Degree Requirements

Master's of Science Degree

The requirements for the M.S. degree will align with the requirements of the Graduate Division's Master's Plan A. A minimum of 30 credits is required, including at least 18 credits of course work and between 6 to 12 credits of Research (699) or Thesis (700) work. All candidates will be required to enroll in the introductory graduate core courses in Marine Biology (BIO 601 and 602, 4 credits each) and pass with a grade of "B" or better. The MS degree candidate will provide a graduate seminar on their thesis proposal to their graduate committee at which time they will be subjected to an oral examination. The approved proposed thesis research must result in an M.S. thesis that is a scholarly contribution based on original research conducted by the student under the supervision of the thesis committee chair. A final thesis examination and the approval of the thesis by the student's committee will be required. The Plan B Master's degree will not be offered.

Doctor of Philosophy Degree

The requirements for the Ph. D. degree will align with the requirements of the Graduate Division for doctoral degrees. The principal requirements are: 1) enroll in the introductory graduate courses in Marine Biology (BIO 601 and 602) and pass with a grade of "B" or better, 2) complete additional relevant coursework as indicated by the dissertation committee, and 3) defend a doctoral dissertation that presents original, independent research. In addition, all PhD candidates will be required to participate in a teaching project with a graduate faculty mentor during at least one semester of their program.

  1. Doctoral research proposal. Students will be required to present their research progress and dissertation research proposal to their committee and take an oral comprehensive exam testing general knowledge of their chosen area of study. To advance to candidacy, the student must successfully complete this exam administered by their committee as specified by the Graduate Division's standards for all UH Mānoa doctoral programs. After admission to candidacy, each student must present an annual research progress seminar to their committee.

  2. Required course work. Ph. D. students entering without a M.S. degree will be required to take a minimum of 30 graduate course credits, including at least 18 credits of course work and between 6 to 12 credits of Research (699) or Dissertation (700) work. An incoming student with a M.S. degree must meet the requirements of the Graduate Division. Students entering the program with a M.S. degree will also be required to take the core courses (BIO 601 and 602) unless they can demonstrate equivalent proficiency by exam to the course instructors.

  3. Dissertation. All Ph. D. candidates must conduct scholarly, independent, original research that contributes new knowledge to the field. The candidates develop and conduct research projects under the direction of their dissertation advisor and committee. At the conclusion of the research, students write a dissertation, i.e. a scholarly presentation of their research in publication form. The student's dissertation committee then conducts a final defense to assess the student's ability to orally present their dissertation in a public presentation of their research and dissertation. The final defense is repeatable once after successful petition to the Graduate Dean. The final defense criteria and procedures will conform to the Graduate Division's standards for all UH Mānoa doctoral programs