School of Ocean Science and Technology

Monty Graham, Director
1020 Balch Boulevard
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-1020
228.688.3177

Asper, Biber, Blaylock, Buijsman, Darnell, Diercks, Dillon, Graham, Greenhow, Griffitt, Hamdan, Hayes, Hernadez, Hiroji, Howden, Leaf, Milroy, Nechaev, Nootz, Pilarczyk, Powell, Rakocinski, Redalje, Saillant, Shaw, Shiller, VanNorden, Wallace, Wells, Wiesenburg, Wiggert, Wu

The School of Ocean Science and Engineering is home to an array of research and teaching enterprises. At the undergraduate level, the school offers Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees in marine science, marine science with an emphasis in hydrography, and ocean engineering. The school also offers a minor in marine science and a certificate in unmanned marine systems.

BS in Marine Science

The BS in marine science provides students with a multidisciplinary education that integrates natural and computational sciences coursework in the study of ocean dynamics. Students take courses in biological sciences, chemistry, geology, physics, mathematics, and computer science to prepare them broadly in the area of marine science (oceanography). Students with degrees in marine science can expect to work in fields driven by scientific research, including environmental research and consulting or advocacy work.

The 124-hour degree in marine science requires students to complete the University’s general education curriculum as well as 62-64 hours of coursework in the major. Calculus is required for this degree. For more information on specific details of degree requirements, please see the degree plan.

Students may complete the first half of their program at either that Hattiesburg or Gulf Park campuses. The second half of the program is delivered at Gulf Park exclusively, where students will have access to specialized classes that utilize laboratory facilities in Long Beach and Gulfport Port Facility.

Minor in Marine Science

Students interested in a holistic, synthetic analysis of the natural sciences as they relate specifically to ocean processes and the marine environment are invited to consider a minor in marine science. A minor in marine science requires a minimum of 18 hours, with a grade of C or higher in each course, chosen from the approved list of courses. MAR 210 - The Oceans , MAR 300 - Marine Science I: Oceanography , MAR 301 - Marine Science II: Marine Biology  and at least one marine science laboratory (MAR 300L  or MAR 301L ) are required for the marine science minor. The remaining 7 hours may be selected from any of the 300- to 400-level MAR course offerings. Please note that the prerequisites for MAR 300 /MAR 300L  and MAR 301 /MAR 301L  are BSC 110 /BSC 110L , BSC 111 /BSC 111L , CHE 106 /CHE 106L , CHE 107 /CHE 107L , and MAT 101 .

BS in Marine Science (Hydrography)

The BS in marine science with an emphasis in hydrography provides students with the knowledge and skills they need to collect, analyze, and manage oceanographic data and chart various dimensions of the world’s oceans. Students take courses in many difference scientific and computational disciplines to prepare for the work of being a hydrographer. Students with degrees in marine science with a hydrography emphasis work in areas such as oil and gas exploration, navigational safety, natural disaster and sea level rise studies, habitat mapping, and ocean circulation modeling.

The 124-hour degree in marine science requires students to complete the University’s general education curriculum as well as 89-91 hours of coursework in the major. Calculus is required for this degree. For more information on specific details of degree requirements, please see the degree plan.

Students may complete the first half of their program at either that Hattiesburg or Gulf Park campuses. The second half of the program is delivered at Gulf Park exclusively, where students will have access to specialized classes that utilize laboratory facilities in Long Beach and Gulfport Port Facility.

BS in Ocean Engineering

The BS in ocean engineering reflects the school’s emphasis on the “Blue Economy” and the need for students who are ready for employment in areas such as shipbuilding, the maritime industry, offshore exploration, environmental monitoring, port operations, and more. The program in ocean engineering is one of only ten programs in the nation and will prepare students well for the growing needs of this economic sector.

The 125-hour degree in ocean engineering focuses students on coursework that prepares them to develop engineering solutions to challenges in the ocean and related environments. Students pursuing this degree complete the University’s general education curriculum as well as 88-101 hours of coursework in the major. Calculus is required for this degree. For more information on specific details of degree requirements, please see the degree plan.

Students may complete the first half of their program at either that Hattiesburg or Gulf Park campuses. The second half of the program is delivered at Gulf Park exclusively, where students will have access to specialized classes that utilize laboratory facilities in Long Beach and Gulfport Port Facility.

Coastal Sciences Program

More than 20 upper-level, undergraduate courses in coastal sciences (COA) are offered at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, mainly during the summer. The Division of Coastal Sciences offers specialized courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels focused on research in the areas of marine biology, oceanography, marine mammals, elasmobranch biology, remote sensing/GIS, coastal zones applications, aquaculture, coastal and marine fisheries, coastal geology, invertebrate zoology and biology, coastal ecology, parasitology, estuarine chemistry, toxicology, botany, applied molecular techniques, science education, and biodiversity and systematics. The Division of Coastal Sciences cooperates with the School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and the Center for Science and Mathematics Education to provide students with state-of-the-art research and educational opportunities.

Undergraduates interested in preparing for graduate study in coastal sciences should pursue a bachelor’s degree program in their department of choice, developing a strong background in biology, chemistry, geology, physics and mathematics through calculus. Students interested in the marine biology degree in the biological sciences should review that section of this Bulletin.

GCRL Field Program

The Department of Coastal Sciences offers a selection of accelerated, field-oriented undergraduate and graduate courses at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) campus. For courses, see this Bulletin. Where appropriate, courses are also cross-listed by biological sciences, chemistry and biochemistry, geology, marine sciences and science education. Courses are available for undergraduate or graduate credit. Graduate students may also conduct thesis, dissertation and directed research at GCRL.

Admission to the GCRL Field Program

Due to space limitations for the field-oriented courses, students need to apply early and directly to the GCRL for admission to the accelerated courses. Contact the GCRL Field Program (gcrlsfp@usm.edu OR 228.818.8852) for application materials. The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory is affiliated with 65 colleges and universities whose students participate in the academic program. An application and information about the GCRL Field Program is available on the Web at gcrl.usm.edu.

Course Loads

The GCRL Summer Field Program courses are offered during spring intersessions (January) and the Summer Field Program includes three summer sessions. Because courses are taught at an accelerated pace (i.e., an entire semester of lecture and laboratory is taught in three or five weeks), a student is allowed to enroll in only one course each session. Students are able to earn up to 15 credit hours during the summer. Classes meet each weekday with particular times scheduled for field trips, classroom instruction and laboratory work.

Room and Board

Room and board is available for students selecting on-campus housing, which includes internet access, laundry, facilities and three daily meals in the GCRLdining hall.

Fees

Lab Fee: $60 on select courses
Field fees: $200.00-$800.00 (depending on course)
Books, supplies, etc.: $75.00-$200.00 (approximate depending on course)

Students pay fees directly to The University of Southern Mississippi. Fees are subject to change without prior notice.

Application Deadline

A student may enroll in only one course each session. Students should not take classes at other campuses while taking field courses at GCRL. Please refer to the website (gcrl.usm.edu) for the current program calendar and course offerings.

Research Locations and Centers

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Read Hendon, Associate Director
703 East Beach Dr.
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
228.818.8804

The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) is located in Ocean Springs, Miss. It is the home of a summer field program in the marine sciences that has operated continuously since 1947. The 50-acre site is also home to the Division of Coastal Sciences, the Center for Fisheries Research and Development, the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, the Marine Education Center and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. Approximately 200 faculty, technical personnel, support staff and students work at the GCRL.

Center for Fisheries Research and Development

Jill Hendon, Assistant Director
703 East Beach Dr.
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
228.872.4242

The Center for Fisheries Research and Development addresses fisheries issues important to Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico region. Focusing on fisheries, habitats and invasive species, fisheries center scientists work closely with marine resource users and managers in conducting research and putting new knowledge and skills to use. The Center’s scientists fill roles as leaders in charting directions for future research strategies and as sources of accurate and timely information needed for resource management plans based on scientific findings.

Marine Education Center

Christopher Snyder, Director
703 East Beach Dr.
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
228.818.8891

The Marine Education Center is the education and outreach arm of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and endeavors to enlighten the citizenry to produce a cadre of well informed and knowledgeable stewards of our coastal ecosystems. The Center supports a career based working environment utilizing formal, non-formal, free-choice learning and higher education strategies focusing on the coastal ecosystems of the north-central Gulf of Mexico to promote careers in marine science and foster community involvement.

Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center

Kelly Lucas, Director
103 McIlwain Drive
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
228.818.8026

The University of Southern Mississippi’s Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center is a leader in the development of intensive, low-water use, high bio-security culture of marine species for consumption and enhancing native populations. The nearly 100,000 sq. ft. of research and development capacity provides state of the art facilities for studies and graduate education opportunities.

Center for Gulf Studies

The Center for Gulf Studies located at the Stennis Space Center, serves as a focal point for new, long-term research and socioeconomic initiatives along the northern Gulf of Mexico.  The Center staff seek sound, comprehensive science and technology-based understanding of chronic and acute stressors, both anthropogenic and natural, on the dynamic and productive waters and habitats of the northern Gulf of Mexico and seek to facilitate sustainable use of the Gulf’s important resources.  The Center is externally funded through research projects from state and federal agencies.

Hydrographic Science Research Center

The Hydrographic Science Research Center, located within the Department of Marine Science at Stennis Space Center, is the research compliment to the academic program in hydrographic science.  Under the sponsorship of various government and commercial activities, its externally funded research has assessed emerging trends in the science of hydrography, developed innovative techniques and technologies capturing these trends, and implemented these techniques and technologies into hydrographic operations.

Programs

• Marine Science (Hydrography), B.S. Degree Requirements (124 hours)
• Marine Science (Hydrography), B.S. Semester-by-semester Guide
• Marine Science, B.S. Degree Requirements (124 hours)
• Marine Science, B.S. Semester-by-semester Guide
• Ocean Engineering, B.S. Degree Requirements (124 hours)
• Ocean Engineering, B.S. Semester-by-semester Guide

• Marine Science Minor

• Unmanned Marine Systems