Mar 28, 2024  
Catalog 2022-2023 
    
Catalog 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Marine Science, M.S.


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CSUMB offers a Master of Science in Marine Science through Moss Landing Marine Labs. Both campuses are located near the shores of Monterey Bay, an extraordinary place that is home to one of the greatest concentrations of marine science research and education institutions anywhere in the world. CSUMB is located only 20 minutes south of MLML and is by far the closest of the seven CSU consortium campuses affiliated with MLML.

You can enroll through CSUMB and can take advantage of CSUMB housing and other resources, while doing most of your masters work with MLML faculty in MLML facilities. The MLML masters program is widely known and respected as one of the top marine science programs in the nation. It will build upon your existing bachelors degree to give you the knowledge, skills, experience, and professional contacts you’ll need to take your marine-related career to a new level!

Required Courses


Courses with the MLML prefix are found in the CSUMB Catalog; courses with the MS prefix appearing in parens are found in the MLML Course Catalog.

Learning Outcomes


All MLML students must meet high standards of competency in the core areas of oceanography, marine biology, and quantitative analysis as described in the Learning Outcomes listed below. You are encouraged to discuss alternative assessment options with your advisor; however, the hands-on, integrative nature of the MLML program necessitates a course-based path, followed by independently conducted research, for the majority of students.

Quantitative Foundations

Ability to apply fundamental mathematical and statistical constructs used to communicate quantitative information within the context of marine science; ability to demonstrate proficiency with biological, chemical and physical data acquisition, analysis, display, and communication.

Oceanography Foundations

Ability to apply principles and methods of the major field of oceanography (physical, chemical, geological and biological).

Marine ecology Foundations

Ability to apply advanced scientific concepts and methods to solve complex problems within an integrative ecological framework; ability to examine linkages between marine organisms and their environments; ability to recognize common patterns of change in real systems, build simple models that generate those patterns, and describe potential limitations of systems models as decision-making tools.

Area of Concentration Competency

Ability to demonstrate depth in a chosen area of marine science by completing an appropriate sequence of learning experiences that fulfill the learning outcomes of a self-designed, MLML-approved concentration.

Scientific Inquiry Competency

Ability to design, conduct, and interpret independent scientific investigations of an advanced nature, and to understand the ethical norms that guide scientific processes and methods.

Effective Communication Competency

Ability to present clearly, in written and oral formats, analyses of complex scientific issues.

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