About 70 percent of the earth is covered by bodies of water, and only five percent of that has been explored by scientists.

About 70 percent of the protein human beings consume comes from the sea.

It would not be a stretch to say marine science is one of the most important subjects a graduate student could study.

Reasons to Study in the Field

The graduate field of marine science is an extremely broad one that can center on the study of the ocean, its ecosystems and its life forms, as well as on the impact of society on marine environments. Students may research issues such as pollution, recreation, aquaculture and ocean dumping.

Marine science graduate programs typically focus on a particular branch of the earth sciences and involve such study fields as:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Ecology
• Geology
• Meteorology
• Oceanography
• Zoology

Students working toward a master's of science (M.S.) or Ph.D. degree in marine science will examine the physiology, biochemistry and ecology of marine plants and animals. Marine science graduate programs require work in the classroom, laboratory and in the field. Students will collect data and use their computer and mathematical skills to process and analyze that data.

Graduate programs in marine science demand that students develop strong research, critical thinking, problem-solving, analytical and communication skills. They can expect to take courses which cover biogeochemistry, mariculture and environmental monitoring. Other classes may include marine policy, advanced paleontology, hydrodynamics and air-sea interaction.

Because marine science is such a broad area of study, graduate programs in marine science tend to require students to choose a specific concentration. A few of the many concentrations available include:

• Marine Biology
• Marine Chemistry
• Ocean Engineering
• Marine Mammology
• Marine Fishery Biology
• and Oceanography

Oceanography focuses on the biological, chemical and physical aspects of the ocean, and is one of the largest and most popular concentrations offered by graduate marine science programs. Within an oceanography concentration, students can choose biological, chemical, geological or physical oceanography, as well as ocean engineering or environmental science.

Regardless of the concentration they choose, students wishing to earn a masters (M.S.) or Ph.D. degree in marine science must enjoy being outdoors, as well as have a background in a basic science such as biology, chemistry, geology, physics or applied mathematics. As they explore the interaction between marine environments and the earth, biosphere and atmosphere, students will engage in hands-on learning.

Students enrolled in a marine science graduate program tend to have a strong commitment to protecting and preserving the earth's bodies of water and the plant and animal life that calls those waters home. They will apply this commitment as they learn to use cutting-edge technologies and research.

Careers in marine science often bring to mind an image of probing the depths of the ocean in scuba gear, alongside dolphins and other fascinating marine life. However, graduates of marine science graduate programs spend most of their time in laboratories and offices rather than swimming among dolphins, whales and sharks. Marine scientists devote much of their careers to researching and writing scientific literature, grants and proposals.

That is not to say that completion of a graduate program in marine science will never put you in contact with the ecosystems and creatures in the field. Marine scientists do spend time in the field, and those occasions bring on demanding work that can sometimes last around the clock.

Marine science offers as much variety in careers as it does in its graduate study concentrations. Those who earn a master's or Ph.D. degree in marine science can become marine biologists, who command average annual salaries of $50,000. Oceanographers can earn an average of $70,000, while an ocean engineer can take home as much as $90,000 annually.

The average annual salary of a marine-policy specialist is around $55,000. Many graduates of marine science graduate programs become professors, who can earn an average of $70,000 per year. Graduates who choose to become research scientists in the field can expect an average annual salary of about $80,000, while a water-purification chemist can command an average salary of $70,000.

Those who complete marine science graduate programs may decide to focus on fisheries, marine minerals and energy, or shipping and ports. They may also enter careers in maritime security, coastal management and environmental protection. Marine science graduates can seek employment by state and local governments, colleges and universities, and in private industries, where they can command the highest salaries.

No matter which career a graduate may choose, marine science graduate programs offer a plethora of exciting possibilities. Find the program that works best for you now.

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