Ph.D. DEGREE in Ocean Sciences

                                                                              GRADUATE HANDBOOK

                                                                              CURRENT PHD STUDENT  INFORMATION

Preparation for Admission
Course Requirements

The doctoral program leading to the Ph.D. degree in ocean sciences is designed with a core training in oceanography, supplemented and focused by advanced training in oceanography and in the traditional disciplines (biology, chemistry, Earth sciences, and physics) as chosen by the students and their advisors. The core training is provided through core courses in ocean sciences, a subset of which is taken by all students in the first two years, and reinforced by the student's seminars throughout the program. In addition to core courses in ocean sciences, preparation includes upper-division/graduate courses in ocean sciences and in the specialty discipline, graduate seminars, independent research credits, participation in departmental student seminar series, and a minimum requirement for the number of quarters as a teaching assistant. There is no formal language requirement.

Preparation for Admission

Preparation for admission to the graduate program in Ocean Sciences (Masters or Ph.D.) should comprise an undergraduate degree in the discipline of one of the program specialty areas (e.g., biology or marine biology, geology or earth sciences, chemistry, or physical science), or an equivalent background. If you do not have a degree in one of these areas, you must show your sponsor that you have taken the classes necessary to do your research. This preparation should normally include courses (prerequisites) in calculus, statistics, physics, chemistry, general biology or ecology, and geology for all majors (see below for number of courses).

1-year of a calculus series
1-year of chemistry with labs
1-year of physics with labs
1 course in earth sciences or geologic principles
1 course in biology
1 course in statistics or biostatistics for all majors

If you have not taken some of these prerequisite classes, you must make them up once you are in the program. However, if you are missing too many prerequisites, your admission may be delayed a year to enable you to make up the courses before entering.

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In addition to the specific requirements listed above, the Graduate Admissions Committee will evaluate the qualifications of prospective students using the following criteria:

1.  prior academic performance
(including grade point average and the nature of the undergraduate academic program and/or Masters or other degree)
2.  an evaluation of three letters of recommendation in support of the applicant
3.  the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
(verbal, quantitative, analytical and the advanced test in the student's major discipline)
4.  related research experience
5.  statement of purpose
6.  availability of suitable sponsor

The single most important factor in being admitted to either one of our programs (Masters or Ph.D.) is to have a faculty sponsor.  Prospective students should consult with faculty members in their area of interest about possible sponsorship, specific course requirements, and advise on preparation for the program. Prospective students may try to contact/locate a suitable research sponsor who is accepting students from the links for each group (either core ocean sciences faculty or affiliated faculty in other departments.)

The deadline for applications for the 2008-2009 academic year is January 15, 2008.
Most applicants will be notified of decisions made by the admissions committee by April 2008.

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APPLICATIONS, Correspondence, and Information

APPLICATIONS (online) may be obtained at the following website:
https://apply.embark.com/Grad/UCSantaCruz/78/

Requirements for Ph.D. students in the Ocean Sciences Department

To introduce students to the breadth and depth of the field as a whole, they will be required to complete the following:

1.  Four Core Courses.  These courses, listed in Table 1, are expected to be completed in the first year of the program (and prior to taking the departmental exam) in the sequence listed below:

2. A minimum of three graduate-level or upper-division Elective Courses to provide depth in the chosen area of emphasis or supporting disciplines.  These courses are chosen in consultation with the student's advisor/sponsor and the department advising committee (a maximum of one can be a graduate level seminar [OCEA 290] — at least two must be graduate or upper-division undergraduate lecture courses.

3. OCEA 296 — Teaching in Ocean Sciences, to be taken prior to or concurrent to being a Teaching Assistant (TA).

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4.  Teaching Experience — satisfied by two quarters of teaching assistant experience in Ocean Sciences or supporting departments.

5.  OCEA 293— a two unit Graduate Research Seminar required to be taken each spring quarter by all Ph.D. students.

6.  OCEA 292— Attendance at the Ocean Sciences Seminar Series each quarter of enrollment.

7.  A minimum of three (3) courses in Thesis Research (OCEA 299) under direction of sponsor. Each quarter in residence a student should take 15 units of classes.  Students beyond their first year will usually take 10 to 15 units of Thesis Research each quarter.

8.  Comprehensive Departmental Exam.  This oral exam, covering material from the core courses, is usually taken at the beginning of a student's second year in the program.  This exam must be completed successfully within two years of entering the program.

9.  Must pass the Qualifying Exam to Advance to Candidacy.  This exam requires a written research proposal to be defended orally in front of the student's dissertation committee and is normally taken at the beginning of the third year of the program.  This exam is expected to be completed successfully within three years of entering the program.

10.  Ph.D. Dissertation.  The Ph.D. Dissertation, demonstrating original thought and research, must be written, presented in an open seminar, and defended to the student's thesis committee.  Chapters of the dissertation may be written in publication format, but must conform to the University publication guidelines for submission.

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Other upper-division or graduate-level courses taught by Ocean Sciences Faculty

A combination of core courses, graduate courses in Ocean Sciences, and graduate courses in other disciplines will be suggested (see Table 2 and Table 3 for a partial listing of these).  A typical student would take two lecture courses per quarter in his/her first year of graduate study, with fewer formal courses in subsequent years. Any additional courses will be thesis research or independent study.

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Selected related upper division/graduate courses offered by other departments

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Degree requirements, as reviewed and approved by the Graduate Council (on 6/8/00), pertaining to all applicants for a doctoral degree ...
may be reviewed at the Graduate Handbook on the Graduate Division website.

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