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Oceanography is the study of the physics, chemistry, and
geology of the ocean and the ecology of organisms that live
within the sea. About 40 percent of marine scientists work
for the U.S. government, especially in the defense, commerce,
and interior departments. Another 40 percent teach and conduct
research at academic institutions. The rest of the marine
scientists are employed in the private industry.
 The
Department of Oceanography at the University of Hawai'i at
Mānoa (UHM) offers MS and PhD programs in four subdisciplines
— physical, chemical, geological, and biological oceanography.
The curricula are academically demanding, with high standards
and expectations. Graduates are well-prepared for challenging
careers in academia, government or industry. The following
provides an overview of the four subdisciplines:
- Physical oceanography is concerned with ocean circulation,
waves, tides, upwelling, air-sea interactions, and the effect
of the oceans on climate.
- Chemical oceanographers study the distribution
of dissolved substances in the ocean and the mechanisms,
both natural and anthropogenic, which control their form
and abundance.
- Geological oceanography includes the study of sea-floor
spreading, submarine volcanism, beach formation, deep-seabed
mineral resources, sediments, and paleo-oceanography.
- Biological oceanographers study the interactions
of marine organisms with one another and the environment.
Topics include coral reef ecology, marine fisheries, hydrothermal-vent
communities, plankton ecology, and near-shore and deep-sea
benthic communities.
The School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST)
maintains a library; machine, electronics, and engineering
shops; as well as graphics, publication, photography, and
other support facilities. The school's computing facilities
are based on a growing network of workstations and personal
computers. Some workstations are public and accessible to
students. Graphic peripherals include black-and-white and
color laser printers, a color printer and film printers. The
computers are interconnected through a 100 Mbps local area
network, which is connected to a 80 Mbps campus-wide network
and to a 1.5 Mbps link to U.S. Internet, through which various
supercomputers are accessible. SOEST also operates receiving
systems for satellite images, for polar orbiting satellites
(AVHRR, SeaWifs, J-ERS, ERS) and for geostationary satellites
(GOES, GMS).
Precision instruments available at SOEST include stable isotope
and isotope-ratio-monitoring mass spectrometers; a dual-laser
analytical flow cytometer; CHN analyzers; gas and high-pressure
liquid chromatographs; SEM and STEM electron microscopes with
an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence micro-elemental analyzer;
an electron microprobe; an indirectly-coupled, plasma/atomic
emission spectrometer; atomic absorption system with graphite
atomizer; liquid scintillation counters, spectrometers, and
nutrient autoanalyzers.
SOEST operates three ocean-going research vessels from its
marine operations center at Honolulu Harbor. These are the
R/V Moana Wave, the R/V Kilo Moana, and the R/V Kila. Smaller
nearshore boats are also available. The Hawai'i Undersea Research
Laboratory operates a research submersible, the Pisces V.
The MS and PhD programs in oceanography participate in the
Western Regional Graduate Program administered by the Western
Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). The program
enables legal residents of WICHE member states to enroll in
selected out-of-state professional or graduate programs at
reduced tuition rates. For more information, see Financial
Matters < WICHE Program.
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MS Degree Requirements
MS students follow Plan A (thesis), which requires 36 credits
(including six credits of thesis research), a written thesis
and defense of the thesis, and field experience.
PhD Degree Requirements
The PhD program requires the following:
- completion of MS course work requirements,
- qualifying exam,
- computer competence,
- field experience,
- comprehensive exam,
- dissertation,
- final oral exam / defense of dissertation.
Courses
To view a listing of courses offered, visit www.catalog.hawaii.edu/courses/departments/ocn.htm.
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