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DOROTHY H. AND LEWIS ROSENSTIEL
SCHOOL OF MARINE AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE - GRADUATE
www.rsmas.miami.edu
The Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science was
established in 1943 as the Marine Laboratory of the University
of Miami. It has grown from its modest beginnings in a boathouse
to be one of the nation’s leading institutions for oceanographic
research and education.
Originally a tropical marine biological facility, the Marine
Laboratory initiated a program of studies leading to the Master
of Science degree in 1949. In 1953, laboratory and classroom
buildings were constructed on the School’s present campus
on Virginia Key, and in the late fifties, the Marine Laboratory
expanded its staff and developed its oceanographic capabilities
in response to the increased interest in scientific research
in the United States. It became the Institute of Marine Science
in 1961. Ocean-going research vessels were acquired, and additional
buildings were constructed to accommodate new wide-ranging
projects. In 1969 the Institute, now a School, was named for
Dorothy H. and Lewis Rosenstiel in recognition of a major
contribution made through the Rosenstiel Foundation to encourage
progress in the marine and atmospheric sciences at the University
of Miami.
Today the Rosenstiel School has a faculty of 105 scientists
who conduct sponsored research while offering studies leading
to the Master of Arts, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy
degrees. The School offers curricula in applied marine physics,
marine and atmospheric chemistry, marine affairs, marine biology
and fisheries, marine geology and geophysics, and meteorology
and physical oceanography. With the College of Arts and Sciences,
the School offers undergraduate programs leading to the Bachelor
of Science degree in marine science or the Bachelor of Arts
degree in marine affairs.
Government agencies and private organizations support basic
and applied research at the Rosenstiel School. Graduate students
are an integral part of the research effort, and research
programs, many multidisciplinary in nature, provide the environment
within which professors and students interact.
The Rosenstiel School has a state-of-the art catamaran, unrivaled
worldwide for both shallow and deep water research. The vessel,
named the F. G. WALTON SMITH, in honor of the founder of the
Rosenstiel School, signals a new era in scientific research.
The Smith was built in 1999 and placed in service in February,
2000.
The 96-foot-long catamaran is capable of reaching speeds
of over 12 knots and has a draft of only 5 feet, which enables
it to explore heretofore inaccessible areas such as reefs,
mangroves, grassbeds, and other shallow environments. The
vessel accommodates 20 people in its ten two-person staterooms
and encompasses 800 square feet of laboratory space, as well
as an additional 800 square feet of multi-use space astern.
Constructed by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Panama City,
Florida, the catamaran boasts twin Cummins engines at 760
hp each, Servogear variable pitch propellers, a 3,000-gallon
tank of fresh water plus a reverse osmosis water maker, and
10,000 gallons of fuel storage.
The Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science admits
graduate students in the following categories. Regular admission
is for students who wish to pursue a graduate degree. Non-degree
admission provides an opportunity for graduate study to qualified
applicants who do not wish to work toward an advanced degree
but who have special objectives for professional study, or
who already hold an advanced degree and desire additional
coursework in the field. No more than twelve (12) credit hours
may be taken while in non-degree status. A Certificate Program
is available in all areas of study. This program provides
professional training for any student who requires training
in a specific research area but does not require an advanced
degree. This program consists of one year full-time study
with a minimum of eighteen (18) credit hours. Transient status
is a type of non-degree admission available to students enrolled
in a graduate program elsewhere but desiring to earn credit
at the University of Miami for the purpose of transferring
it to the home institution. All graduate students are required
to demonstrate the ability to prepare and teach scientific
material.
Undergraduate Courses Required for Graduate
Study
The undergraduate course requirements for students applying
for graduate study at the Rosenstiel School are detailed below.
The courses that are required are printed in roman type. The
courses which should be taken if the student’s program
can include them are printed in italic type.
Admission
An application for admission to the Rosenstiel School of
Marine and Atmospheric Science consists of the application
form, application fee, transcripts, results of the Graduate
Record Examination, results of the TOEFL exam (for international
students) and three letters of recommendation from persons
knowing the applicant’s academic abilities. The application
must be filed by January 1st in order to be considered for
admission the following Fall semester. Students are normally
admitted only in the Fall semester; however, applicants who
have received a Master’s degree may be considered for
Spring admission to the Ph.D. program.
Because of space limitation, only a small percentage of those
applying for graduate study in marine science can be accepted.
Undergraduate scholastic performance, the reputation of the
school involved, Graduate Record Examination scores, and the
letters of recommendation are all considered in evaluating
an application.
A complete description of the Rosenstiel School, its faculty,
educational and research facilities, curriculum and degree
requirements is contained in the Bulletin of the Rosenstiel
School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Information can
be found on the Rosenstiel School web site located at www.rsmas.miami.edu/grad-studies/.
APPLIED MARINE PHYSICS/OCEAN ENGINEERING – Dept. Code:
AMP
Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in applied
marine physics are offered by the Applied Marine Physics Division
of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.
An approved interdisciplinary program is required for the
M.S. degree in applied marine physics which consists of a
minimum of 30 semester credits at the graduate level with
an average grade of “B” or better and no grade
below “C.” The 30 credits are divided among 24
credits in courses and six credits for thesis research. At
least six of the required course credits must be at the 600
level. For the Ph.D. degree 60 graduate semester credits are
required. These are divided among a minimum of 36 credits in courses (18
of which must be at the 600 level) and a minimum of 12 credits in dissertation
research.
MARINE AFFAIRS AND POLICY - Dept. Code:
MAF
The Division of Marine Affairs accepts highly-qualified students
who wish to pursue an academic degree program that combines
a basic curriculum in marine science with a complementary
program in a non-marine science discipline. Student programs
are individually designed and lead to an M.A. degree or an
M.S. degree. The M.A. curriculum requires participation in
the intern program in lieu of a thesis. The M.S. curriculum
requires a thesis. The program is intended to provide the
student with a broadened perspective of marine issues and
problem-solving abilities. MAF offers a specialization in
aquaculture management. This track focuses on technological,
environmental, and economic feasibility of sustainable aquaculture
operations.
Current Division research and teaching focus on integrated
coastal zone management, marine resource economics, political
and environmental ecology, coastal and ocean law and policy,
fisheries and aquaculture management, environmental planning
and environmental impact assessment, underwater marine cultural
resource management and marine geographic information systems.
MAF, in cooperation with the Undergraduate Marine Science
Program, also offers a five-year BA/MA Program in Marine Affairs.
This program enables qualified students to earn a B.A. in
MAF in four years with the opportunity to earn an M.A. in
MAF at Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
with only one additional year. Conditional acceptance to M.A.
in MAF is based on the students’ GPA at the end of their
sophomore year. Students must then take GRE exams and apply
for acceptance to the Graduate School at Rosenstiel during
their junior year.
The Division of Marine Affairs and Policy at the Rosenstiel
School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and the University
of Miami School of Law offer a Joint degree program in Law
and MAF. Upon completion of this program, a student earns
a Juris Doctor degree from the School of Law and the M.A.
in MAF from Rosenstiel. A student may complete requirements
for both degrees within three and one-half years in an intensive
program of six semesters and two full summers. This program
is geared toward students who want a career in the field of
law with a specialization in marine and environmental issues.
MARINE AND ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY - Dept.
Code: MAC
The program covers the chemistry of the atmosphere and oceans,
including geochemical, photochemical and biochemical processes.
Undergraduate training should be in chemistry, physics, biology
and mathematics; also useful may be courses in geology and
biochemistry.
Students are usually admitted directly into the doctoral
program. New students are evaluated for their knowledge of
chemistry; deficiencies are corrected by directed study and/or
course work and must be remedied within one year.
Students are assigned a faculty advisor when they are accepted
into MAC, and during their first year they form a supervisory
committee. The advisor and committee plan a course of study
and research for the student. In the second year M.S. and
Ph.D. students prepare a thesis or dissertation proposal.
A written comprehensive examination is taken towards the end
of the first year. The comprehensive exam tests the basic
knowledge of marine and atmospheric science, and is based
on core course material. The research proposal usually includes
an abstract, background material, hypothesis and/or list of
objectives, methods, preliminary data, and bibliography. Ph.D.
students also take a written qualifying exam. The qualifying
examination is set by the advisor and supervisory committee
and is taken after their approval of the dissertation proposal.
An oral examination may be required after the written examination.
Students who twice fail the qualifying examination will receive
an MS if they present and successfully defend a written thesis.
Times allowed for degrees are:
MS - 2 years
Ph.D.
4 years (for students entering with an MS) or
5 years (students entering without an MS).
One year extensions may be granted. The seminar (MAC 670)
is taken twice for credit but must be attended by all students.
The MA is a non-research degree that occupies 1 year: two
semesters of 12 course credits each, and a summer session
of experimental work and/or a written project (6 credits).
MARINE BIOLOGY AND FISHERIES
- Dept. Code: MBF
Students admitted to the program in the Division of Marine
Biology and Fisheries are required to have a strong undergraduate
preparation in the life sciences, with additional coursework
in mathematics (calculus), physics, and chemistry (through
organic). The program offers a series of study-options leading
to the M.A., M.S. or Ph.D. degrees. These are intended to
guide the student in a comprehensive study of marine organisms
and the marine environment, and to develop areas of specialization
within the marine biological sciences. Students are strongly
encouraged to contact the faculty member whose area of research
is of interest to them.
Areas of faculty interest include:
biological oceanography,
biochemistry and molecular biology,
ecology,
fisheries,
microbiology,
physiology,
systematics,
behavior and ecosystem and
fisheries management.
Students are not restricted to studies in any one study-option,
and may (in consultation with their faculty advisor and/or
committee) tailor their academic programs to suit individual
interests in more than one area of faculty expertise. Within
the Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries there are four
major academic tracks, each of which has one or more subspecializations.
These are:
(1) Biological Oceanography which has an emphasis of nearshore
and pelagic marine life;
(2) Fisheries Sciences which focuses on fisheries stock
assessment, population modeling, and fisheries management;
(3) Marine Biomedical Sciences which has subspecialities
in Marine Molecular Biology and Genetics, Marine Diseases,
and Marine Physiology and Biochemistry/Toxicology; and
(4) Ecological Sciences and Coastal Marine Biology.
This latter academic track offers specialization in Marine
Biology, Coral Reef and Coastal-Marine Ecology, and Ecological
Systems and Environmental Management. Individual curricula
may blend coursework from one or more tracks depending on
the specific interests of the student.
MARINE GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS - Dept.
Code: MGG
The undergraduate student wishing to prepare for graduate
work in marine geology and geophysics must be well trained
in the basic sciences. According to the special interests
of the individual, the undergraduate major and minor should
be in geology, physics, chemistry, and/or mathematics.
The Division of Marine Geology and Geophysics offers M.S.
and Ph.D. programs in the following broad areas:
• Environmental Geology and Geochemistry
• Sedimentary Systems and Marine Geology
• Paleoclimatology and Global Change
• Igneous Petrology and Geochemistry
• Applied Geophysics
• Geodesy
Within each discipline, students have considerable flexibility
in choice of courses, and “cross-track” courses
are possible for students with special interests. Interactions
with other divisions are particularly encouraged.
METEOROLOGY AND PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY
- Dept. Code: MPO
The Division of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography (MPO)
of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
(RSMAS) is engaged in research and graduate instruction in
the physical processes governing the motion and composition
of the ocean and atmosphere. The program ranges from direct
observation to theoretical and numerical modeling of the earth-atmosphere
system.
Three types of degrees are awarded by the Division: Master
of Science, which requires 30 credits, including 24 credits
in courses and 6 research credits; Doctor of Philosophy, which
requires 60 credits, including a minimum of 36 course credits
and a minimum of 12 research credits; the Division also awards
Master of Arts degrees, requiring 30 course credits.
Students applying for admission to graduate study in the
Division of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography should have
a solid background in mathematics and physics or engineering.
Once admitted, students in this Division will take courses
in both Meteorology and Physical Oceanography in order to
develop an understanding of the ocean and the atmosphere as
closely related dynamical systems.
In the first year, students will take 6 courses, followed
by a comprehensive exam at the end of the spring semester.
Based on the results of this exam, students may be given the
option to enter the Ph.D. program directly, to enter the M.S.
program (leading to subsequent entrance into the Ph.D. program),
or they may be required to re-take the comprehensive exam.
Typical times for completion are 2-3 years for M.S. degrees
and 4-6 years for Ph.D. degrees.
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