Program Overview

Marine Biology, PhD

The Marine Biology Program is designed for students with an interest in one or more of the subdisciplines of marine biology and who wish to pursue careers in higher education, government, or private industry. This degree program combines the strength of an internationally recognized faculty with high scholarly productivity and extramural funding. Additionally, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is located on the Gulf, facilitating hands-on learning and research. Students can choose from a variety of classroom and field learning experiences and form committees with any participating faculty. The Marine Biology program offers the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Marine Biology. A personalized graduate advisory committee guides each student through the conception, design, construction, and execution of a marine biology-based inquiry.

Student Learning Outcomes

As part of their progression through the Marine Biology Program, Doctor of Philosophy students will:

• Gain an in-depth knowledge of essential and emerging concepts in the field of marine biology.
• Perform scholarly hypothesis-driven research grounded in marine biological principles and concepts.
• Prepare and defend a Dissertation proposal outlining planned research activities
• Successfully pass a Comprehensive Examination that assess breadth and mastery of knowledge of marine biology and topics relevant to the student's planned research
• Write and successfully defend a PhD Dissertation detailing original scholarly research performed during the degree and demonstrate mastery of relevant scientific literature.
• Demonstrate advanced communication skills through either presentation of research results at professional scientific meetings and/or through peer-reviewed publication.
• Develop a skill set and research record such that they can secure employment in academia, state/federal agencies, private companies, or non-governmental organizations.

Admission Requirements

Those seeking admission to the Marine Biology Program should apply through the Office of Recruitment and Admissions. In addition to the documents required by that office, applicants must submit:

• An essay of no more than 1,000 words describing their educational and career goals, and interests as they relate to the faculty in the Marine Biology Program;
• A list of names of faculty members contacted;
• Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with their potential for graduate studies;
• Transcripts of all previous undergraduate/ graduate work;
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores that are not more than 5 years old;
• A résumé. Additional requirements exist for international students, including TOEFL or IELTS scores from ETS taken within the last two years for students from countries where English is not the native language, and a course by course foreign transcript evaluation through an approved service.

Program Requirements

Advising and the Graduate Advisory Committee

After being accepted into the MARB program and enrolling, the most important first step is forming the graduate advisory committee (GAC). Students should form a graduate advisory committee with the approval of their advisor by the end of their second long semester in the MARB program to help guide them through their degree program. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their committee at a minimum of once per year to seek continual guidance on their research program.

Enrollment Requirements

All students are required to maintain continuous registration until completion of all requirements for graduation unless a specific leave of absence is granted (in writing) by the department. Students funded through scholarships, fellowships and assistantships are required to maintain a minimum of 9 hours/fall and spring semester, and 3 hours/summer.

Coursework and Research

Students must demonstrate to the GAC that the selection of classes or research projects produces a coherent course of study focused on the student's particular area of emphasis. Depending on the emphasis area, elective and specialized coursework selections may be chosen from biology, biomedical sciences, chemistry, coastal and marine system science, computer science, environmental science, geographic information science, geology, fisheries and mariculture, mathematics, or other course offerings as stipulated and approved by the GAC.

PhD Students Admitted with Only a Bachelor's Degree

Students accepted to the Marine Biology PhD Program with only a bachelor's degree (i.e., without an MS degree in an appropriate discipline) must complete a minimum of 96 semester hours of coursework and research.

PhD Students Admitted with a Master's Degree

Students accepted to the Marine Biology PhD Program with an MS degree in an appropriate discipline must complete a minimum of 64 hours of coursework and research.

Doctoral Candidacy and the Comprehensive/Qualifying Examination

To be admitted to candidacy for the MARB Ph.D. degree a student must have a cumulative GPA and a degree plan GPA of at least 3.0, satisfy the residence requirement (completion of 9 credit hours in two consecutive long semesters), and pass the qualifying examination.

Format and Style of Dissertation

The dissertation must follow style requirements established in the Marine Biology Graduate Handbook and must be approved and signed by the members of the student's GAC, and Graduate Education.

Final Oral Defense Examination

Each student must pass a final oral defense examination during the last semester before graduation. The student's GAC administers this examination which covers topics related to: all graduate coursework undertaken for the Marine Biology program, the student's specific research area, and broad concepts of general and marine biology including familiarity with the literature and appropriate professional societies.

Courses

• MARB 5392 Thesis Proposal
• MARB 5393 Thesis Research
• MARB 5394 Thesis Submission
• MARB 5940 Master's Project Research
• MARB 6301 Coral Reef Conservation Issues
• MARB 6310 Physiological Adaptations in Animals
• MARB 6312 Communicating Science Seminar
• MARB 6314 Aquatic Animal Nutrition
• MARB 6327 Marine Restoration Ecology
• MARB 6333 Marine Benthic Ecology
• MARB 6335 Aquatic Microbiology
• MARB 6340 Marine Organisms and Processes
• MARB 6341 Evolution and Genomics of Marine Organisms
• MARB 6342 Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics
• MARB 6343 Oceans and Human Health
• MARB 6353 Down the River: Ecology of Gulf Coast Fishes
• MARB 6360 Computation for 21st Century Biologists
• MARB 6362 Global Change and Its Impact on Aquatic Ecosystems
• MARB 6363 Geomicrobiology
• MARB 6371 Evolutionary Genetics
• MARB 6373 Biodiversity and Conservation
• MARB 6392 Dissertation Proposal
• MARB 6393 Dissertation Research
• MARB 6394 Dissertation Submission
• MARB 6408 Microbial Ecology
• MARB 6428 Fisheries Ecology
• MARB 6430 Marine Plankton
• MARB 6431 Phycology
• MARB 6436 Marine Ecology
• MARB 6452 Ecology and Evolution of Fishes
• MARB 6590 Special Topics
• MARB 6596 Directed Independent Study
• MARB 6940 Dissertation Project Research