About the program: Oceans extend over two thirds of the earth and it is estimated that the majority of the species that live in oceans have yet to be discovered and researched. Oceans play a decisive role in the climatic system, biogeochemical processes, and material cycles. This research-oriented master’s degree program in marine sciences focuses on understanding the biological, physical, and ecological processes in oceans and researching anthropological effects on organisms, populations, societies, and biological systems in oceans in general and in the Mediterranean Sea in particular.
Students in the program conduct experiments in the field and the lab that incorporate multidisciplinary approaches and perform theoretical and experimental work based on analytical, statistical, and mathematical tools. They utilize sophisticated technologies via bio-molecular, optic, and acoustic tools as well as remote sensing tools and GIS systems.
The curriculum endows students with a broad scientific background in marine sciences beyond the specific discipline related to the area of specialization that they select. The array of disciplines includes biological oceanography, marine ecology and biology, chemical oceanography, physical oceanography, marine geology, marine agriculture, and genomics and ecology of marine populations. The program is taught by researchers from the Faculty of Marine Sciences as well as lecturers from universities.
Who is the program for: The program is designed for graduates of BSc programs in life sciences, marine sciences, environmental sciences, geography, and geology who are interested in conducting advanced research in the fascinating discipline of marine sciences.
Distinctive Program
The program’s multidisciplinary curriculum enables students to obtain a deep and broad multidisciplinary education. The program opens the door to academic and logistical opportunities for scientific and professional training in this important and fascinating field. Demand for professionals in oceanography is rising constantly both in Israel and around the world and this is not only the first master’s degree program in Israel in this field, but also the only one.
The Thesis
The research for the thesis is conducted both in the field and in the Faculty of Marine Science’s labs, which are equipped for ecology, biology, chemistry and molecular biology studies. We have in addition a natural product lab, and a running seawater lab. The research is supervised by a senior faculty member and the research topic is determined in consultation with the advisor. The research extends over the two-year period of studies and can serve as a base for further research to earn a PhD degree at a research university.
Teaching Infrastructure and Advanced Marine Research Labs
Students at the faculty enjoy six labs, sampling and monitoring equipment, vessels for marine research, and direct access to the Mediterranean Sea. The labs are fully equipped for research , organismic and molecular biology , biotechnology, chemistry, microbiology, and sea-born natural products. We also operate a sustainable unit for cultivating transgenic fish intended for advanced marine science, life science, or medical research. The faculty also has a running seawater lab for marine research outfitted with sophisticated equipment to facilitate teaching and research on marine topics at the highest academic level.
The faculty’s students and faculty also have access to a sophisticated research vessel, the R/V Mediterranean Explorer, which is used for oceanographic and marine biology studies. It belongs to the EcoOcean nonprofit, which promotes marine science education at various levels, from youth to academia. The nonprofit put this sophisticated vessel at the disposal of research and teaching institutions in Israel.
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