Marine Biology

Type of degree: Ph.D.

Brief overview of program: The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 90 credits beyond the baccalaureate. At least 48 credits must consist of dissertation research and 42 credits must be in upper-level course work, which usually consists of tutorial studies with the major professor. The student also must successfully complete the Ph.D. comprehensive examination (normally taken after the majority of the coursework has been completed and within 1.5 years of starting the Ph.D. program) and defend the completed dissertation before the committee, interested faculty, and students. The student's Ph.D. committee consists of at least four people. The major professor must be either from the Oceanographic Center or from another center within Nova Southeastern University. At least two of the committee members must be Oceanographic Center faculty. It is recommended that the fourth committee member be a suitably qualified external expert in the chosen area of research. The committee monitors all phases of the candidate's progress. Students are expected to complete the program in nine years or less, a minimum of three years of which must be in residence. The Ph.D. degree consists of a program of upper-level course work and original research on a selected topic of importance in the ocean sciences. Courses consist of required general core courses as well as tutorial studies with the major professor. Applicants may be fully or provisionally accepted. If applicants do not make minimum provisional guidelines, the applications may be rejected out of hand and not circulated through the Admissions Committee. For Ph.D. applicants, previous degree(s) should be in the area of mathematics (for physical oceanography) or an appropriate area of the natural sciences (for marine biology). A master's degree in biological oceanography, biology or marine biology, or a related science is preferred, especially for the biological sciences Ph.D. Ph.D. applicants should have obtained agreement from a faculty member to serve as major professor. For the biological sciences, Ph.D. applicants should have a completed draft dissertation proposal that must be submitted with the application. The proposal content will be a major factor in acceptance.

Website: Click here for program website

Program Point of Contact: Melissa Dore

Email: missy@nova.edu