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About the Graduate Program in Oceanography
The Graduate Program in Oceanography (GPO), offered through the Rutgers School of Graduate Studies (SGS), provides advanced education and interdisciplinary research opportunities in the physical, biological, chemical, and geological processes that shape our oceans and coastal environments.
Centered in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences (DMCS), within the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, the program brings together faculty, researchers, and graduate students to investigate critical questions in ocean science.
Research opportunities span ocean circulation, marine ecosystems, climate change, ocean observing technologies, biogeochemical processes, coastal environments, and interactions between the ocean and Earth’s systems.
Graduate Degree Options
Rutgers University offers research-based and professionally focused graduate degree opportunities in oceanography.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Oceanography
The Ph.D. program prepares students to conduct independent, original research that advances scientific understanding of oceanographic processes. The program emphasizes advanced coursework, interdisciplinary research, and the completion of a doctoral dissertation.
Master of Science (M.S.) in Oceanography
The M.S. program combines advanced coursework with faculty-guided research, allowing students to develop specialized knowledge and research skills in their chosen area of oceanography. The program culminates in the completion of a master’s thesis.
Master of Operational Oceanography (M.S. / 4+1)
The Master of Operational Oceanography (MOO) is a separate, professionally focused master’s program emphasizing applied ocean science, ocean observing technologies, data analysis, and operational oceanography.
The program also offers a 4+1 pathway for eligible undergraduate students to complete a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Science degree through an accelerated academic pathway.