Students develop a program of study in biological, chemical, geological or physical oceanography. Typical areas of research emphasis include marine biogeochemistry, coastal ecology, coastal ocean processes, microbial ecology, marine ecosystem studies, biotechnology, systematics, marine botany, invertebrate zoology, remote sensing, zooplankton ecology, and several other branches within the basic core areas. See potential research areas available.
Application procedure
As part of the application the applicant must submit a Personal Statement:The applicant statement is an opportunity to put qualifications in context and to explain applicants’ plans for graduate school. Topics to be included may be to the extent possible: what is envisioned for a research project; why is this project or area of interest important; why is the DMS an appropriate Institution to carry out your studies; how did interest in this topic/area occur; what background do you have in this area; and if there has been communication with a prospective advisor. Applicants are encouraged to address any past problems in their record. PhD applicants are expected to provide a reasonably specific statement of the research project intended.
Grant opportunities
There are a number of different types of financial assistance available to graduate students in the Department of Marine Science. Most students receive assistance in one form or another.
- Many students receive financial aid from Research Assistantships, which are awarded by individual faculty members who have research grants and who need assistance to meet the objectives of their research. These assistantships are generally awarded to students who have been active for one or more years. Since the awarding of research funds to faculty members by various agencies is independent of the academic calendar, it is generally not possible to promise research assistantships in advance to incoming students.
- Teaching Assistantships are available, but limited. They are awarded on a semester-to-semester basis. Teaching assistants are generally selected by their knowledge in certain disciplines that enable them to teach basic courses or laboratories within the science departments of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Geology).
- DMS Graduate Student Assistantship: These assistantships are generally awarded to students who have been active for one or more years.
For additional information please contact individual DMS faculty members or the director of the department.
Prerequisites
Applicants must have a BS or a BA degree with a specialization in science or engineering in order to enter the M.S. program
Applicants to the MS program in Marine Sciences should possess:
- A Bachelor of Science or Arts Degree, or its equivalent with a specialization in science or engineering comparable to such degrees granted at the University of Puerto Rico.
- A minimum general GPA of 3.0. However, applicants with a GPA of 2.8 or better may be considered if compelling circumstances are presented. Applicants with a GPA below 2.8 will not be considered.
- Strong academic preparation in the field of general specialization (Biology, Geology, Physics, Chemistry), including university level courses (prerequisites) in calculus, physics, chemistry and general biology for all majors (see below for minimum course pre-requisites). -Calculus (1 semester); -General Biology (1 year); -Physics (1 year); -General Chemistry (1 year), for majors in Physics, Mathematics, Geology and Engineering; -Organic Chemistry (1 semester), for majors in Biology and Chemistry.
ISCED Categories
