The Master of Science in Environmental and Ocean Sciences (MS EOS) at USD has two tracks: Marine Science and Environmental Science. The MS EOS at USD is research-intensive and ultimately culminates in a written thesis. Guided by faculty mentors, students perform research at both USD facilities and those of nearby institutions. Thesis committees may be headed by USD EOS graduate faculty, as well as affiliated graduate faculty members. Committee members are drawn from USD EOS faculty, other science departments at USD and senior research scientists at other institutions.
Requirements
The Environmental and Ocean Sciences MS Program includes two tracks, Environmental Science and Marine Science. The selection of a track should be based on the nature of a student's thesis research.
Requirements for the Degree
Coursework (minimum 19 units) | ||
EOSC 500 | Core Seminar I | 2 |
EOSC 501 | Core Seminar II | 2 |
Graduate Science Courses (12 units), with lab (Students in the Marine Science track must take at least two graduate science courses (8 units) with an M designation. Students in the Environmental Science track must take at least two graduate science courses (8 units) with an E designation. Electives could be E or M for students in either track) | 12 | |
Graduate Elective or Science Course, with lab | 3-4 | |
Graduate Science Courses, with Lab (E = Environmental, M = Marine) | ||
EOSC 520 | Introduction to Remote Sensing (E,M) | 4 |
EOSC 530 | Human Impacts on the Coastal Environment with Lab (E,M) | 4 |
EOSC 533 | Plankton Ecology (M) | 4 |
EOSC 534 | Wetlands Ecology with Lab (M) | 4 |
EOSC 536 | Marine Community Ecology with Lab (M) | 4 |
EOSC 538 | Animal Behavioral Ecology with Lab (M) | 4 |
EOSC 540 | Mathematical Modeling in Ecology (M) | 4 |
EOSC 550 | Geological Oceanography (E,M) | 4 |
EOSC 551 | Biological Oceanography (M) | 4 |
EOSC 552 | Environmental and Ocean Geochemistry (E,M) | 4 |
EOSC 573 | Climatology (E,M) | 4 |
EOSC 574 | History of the Earth and Climate with Lab (E,M) | 4 |
EOSC 581 | Natural Resources of Death Valley (E) | 3 |
EOSC 585 | Environmental Geology (E) | 4 |
EOSC 587 | Surface Water Hydrology (E) | 4 |
EOSC 588 | Geomorphology (E) | 4 |
Graduate Electives (A maximum of six undergraduate units taken at the university may be applied to the graduate program, unless a student is enrolled in the combined degree program. Examples include BIOL 301, BIOL 364, BIOL 416, BIOL 477, BIOL 478, POLS 349. This list is not exhaustive; consult the graduate program director. See the current Undergraduate Course Catalog for course descriptions. No course taken to fulfill an undergraduate deficiency may count toward the required units in the graduate program) | ||
* Courses with lab | ||
EOSC 514 | Introduction to GIS * | 4 |
EOSC 515 | Advanced GIS * | 4 |
EOSC 531 | Human Impacts on the Coastal Environment | 3 |
EOSC 535 | Wetlands Ecology | 3 |
EOSC 537 | Marine Community Ecology | 3 |
EOSC 539 | Animal Behavioral Ecology | 3 |
EOSC 561 | Invertebrate Zoology * | 4 |
EOSC 562 | Biology of Fishes * | 4 |
EOSC 565 | Marine Mammals | 3 |
EOSC 575 | History of the Earth and Climate | 3 |
EOSC 594 | Special Topics in Environmental and Ocean Sciences | 1-4 |
POLS 529 | Law of the Sea | 3 |
Research/Thesis (minimum 10 units) | ||
EOSC 596 | Research (Students may take these courses for 0.5 unit only after they have completed all of the program requirements except EOSC 597. Students who are enrolled for 0.5 unit of EOSC 596 or EOSC 597 are considered half-time) | 0.5-9 |
Graduate Elective or Science course may replace up to 4 units of EOSC 596. | ||
EOSC 597 | Thesis (Students may take these courses for 0.5 unit only after they have completed all of the program requirements except EOSC 597. Students who are enrolled for 0.5 unit of EOSC 596 or EOSC 597 are considered half-time) | 1 |
A minimum of 1 unit of EOSC 597 must be applied toward the degree requirements. | ||
Thesis Committee
A thesis committee of at least three members will be established during the second semester of enrollment. It will consist of at least one full-time USD graduate faculty member and may include members from approved outside institutions. The entire thesis committee will meet with the student semi-annually to assess progress and give advice. Following approval of the thesis proposal by both the thesis chair and the graduate program director and satisfaction of any deficiencies noted at the time of admission to the program, the student will be recommended for candidacy by the thesis committee. Adequate progress will need to be made to maintain candidacy (see candidacy policy, available in the graduate handbook). Additional courses related to the student’s area may be required by the committee chair. All students must be enrolled for at least 1 unit to remain active in the program. Students who have completed all program requirements except EOSC 597, including all required courses, may enroll in 0.5 unit to remain active in the program.
Combined Degree Program (BA/MS)
Undergraduates who are completing a degree in Environmental and Ocean Sciences can apply for admission to the MS program before finishing the BA. Students can apply up to 12 units of course work toward the requirements for both degrees. Applications are accepted during a student's junior or senior year as an undergraduate, following a process similar to the standard application procedure for admission to the Environmental and Ocean Sciences MS Program. Admitted students have undergraduate status until they complete their BA degree requirements, then become graduate students during the subsequent fall semester. Students need to complete a minimum of 18 units while they have graduate student status in order to satisfy the combined degree program requirements.
Below are recommended programs of study for students enrolled in the combined degree program from each of the three pathways in the undergraduate Environmental and Ocean Sciences major. The recommended program of study is given for the student’s junior and senior year as an undergraduate, and for the student’s first year solely in the graduate program. For the first and second years as an undergraduate, see the recommended program of study for the undergraduate program in Environmental and Ocean Sciences.
Combined Degree Program (BS/MS)
Undergraduates who are completing a BS degree in Environmental and Ocean Sciences can apply for admission to the MS program before finishing the BS. Students can apply up to 12 units of course work toward the requirements for both degrees. Applications are accepted during a student's junior or senior year as an undergraduate, following a process similar to the standard application procedure for admission to the Environmental and Ocean Sciences MS Program. Admitted students have undergraduate status until they complete their BS degree requirements, then become graduate students during the subsequent fall semester. Students need to complete a minimum of 18 units while they have graduate student status in order to satisfy the combined degree program requirements.
For students enrolled in the combined degree program, below is a recommended program of study for the student’s first year solely in the graduate program. For the undergraduate years, see the recommended programs of study for each pathway in the undergraduate program in Environmental and Ocean Sciences.