The Department of Oceanography offers a 5-year combination degree program that allows a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography major to enter the Master of Ocean Science and Technology at the start of their senior year (typically year four) at Texas A&M University. This enables students to receive their Oceanography undergraduate degree (BS) and a Master of Ocean Science and Technology (MOST) graduate degree in five years.

The BS in Oceanography curriculum: 1) Provides students with an interdisciplinary understanding of the oceans and the processes affecting them for use in careers in marine science or other related fields; 2) Provides students with the skills to retrieve, evaluate, and analyze large oceanographic datasets such as those generated from long term oceanographic studies and observing systems; and 3) Emphasizes critical thinking and problem solving skills.

The BS in Oceanography has four themes: Ocean Observing Science and Technology (OOST), Ocean Climate (OC), Marine Ecosystems Processes (MEP) and Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry (MCG).  All four themes share common requirements but allow for specialization depending on a student's interest.  The OOST theme provides more emphasis in statistics and ocean observing systems; all students will gain skill in handling, evaluating and analyzing large datasets.  The OC theme provides more emphasis in advanced math skills that can be applied to understanding ocean climate interactions; all students will gain skill in handling, evaluating and analyzing large datasets. The MEP theme provides more emphasis in biological and ecological processes; all students will gain skill in understanding and applying a biological framework to understanding the ocean. The MCG theme provides more emphasis on marine chemistry and geochemistry; all students will gain skill in understanding and applying a chemical and geochemical framework to understanding the ocean.

The Master of Ocean Science and Technology (MOST) is a non-thesis degree.  It provides students with education and training from scientists who are active researchers and educators working at the cutting edge of ocean sciences throughout the global ocean, from the Gulf of Mexico to the waters around Antarctica.

The curriculum is designed to: 1) Provide students with a basic understanding of the major concepts in oceanography that can be applied in their Ocean Sciences careers, 2) Provide students with the skills and tools to evaluate and analyze data, particularly large datasets of the type generated by ocean observing systems, and 3) Facilitate critical thinking and problem solving.

Many graduates will obtain jobs in in a variety of fields including marine technical support, energy and transportation industries, insurance industries, hazard mitigation, marine operations, homeland security, oil spill response, etc.

For additional information, please visit https://ocean.tamu.edu/.

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A grade of C or better is required.

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Select one of the following tracks: Marine Ecological Processes, Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Ocean Climate, Ocean Observing Science and Technology

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If Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry track is chosen, this will be 4 credits instead of 3 credits

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Students will not be permitted to receive credit for both the 400- and 600-level versions of certain courses because the content and learning outcomes are too similar (OCNG 404/OCNG 604; OCNG 470/OCNG 655)

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If Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry track is chosen, this will be 2 credits instead of 3 credits.

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Applied toward both the Bachelor of Science in Oceanography and the Master of Ocean Science and Technology.

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Select from ATMO 201, ATMO 203, ATMO 251, ATMO 300-499; BIOL 213, BIOL 214, BIOL 300-399; BICH 300-499; CHEM 300-499; CVEN 221; GENE 300-499; GEOG 442/GEOL 442, GEOG 361, GEOG 370/MARS 370, GEOG 390; GEOS 442; MATH 251; MATH 300-499; PHYS 221; PHYS 300-499; OCEN 300-499; OCNG 400-499; STAT 212, STAT 400-499.

Any of the required courses may be taken during the Summer Sessions to diminish the heavy semester loads during Years 2 and 3.

The program includes a total of 156 hours with 6 hours being applied toward both the Bachelor of Science in Oceanography and the Master of Ocean Science and Technology.