Graduate Degree Program

These web pages provide general information as a courtesy to visitors. The Graduate Catalog is the document of authority for the rules and regulations governing graduate study. The University reserves the right to change the requirements given in the catalog at any time.

You must complete the Department of Marine Science and The University of Texas at Austin Graduate Applications to be considered for admission.

Graduate Admissions Application Package (PDF file)
Graduate and International Admissions Center

Graduate Information Index

Dear Prospective Student

Letter from the Graduate Adviser

Courses

Descriptions and schedules for core and advanced courses in marine science

Important Dates

Deadlines and dates related to admission

Peterson's Guide Listing

Details from Peterson's Internet and Interactive Admissions Services

Graduate Application Packet Materials (pdf)

Application forms and official information regarding admission to Graduate Programs at The University of Texas at Austin

Request Application Packet (e-mail)

E-mail request for a graduate admissions application packet by mail if you cannot download the application package above

Graduate Handbook (pdf)

Current Department of Marine Science Graduate Handbook.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Graduate study in the Department of Marine Science requires course work at Austin and Port Aransas and a research project at Austin or Port Aransas. The exact program will be determined by the student's interest, the research field of his supervisor and the required courses. At present, faculty work in the basic and applied aspects of the four marine science subdisciplines: fish physiology and ecology, ecosystem dynamics, and biogeochemistry. Marine science is the study of the marine environment including marine organisms, processes, and systems so each student's program will involve direct contact with the sea, its plants and animals and/or the physical and chemical forces which drive it.

Facilities for graduate work in marine science are based in Austin and at the shore-side laboratory of the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, Texas. The Institute is located on the Aransas Pass ship channel among the dunes at the tip of Mustang Island, with easy access to bays, beaches, and the Gulf of Mexico. Environmental systems nearby include the hypersaline Laguna Madre, seagrass meadows, fresh and salt water marshes, and the continental shelf. The Port Aransas facility offers research vessels, a specialized library, classrooms, laboratories, and flowing seawater system.

Course work taken in Austin often includes supporting work in other natural science departments. At least one academic year is normally spent on the main campus. Most students then reside in Port Aransas while they undertake thesis or dissertation research at the Marine Science Institute. These students also take additional courses there, including the majority of their core courses, other organized courses, seminars, and training cruises. Graduate student apartments are available at the Institute.

Admission requirements: The student's undergraduate training should include twenty four semester hours in one of the life or physical sciences. At least twelve of these hours must be in upper-division work. Adequate preparation in mathematics is expected of all students.

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MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM

Approximately three years of graduate study, which will include original research and practical experience as a Teaching Assistant, are required to complete the Masters degree in Marine Science. Students must complete at least thirty semester hours of acceptable graduate work in marine science and related natural sciences. A maximum of six hours of upper-division undergraduate courses in the minor may be counted. The student's program must include at least one core course in each of the three marine science subdisciplines mentioned above plus two advanced graduate courses in Marine Science. Core courses are listed in the Graduate Catalog and in the list attached to this document. A minor, which is obligatory in every Masters degree program, consists of a minimum of six hours in supporting work outside the major program. The relative number of hours in the major or minor fields, as well as the nature of the supporting work, is determined in consultation with the graduate advisor. A thesis is required and will account for six hours of the total program. The Masters thesis shall be the product of original research.

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DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE PROGRAM

Four to six years of graduate study, which will include original research and practical experience as a Teaching Assistant, are required to complete the Ph.D. in Marine Science. The Doctoral program should contain no fewer than 21 hours of acceptable graduate work in marine science and no less than 9 hours in supporting areas, in addition to dissertation and supervised teaching. Of this minimal requirement of 21 hours, 12 hours of core courses must be completed, including at least one core course in each of the marine science subdisciplines mentioned above. Core courses are listed in the Graduate Catalog and in the list attached to this document. Supporting work from outside the major program (are of specialty) may include courses taken at another institution. To be eligible for admission to candidacy, all doctoral students must complete their core courses and pass a qualifying examination in their area of specialization. This examination will also confirm that students are competent in the other three subdisciplines. Candidacy requirements should be completed by February of the second year of a student's program if they hold a Master's degree and by February of the third year if they entered the program with a Bachelor's degree. All doctoral candidates write a dissertation based on the results of their original research, and make a formal oral defense of the document to complete the degree requirements.

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AREA OF SPECIALTY

Each graduate student will normally select one of the subdisciplines as an area of specialization. Based on the present faculty potential, marine biology and marine chemistry would be the Department's strongest areas of specialization for students. As an example, a doctoral student might base the majority of his/her corse work and dissertation topic in marine biology. The dissertation research would frequently integrate one or more of the other subdisciplines studied. Students opting for a major thrust in marine chemistry would follow a similar program with chemistry forming the major part of their curriculum. Similarly, masters students would specialize in one subdiscipline.

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SUMMARY

If you plan to attend The University of Texas at Austin and study for a graduate degree in the Department of Marine Science, you should keep the following points in mind: 

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FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE TO GRADUATE STUDENTS

Marine Science Institute/Departmental Aid

Teaching and research assistantships are a primary source of financial aid to graduate students. If you wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship in the Department of Marine Science, please complete number 8 on page three of the supplemental information for graduate program in the Application for Admission to Graduate Study. The application for admission, transcripts, GRE scores, statement of objectives, and three letters of reference must be received by the Department's Graduate Advisor no later than DECEMBER 1. Applications received after that date will be considered for an alternate list only.

Research assistants are hired directly by individual faculty members and research scientists at the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas or in Austin. It is necessary for you to personally contact the professor with whom you seek employment. The Graduate Adviser will help you identify potential supervisors.

Non-resident students who are employed half-time by the University as teaching and research assistants are eligible to receive a waiver of the non-resident tuition and fees and will pay the same charges as a Texas state resident. They are also eligible to apply for medical and dental insurance coverage.

The maximum period that may be funded by teaching or research assistantship is set by the University at eight long (Spring or Fall) semesters. Summer funding is not counted toward this total.

E.J. Lund Research Scholarship Awards in Marine Science

The E.J. Lund Founder's Fund was established by the Board of Regents in 1979. Income from this endowment funds the E.J. Lund Research Scholarship Awards in Marine Science for graduate students of exceptional merit. Four to five students are selected through an annual competition and supported for up to two years. Awards are limited to students who will be in resident at the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas at the time they use the Fellowship.

University Fellowships

The Office of Graduate Studies administers a small number of highly competitive fellowships. The recipients are selected on the basis of merit and academic excellence. These University Fellows receive tuition and fees in addition to their stipend. Awards are offered as soon as an eligible candidate is identified until all the funding has been committed. Obviously, it is urgent that the application file be completed at the earliest possible date.

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GENERAL GRADUATE ADMISSION INFORMATION

Students must be accepted for admission by both the Department of Marine Science AND the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin before they may begin course work leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degree.

The minimum requirements for regular admission to graduate study in the Department of Marine Science are: 

Our most successful students have Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (verbal and quantitative portions combined) of 1200 or more, however we consider the complete application package and no student is denied admission based solely on lower GRE scores.

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ADMISSION MATERIALS REQUIRED

To be mailed to Graduate and International Admissions Center, P.O. Box 7608, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78713-7608:
 

Items to be mailed to the Graduate Adviser, The University of Texas at Austin, Marine Science Institute, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, Texas 78373-5015:
 

Admission is not considered without the GRE score. In addition, all applicants who are not Citizens of the United States of America or who do not have permanent resident status must submit an official TOEFL score.
 

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Created: Thu Jan 4 14:59:13 CST 2001