Department of Marine Science

W. Monty Graham, Ph.D., Chair
Department of Marine Science
John C. Stennis Space Center
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
(228) 688-3177
monty.graham@usm.edu

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

The Department 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.