Oceanography reflects the wide variety of ecosystems linked by water. Research in this area covers lakes and streams of fresh water, estuaries, and coastal marine ecosystems that are important to various plants and animals but threatened by human activities.

Oceanography deals with the ocean's physical, chemical, biological, geographical, and behavioral character. Therefore, the program requires studying coastal areas to manage sensitive ocean-related issues and their impact on coastal areas.

  Career Opportunities for an oceanographer

• Geoscientist
• Agricultural and food scientist
• Environmental engineer
• Environmental scientist
• Geological technician
• Petroleum technician
• Postsecondary teacher

For most entry-level positions, you usually require at least one bachelor's degree. Employers generally prefer a degree in geosciences, although you can also start your career with degrees in environmental science or engineering. 

Many positions in oceanography include a Master's degree. To pursue a degree in Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, you must have passed graduation.

Earning of an oceanographer

As per salary.com, in the United States, an average salary of an oceanographer is $70,721 per year. The bottom 25% of oceanographers earn around $66,484, and the top 25% make around $82,646.

The below table will help you understand better:

Education in Oceanography  

If you choose to pursue a Master's in Marine Science, you can get an opportunity to work in many different parts of the world. 

The program includes research that leads to improving the environment and making it a better place for future generations, and their management skills are helpful in many areas of life. 

Depending on the school and length of the program, costs will vary quite a bit. Study several institutions, and find out directly from them what your financial obligations would be.

Eligibility Criteria of Marine Science Program

• On a US 4.0 grading scale, applicants for graduate programs must have the equivalent of a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA equal to 3.
•  Usually, accepted candidates have a 4.0 scale GPA undergraduate or higher. No examination grade should be less than 4.5 (the European grade scale) or D (the American grade scale).

Some College Offering Courses In Marine Science

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Founded in 1947, the University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public research university. The college provides MS in Marine science which provides courses that includes:

• Physical Oceanography
• Marine Geology
• Biological Oceanography
• Chemical Oceanography

A student needs to take 3 of these four courses. And if you are planning for Ph.D., you need to take all four courses. 

The mission of this course is:

1. To give a broad interdisciplinary knowledge of marine science to students having undergraduate training in science and mathematics.
2. To improve skills that will allow these students to use this knowledge to resolve difficult marine environmental problems.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo

For a flexible bachelor's degree program in marine science, you can go to the University of Hawaii at Hilo. It offers the degree through the college of arts and sciences at the college. Students may opt to pursue a BA or BS in marine science. 

There is also a Minor and Certificate option available. Coastal approaches and analyzes, global change, aquatic ecology and evolution, and mathematical applications of marine science are subjects of specialty courses. 

Southern Mississippi University

The program from Southern Mississippi University offers a unique bachelor's in Marine Science and Marine Science(hydrography). It includes general educational requirements, prerequisite math and science classes, a core of marine science, and the hydrographic science courses required. 

Topics of the specialty courses include:

• Electronic charting and navigation.
• Nautical science.
• Ocean policy and management.
• Hydrographic remote sensing. 

Stony Brook University

One of the best is Stony Brook University, through its College of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, offers a top-ranked and highly interdisciplinary bachelor's degree in marine sciences. 

The program consists of specialization course titles such as geological engineering and coastal processes, marine microbiology and microbial ecology environmental instrumental study, and marine habitats in Long Island. 

Stony Brook's marine science undergraduate bachelor's degree may also seek a dual master's degree in marine and atmospheric sciences. 

Some of the other colleges offering a degree in Oceanography and Coastal Sciences are: 

• Florida's Stem University
• University of Georgia
• The University of California, Davis
• The University of Maine
• Curtin University

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