Nov 30, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2018-2019 
    
USC Catalogue 2018-2019 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

Ocean Sciences


Return to: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences  

Zumberge Hall of Science 117
(213) 740-6106
FAX: (213) 740-8801
Email: waite@usc.edu
oceansciences.usc.edu

Director: Douglas E. Hammond, PhD

Participating Faculty: See Biological Sciences , Earth Sciences  and Engineering  in this catalogue.

Applications for the Ocean Sciences program should be routed through the affiliated departments and a separate letter sent to the Ocean Sciences director, Douglas E. Hammond, USC Earth Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0740.

Degree Programs

The Graduate Program in Ocean Sciences (GPOS) provides interdisciplinary education and training to prepare professional ocean scientists for careers in academia, industry, and state and federal government. Students develop the ability to identify and solve significant problems in ocean sciences by using their training in several disciplines. They develop the ability to formulate and test hypotheses and integrate information and concepts about how the earth-ocean system is structured and how it functions. Training also is provided to develop skills in oral and written communication of technical and scientific information. Both MS and PhD degree programs are offered; both require preparation of a thesis (MS) or dissertation (PhD).

Admission Requirements

All rules and regulations described in The Graduate School  section of this catalogue and Graduate Admission  apply to students in the GPOS.

Official acceptance by the GPOS Admissions Committee is based on the recommendation of faculty from an affiliated department. Acceptance depends upon the applicant’s letters of recommendation, research experience, intended area of research, personal interview (whenever possible), and the availability of a faculty member willing to advise and sponsor the applicant.

A BS or BA degree in an appropriate field of natural science, engineering or mathematics is required for admission.

It is expected that applicants to the GPOS will have attained a scholarship average of at least “B” (3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale) preferably in the natural sciences or mathematics. Applicants must have taken the GRE aptitude test (verbal and quantitative). Successful applicants typically score in excess of 600 on both verbal and quantitative parts of the exam.

Applicants should contact the GPOS office by email or phone for an admission package. The GPOS admits students for both the fall and spring semesters; however, applicants for assistantships are encouraged to apply for the fall semester.

Graduate Degrees

Degree Requirements

Advanced degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation  section and The Graduate School  section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Interdisciplinary Programs

The Graduate Program in Ocean Sciences is designed to be interdisciplinary, reflecting the nature of the field that combines principles of physical, chemical, geological and biological oceanography to solve relevant problems in the ocean environment.

Programs

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Courses

Ocean Sciences