciences or other graduate electives,directed studies, and dissertation hours.

• No more than eighteen (18) hours of dual-listed courses (400- and 500- level listing for the same course) may be counted toward meeting the minimum hours required.
• Graduate students will only receive graduate credit for the 500-level version of dual-listed courses.

A field of specialization 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 with a grade of "B" or better.

Core Courses (Take 3 or 4)
Course Code	Course Name	Credit Hours
MAS 601	Physical Oceanography	4
MAS 602	Chemical Oceanography	4
MAS 603	Geological Oceanography	4
MAS 604	Biological Oceanography	4
	Total	12-16  Hours
Seminar (Two enrollments in seminar, one hour per )
	Seminar I	1
	Seminar II	1
	Total	2  Hours
Electives, Directed Studies, Dissertation
Electives
Select Marine Sciences or other electives (500-600 level courses) as determined by advisory committee
Courses Offered: Marine Sciences (MAS)
	Total	> 14Hours
Directed Studies
	Maximum of eight (8) hours
	Total	8 Hours
Dissertation (1-5 hours per semester) Only after
	Minimum of 12 and Maximum of 15 hours
	Total	12-15 Hours
	Electives + Directed Studies + Dissertation =	> 34 Hours
Total Hours for Ph.D. in Marine Sciences		≥ 60 Hours

 

 

Develop a written research prospectus in consultation with a dissertation advisory committee.

Research Prospectus: document that lays out the student's rationale, methods, and objectives for thesis research

The research prospectus will be evaluated by the committee to evaluate novelty of the proposed work as well as techniques needed to achieve the research objectives.

Students are expected to complete a research prospectus within the first three (3) semesters of matriculation.

All Students seeking the Ph.D. degree in marine sciences must complete written and oral examinations.

The examinations may be taken no more than twice.

1. Written Comprehensive Examination

Taken after completion of core course requirements

Normally more general in scope

Focuses on materials from core courses and the student's research area

2. Oral Comprehensive Examination

May also address general knowledge in the student's discipline but is more focused on questions about the research prospectus.

A doctoral student may become a doctoral candidate only after:

1. Submitting a prospectus
2. Passing written exam
3. Passing oral exam
4. 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.

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.

The final oral defense of the dissertation is scheduled after the dissertation is written except for such revisions as may be necessary as a result of the defense.