Curriculum
Master of Oceanography (Online)
The online Master of Oceanography (M.O.) allows your to earn an advanced degree from the convenience of your home. Students develop a foundational knowledge of all oceanographic disciplines, paired with advanced studies on a topic of the student’s choosing.
The M.O. is delivered in asynchronous online, seven-week modules that are flexible to fit your schedule, and the 30-credit program can be completed in two years. See below for course listings.
Required Courses
OCG501: Physical Oceanography
(3 crs.) Basic course covering physical properties of seawater, heat budget, distribution of variables, dynamics, water masses and general circulation, waves and tides. (Lec. 3) Pre: PHY 111 or 203 and MTH 131 or 141 or permission of the instructor. Although PHY 111 is acceptable, PHY 203 is strongly recommended.
OCG521: Chemical Oceanography
(3 crs.) Processes regulating the composition of seawater and the distribution of chemical species. The interaction of marine chemistry with the ocean floor, atmosphere, and marine organisms. (Lec. 2, Lab. 2) Pre: CHM 101 and 112 and PHY 213.
OCG533: Graduate Writing In Marine and Environmental Sciences
(3 crs.) Graduate writing in marine and environmental sciences; writing and editing journal articles and abstracts; principles and practice in scientific writing. Pre: graduate standing and WRT 104 or 106, or permission of instructor.
OCG540: Geological Oceanography
(4 crs.) Origin and evolution of the ocean basin and its margin: morphology, structure, plate tectonics, volcanism, geochemistry, stratigraphy, sedimentation, and paleoceanography. (Lec. 3, Lab. 2) Pre: GEO 103 or permission of instructor.
OCG561: Biological Oceanography
(3 crs.) Biology and ecology of marine ecosystems; role of ocean biology in global biogeochemical processes; Emphasis on marine plankton; patterns of distribution, productivity and species interactions. (Lec. 3) Pre: general ecology.
OCG601: Ocean Resilience
(3 crs.) Course focuses on complex issues related to changes in the ocean environment. Topics include climate change, sea level rise, fisheries management, marine pollution, natural hazards and emerging ocean energy initiatives. (Accelerated Online Program) Pre: Matriculating URI Online Masters of Oceanography student, one URI Online Masters of Oceanography core course (OCG 501, 521, 540 or 561) or permission of instructor.
OCG591: Individual Study
(1-6 crs.) Individual study of assigned topics or special problems involving literature search and/or original investigation under one or more members of the faculty. (Independent Study)
OCG592: Individual Study
(1-6 crs.) Individual study of assigned topics or special problems involving literature search and/or original investigation under one or more members of the faculty. (Independent Study)
Electives (Choose at least 2)
OCG506: Numerical Models and Data Analysis in Ocean Sciences
(3 crs.) Cross-listed as (OCG), OCE 506. An introduction to numerical methods in all disciplines of oceanography and ocean engineering. Topics include model formulation, analysis, and simulation; data analysis and parameter estimation. Problem solving with Matlab and C in the weekly computer laboratory. (Lec. 2, Lab. 3)
EVS505: Environmental Leadership in Practice
(3 crs.) Explores theory and practice of leadership in the context of environmental problems and natural resources management. Emphasis on effective leadership and communication approaches across environmental organizations. (Lec. 3) Pre: Graduate student in the MESM Program or permission of instructor
EVS509: Web-based Mapping
(3 crs.) This course is designed to provide grounding in the conceptual foundations of GIS while developing competency using web-based GIS tools to explore and communicate spatial information. (Accelerated Online Program) Pre: Graduate standing or permission of instructor.
EVS514: Environmental Data Analysis and Visualization
(3 crs.) This course focuses on developing knowledge and skills to manage environmental datasets using best practices to ensure data quality as well as employing standard approaches to summarize and communicate findings. (Accelerated Online Program) Pre: Graduate standing or permission of instructor.
EVS518: Sustainable Natural Resource Management
(3 crs.) This course provides an in-depth exploration of emerging and established approaches to sustainable natural resource management from a variety of disciplines. (Accelerated Online Program) Pre: EVS 514 or permission of instructor.
EVS519: Natural Resource Management Planning
(3 crs.) This course presents frameworks for natural resource decision making that facilitate development of management objectives, evaluation and selection of management alternatives, and assessment of management outcomes. (Accelerated Online Program) Pre: EVS 509, EVS 514, and EVS 518 or permission of instructor.
AFS415: Fishery Ecology
(3 crs.) Ecological characteristics of fishes and shellfishes in capture fisheries worldwide. Relationship between aspects of fishing, habitats, and community structure along with assessment methods. (Lec. 3) Pre: AFS 215 and MTH131 or MTH141; concurrent registration in 416.
AFS531: Fisheries Stock Assessment
(3 crs.) A quantitative approach to describing the processes of fish growth and mortality, the estimation of stock size, the prediction of stock yield, and management practices. Spreadsheets and other microcomputer applications will be used for analysis and modeling. (Lec. 2, Lab. 3) Pre: AFS 415, STA 409 or permission of instructor.
AFS560: Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Science & Management
(3 crs.) Cross-listed as (AFS), OCG 560. The scientific components of ecosystem-based fisheries management: climate variation, trophic interactions, habitat, bycatch, and human dimensions. Classes emphasize problem-solving through case studies of domestic and international fisheries. (Lec. 3) Pre: Graduate standing or instructor permission.
Get in touch.
URI Online Student Support Center
401.874.5280
Program Director
Arthur Spivack, Ph.D.
spivack@uri.edu