Marine Science and Technology (PhD)

Environmental Sciences | School for the Environment

Program Requirements

Complete 54 credits from at least 14 courses including three marine science core courses, one marine policy core course, two School for the Environment seminars, 21 to 22 credits of concentration electives, and 18 credits of dissertation research.

Concentration: Students must select a concentration in coastal systems science, integrated coastal management, living marine resources science and management, marine and atmospheric system modeling and analysis, marine biogeochemistry and environmental change, marine observation technologies, or oceans and human health.
Doctoral candidacy: Successful completion of a comprehensive written and oral qualifying examination by the end of the sixth semester. If the presentation and successful defense of the dissertation do not take place within five years of admission to candidacy, the candidate must repeat the comprehensive examination.
Dissertation: Compose and defend a dissertation based on original empirical research.

Students may apply to receive a MS in Marine Science and Technology upon completion of all core courses requirements and the written and oral examinations.

Minimum grade: No courses with grade below B can be applied to the program. Students who earn B- in two courses will be considered no longer in good standing and may be dismissed from the program. Students who receive a grade below C in any graduate course will be dismissed from the program.
Grading basis: Courses must be taken graded unless the course is only offered on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
GPA: A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required from all courses applied toward the program.
Residency: Excluding intercampus marine science courses taken at UMass campuses, graduate course credits earned at another institution, as a non-degree student, or in another department may only be applied to the program with approval from the dissertation committee and graduate program director.
Course level: No more than one course taken at UMass Boston at the 300/400-level may be applied toward the program with approval of the thesis/project advisor and graduate program director.
Statute of limitations: Eight years.

Course Requirements

Marine Science Core (9 to 10 Credits)

Complete three from below.

ENVSCI 630 - Biological Oceanography 3 Credit(s)
ENVSCI 640 - The Chemistry of Natural Waters 3 Credit(s)
or
ENVSCI 641 - The Geochemistry of a Habitable Planet 3 Credit(s)
and ENVSCI 642 - Laboratory for the Geochemistry of a Habitable Planet 1 Credit(s)
ENVSCI 650 - Physical Oceanography 3 Credit(s)

Marine Policy Core (3 Credits)

Complete one from below.

ENVSCI 670L - Environmental and Energy Economics 3 Credit(s)
ENVSCI 674L - Climate and Energy: Law, Policy and Management 3 Credit(s)
ENVSCI 675L - Economics of Renewables: Marine and Energy Resources 3 Credit(s)
ENVSCI 718L - Environmental Law and Policy: Federal Agencies, Courts, and Congress 3 Credit(s)
ENVSCI 726 - Coastal Zone Management 3 Credit(s)

School for the Environment Seminar (2 Credits)

All PhD students must attend seminar each week throughout their enrollment in the program but will receive no more than 2 credits for seminar.

ENVSCI 791 - Seminar in Environmental Sciences 1 Credit(s)

Concentration Electives (21 to 22 Credits)

Complete courses and independent research hours to fulfill the 54 credit hour requirement.

Students may select from any of the courses above not already taken or from 600-level or higher courses approved by their faculty mentor.

Dissertation Research (18 Credits)

PhD students must complete 18 credits of dissertation research. More than 18 credits may be taken but only 18 will be applied to the degree.

ENVSCI 899 - Dissertation Research 1 - 12 Credit(s)