The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Program in marine sciences is designed to provide formal course work and advanced research in marine sciences that produces significant, original contributions to knowledge. The Ph.D. degree is awarded to students who have reached and formally demonstrated a level of competence and accomplishment that enables them to pursue careers as marine science professionals. The Ph.D. degree confers eligibility for many positions in academia, industry, and government.
Prospectus Completion (2.5 yrs max) w/ MS (2.5 yrs max) w/o MS (3 yrs max)
Coursework Completion (3.5 yrs max) w/ MS (3 yrs max) w/o MS (3.5 yrs max)
Written Exam Completion (4 yrs max) w/ MS (3 yrs max) w/o MS (4 yrs max)
Oral Exam Completion (4 yrs max) w/ MS (3 yrs max) w/o MS (4 yrs max)
Degree Completion (5yrs max) w/ MS (5 yrs max) w/o MS (6 yrs max)
Grant opportunities
The Department of Marine Sciences offers at-large fellowships to Ph.D. students annually on a competitive basis. In addition, there are a variable number of doctoral assistantships that are sponsored by externally funded grants and contracts to faculty. The current stipend for Ph.D. fellowships is $20,000 per year plus a tuition fellowship and waiver of out-of-state fees. Prospective students must submit applications by February 1 to receive consideration for at-large fellowships.
A limited number of graduate assistantships are allocated to the department by the Graduate School. These assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis by the department. Interested students should apply directly to the department. Applications for graduate assistantships are available online at: http://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/graduateschool/
Prerequisites
Minimum Requirements For Admission
Students are normally admitted in the Fall Semester. Although applications for admission and fellowships are accepted throughout the year, application before February 1 is encouraged; beginning February 15 the admissions committee will make initial recommendations about applicants for the following Fall class, with formal letters sent to applicants by the end of March. Depending on availability of space and funding, applications may be approved and students admitted throughout the year. In addition to the general admissions requirements of the Graduate School, requirements for admission to the Marine Sciences Ph.D. program are
- A narrative statement indicating the student's research interests, professional goals and commitment to full-time study for completion of degree requirements.
- Three letters of recommendation.
For students with baccalaureate degrees:
- Official scores from the Graduate Record Examination General Test with a minimum score of 300 combined on the verbal and quantitative subtests.
- A baccalaureate degree in a discipline related to marine sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, geology, physics) from an accredited four-year college or university.
- An undergraduate minimum grade-point average of 3.0 overall (A=4).
For students with MS degrees:
- An MS degree in a discipline related to marine sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, geology, physics) from an accredited college or university.
- A graduate minimum grade-point average of 3.25 overall (A=4).
- Official scores from the Graduate Record Examination General Test with a minimum score of 300 combined on the verbal and quantitative subtests.
International students must submit an official score of at least 525 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or equivalent score on computer administered tests.
To insure research compatibility between the student and the faculty in the marine sciences program, attention will be given to the statement of research interests. A faculty member will be asked to act as a mentor for the applicant based on the statement of interests and, if necessary, a personal interview. Through this process, the student's interests will be matched to the expertise available within the faculty. Moreover, the mentor may also be able to offer the student financial support if a stipend is not available. Students whose interests do not correspond to those of a particular faculty mentor, and have not identified a faculty member willing to serve as a mentor, will not be admitted into the Ph.D. degree program in marine sciences.
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