Oceans and Coasts

The image depicts the interior of a boat's cabin where a man is observing an adjacent ship through a large window. The man is seated, seen from behind, and appears to be focusing on the vessel visible outside. The cabin is equipped with various navigation instruments and controls. The outside vessel is a medium-sized fishing boat, visible through the window, featuring a blue trim, a white hull, and orange life rings. A group of people wearing bright clothing is seen on the deck. The sky is overcast, and the water is calm, creating a serene maritime environment.

URI Online’s Oceans and Coasts programs offer a comprehensive online education in marine and coastal environments, blending scientific knowledge with practical application. These graduate and certificate programs provide opportunities for students to participate in cutting-edge research and gain hands-on experience in areas such as oceanography, ocean policy, and coastal management.

Graduate Programs

The image shows two individuals on the deck of a ship, with a vast expanse of ocean in the background. Both are wearing safety gear, including orange life vests and hard hats—one blue and the other orange. The person in the foreground is pointing towards the ocean while holding a bottle in the other hand. They have facial hair and wear sunglasses and a short-sleeve grey shirt. The person in the background, wearing sunglasses, stands next to a ship's railing and looks in the same direction. Behind them is part of the ship's structure, including a light fixture and a partially visible piece of equipment covered with a blue tarp.

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Graduate Programs

Aquaculture facility in Australia

Blue MBA

Ocean Reasearch boat in open ocean

Blue MPA

On board offshore research vessel

Master of Oceanography

Graduate Certificate Programs

Silhouette of a fishing boat with the sunset in the background

Fisheries Science

A beach shoreline

Ocean Policy & Science

Ocean underwater reefs

Ocean Science

Robert Ballard

Robert Ballard, Ph.D.

Professor of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island
Founder, Ocean Exploration Trust

“As someone who has dedicated my life to exploring the mysteries of the deep sea, I am thrilled by the opportunities URI Online’s Ocean and Coasts programs offer. Through our innovative online platform, we are making it possible for anyone, anywhere, to engage in meaningful oceanographic studies and contribute to the conservation and understanding of our marine environments. These programs provide comprehensive scientific knowledge to enhance careers in ocean-related business, education, government and non-government institutions.”

learn more about robert ballard, ph.d.

Teresa Kennedy, Ph.D.

Professor of STEM Education
URI Online Alumna

“My experience in the program was truly transformative. I collaborated with UNESCO on a manual for the Ocean Decade publication series and published a paper that began in Dr. Heather McNair’s writing course. The hands-on experiences, combined with the support from faculty like Dr. Menden-Deuer, deepened my passion for oceanography. The asynchronous format allowed me to continue my coursework even while at sea with GO-SHIP A13.5, making this program a perfect fit for my career goals.”

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Gabriela Espino

Online M.O. Suits Busy, Industrious Professionals

“Surfing the web” may seem like a quaint phrase in 2023, but in the premillennial era, it spoke to a vastness shared between the oceanic and the online. Back then it was thrilling that the internet couldn’t be exhausted. Today that prospect is more exhausting than exhilarating.

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Sunrise at an offshore wind farm

Marine and Environmental Science at URI Online

URI Online offers a robust selection of marine and environmental science-focused programs tailored to meet the challenges of preserving our planet’s delicate ecosystems.

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