Marine Science  {SF State Bulletin 2014 - 2015}

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Marine Science

 

College of Science and Engineering

Dean: Sheldon Axler

 

Based at the Romberg Tiburon Center

Web Site: http://rtc.sfsu.edu/grad_studies/index.htm

Administered by the Department of Biology

Web Site: http://biology.sfsu.edu/graduate/marine_science

 

The M.S. in Marine Science (MS in MS) program is an interdisciplinary program offered at San Francisco State University (SF State) by the College of Science and Engineering, based at the Romberg Tiburon Center (RTC; http://rtc.sfsu.edu), and administered by the Department of Biology. Faculty mentors in the program are from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Physics, Geography & Environment, and Earth & Climate Sciences

 

Applicants should be aware that SF State is a member of the consortium that operates the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (MLML), which provides a parallel graduate program in Marine Sciences. Students in either program can easily register for classes at the other facility. Students wishing to be a graduate student in the MLML program are directed to contact their potential mentor at MLML directly for instructions on how to enroll through other consortium universities, usually San Jose State University or CSU Monterey Bay.

 

Program

M.S. in Marine Science

 

 

Program Scope

This interdisciplinary degree program is administered by the Department of Biology at San Francisco State University (SF State), is based at the Romberg Tiburon Center, and includes faculty from a broad spectrum of marine, coastal and estuarine researchers from across SF State departments. This degree provides the opportunity for students to acquire a practical and theoretical education in the marine sciences to prepare them for careers as research scientists, teachers, and marine technicians. Through RTC the program provides extensive field and laboratory work for advanced study in the marine sciences.

 

Master of Science in Marine Science

Admission to the Program

Prospective students from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Applications are administered by the Biology Department and must comply with the application procedures and deadlines of the Biology Department (http://biology.sfsu.edu/content/applying-sfsu-biology-graduate-programs).

 

Coursework Requirements

Students are required to complete a total of 30 units*, structured as follows:

  • 10 units of research credits, comprised of:
    • 6 units of research (BIOL/CHEM/GEOL/GEOG/OCE 897), and
    • 4 units of thesis (BIOL/CHEM/GEOL/GEOG/OCE 898)
  • 20 units of coursework that must include:
    • 4 units of graduate seminar courses
    • 16 units of remaining coursework, as described below.

 

The 20 units of coursework are broken down below in the following categories I-V:

  1. Scientific Methods for Professional Aquatic Scientists BIOL 708, 3 units:
    Required in the first semester of graduate school.
  2. Graduate Seminars: at least two seminar courses are required.
  3. Students pick at least three of the following core courses*:
    • Biological Oceanography (BIOL 582, 4 units)
    • Chemical Oceanography (CHEM 680, 3 units)
    • Physical Oceanography (OCN 720, 3 units)
    • Marine Geology (GEOL 467, 3 units)
    • Coastal Processes (OCN 710, 3 units)
    • Wetland Ecology (BIOL 534, 4 units) or Marine Ecology (BIOL 585, 3 units)
      • Students who have completed these courses under their undergraduate courses can take other courses after advisor’s approval.
  4. Students can choose from a wide range of electives in consultation with their advisor.
    • Electives taught at RTC include:
      • Animal Physiology Lab (BIOL 731, 4 units)
      • Biology of Algae (BIOL 702, 3 units)
      • Marine and Coastal GIS and Remote Sensing (GEOG 629, 3 units)
    • Electives taught at SF State, MLML, or elsewhere (e.g. UC Berkeley):
      • For example, Biometry, Animal Physiology, Conservation Biology, etc…
  5. Current RTC Research, BIOL 883, 2 units. MS in MS students are expected to participate each semester in this formal course for the Wednesday RTC lecture series. Students are expected to enroll in BIOL 883 each semester, though the course can only count twice (4 units total) towards the degree. This course does not fulfill the graduate seminar requirement.

 

List of equivalent courses offered at Moss Landing

Courses are offered at SF State at the Romberg Tiburon Center and on the main campus. Students may also take equivalent core courses or any elective courses at the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories by registering for them using the SF State MSCI course number. The table below indicates course equivalencies between SF State and Moss Landing Courses

 

Courses taught at

Courses taught at

RTC/SF State   Moss Landing
BIOL 534 Wetland Ecology MSCI 772
(MS 272)
BIOL 555 Marine Invertebrate Zoology MSCI 721
BIOL 582 Biological Oceanography MSCI 734
(MS 234)
BIOL 585/
BIOL 586		 Marine Ecology
Marine Ecology Laboratory		 MSCI 733
(MS 233)
BIOL 702 Biology of the Algae MSCI 731
(MS 231)
BIOL 708 Scientific Methods for Professional Aquatic Scientists MSCI 708
(MS 208)
BIOL 716 Scientific Skills for Proposal Writing MSCI 780
(MS 280)
BIOL 843 Population Biology MSCI 771
(MS 271)
BIOL 863
OCN 700
CHEM 800		 Advances in Marine Science Graduate Seminars MSCI 885
(MS 285)
BIOL 871 Directed Reading and Presentation of Research and Journal Articles MSCI 706
(MS 206)
CHEM 680 Chemical Oceanography MSCI 343
(MS 143)
GEOG 629 Marine and Coastal GIS and Remote Sensing MSCI 748
(MS 248)
GEOL 476 Marine Geology MSCI 746
(MS 246)
GEOL 780 Geochemistry MSCI 751
(MS 251)
METR 825 Meterology of mid-latitude oceans MSCI 761
(MS 261)
OCN 465 Computer Programming with Application in Meterology and Oceanography MSCI 763
(MS 263)
OCN 710 Coastal Processes MSCI 781
(MS 281)
OCN 720 Physical Oceanography MSCI 342
(MS 142)
OCN 896 Directed Reading in Oceanogrphy MSCI 774
(MS 274)

 

 

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