Oceanography & Coastal Sciences, M.S.

(SOCS)

The departmental-level academic course plan for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major advisor and at least two additional members of the graduate faculty such that the LSU Graduate School’s requirements for graduate committees are satisfied.

The degree is a thesis degree. Twenty-four hours of coursework at the graduate level must be earned including a maximum of six hours of credit for the thesis research project for a grand total of 30 credit hours. The curricular requirements include:

• At least 15 hours at the 7000 level or above, exclusive of any type of independent studies credit except for special project credit earned.
• A primary area consisting of a minimum of 12 hours of earned credit in a specified field of study.
• One credit hour of OCS 4030 .
• A minimum core requirement of 12 credit hours, with grades of “B” or higher, in biological, chemical, geological and physical oceanography. A student receiving a “C” may be allowed to repeat the course only once, or be dropped from the graduate degree program.
• A 36-hour non-thesis option is also available.

The 36-hour non-thesis professional option curricular requirements include:

• 36 hours beyond the bachelor degree level; at least 18 hours at or above the 7000 level.
• 6 hours of departmental core courses or approved substitutions.
• 3 hours of advanced field or literature research based on internship or a team project (OCS 8900  or OCS 8901 ).
• Students mat deliver an oral public presentation of a written research report from the internship or team project.

The student (thesis and professional) must pass a final exam consisting of a comprehensive oral exam and an optional written exam. At the discretion of the student’s advisory committee, a written exam may be required.