School of Ocean Science and Technology

W. Monty Graham, Ph.D., Director
1020 Balch Boulevard
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-1020
(228) 688-3177
monty.graham@usm.edu

Division of Coastal Sciences

Joe Griffitt, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Director
of the School of Ocean Science and Technology
703 E. Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Joe.Griffitt@usm.edu

Darcie Graham, Graduate Program Coordinator
703 E. Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
(228) 818-8887
darcie.graham@usm.edu

Biber, Darnell, Dillon, Griffitt, Grimes, Hamdan, Hernandez, Leaf, Powell, Rakocinski, Saillant, Wu

The Division of Coastal Sciences offers both the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Coastal Sciences. Graduate level education and research programs are offered in four emphasis areas of coastal sciences (aquaculture, aquatic health sciences, coastal ecology and ecosystem processes, and fisheries and fisheries oceanography). Given the interdisciplinary nature of this division, students interested in pursuing a degree in coastal sciences should develop a strong background and working knowledge in the basic sciences. Experience with computers and a basic background in statistics is recommended.

Division of Marine Science

Jerry Wiggert, Ph.D., Interim Chair and Associate Director
of the School of Ocean Science and Technology
John C. Stennis Space Center
1020 Balch Boulevard
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
(228) 688-3177
jerry.wiggert@usm.edu

Asper, Buijsman, Graham, Greenhow, Hayes, Howden, Milroy, Nechaev, Pilarczyk, Redalje, Shiller, van Norden, Wallace, Wiggert, Wiesenburg

The Division of Marine Science offers both the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Science and a Master of Science in Hydrographic Science. Graduate level education and research programs are offered in five emphasis areas of marine science (biological oceanography, geological oceanography, marine chemistry and physical oceanography and in hydrographic science). Faculty in Marine Science conduct a wide variety of research including: marine phytoplankton ecology, physiology, bio-optics, primary production, taxonomy, coupled biophysical models, computational biology, zooplankton, marine particle fluxes, coastal geology; aquatic biogeochemistry and chemical oceanography, trace elements in natural waters, marine and estaurine chemistry, geochemistry of rivers and weathering; estuarine physics and sediment transport, numerical modeling with MITgcm, ROMS and HYCOM, remote sensing, data assimilation into numerical ocean models, physical-biological interactions and coupled physical-biogeochemical modeling. Hydrographic science areas include numerical ocean modeling, remote sensing, bathymetry and mapping, positioning, acoustics, and hydrographic surveying. The marine science faculty are all located at the John C. Stennis Space Center (near Bay St. Louis). Scientists affiliated with the Naval Research Laboratory, the Naval Oceanographic Office, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and other agencies at the Stennis Space Center and elsewhere provide additional state-of-the-art research and educational opportunities in marine science and hydrographic science.

The best preparation for students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in marine science or hydrographic science would be to develop a strong working knowledge in calculus, applied mathematics, statistics, the basic sciences (biology, chemistry, geology, physics) and engineering.

Experience with computers is highly recommended. We realize that not all students will have gained the ideal background for pursuing a M.S. in marine science or hydrographic science or Ph.D. in marine science. Deficiencies will normally be made up during the student’s first year.

Print this Page