Marine Science (MarSE)
Introduction and Basic Philosophy of the Degree
This MarSE curriculum is designed to meet three objectives:
- Provide introductory courses for KAUST students enrolled in the Environmental Science and Engineering Program who desire a background in MarSE topics,
- Provide courses for MarSE M.S. degree students and
- Provide advanced courses for MarSE Ph.D. degree students.
Marine science is interdisciplinary by nature, and marine science degree programs should allow considerable flexibility in the detailed choice of courses for M.S. and Ph.D. students. Course selection as well as comprehensive and qualifying exams should be tailored to an individual student’s academic and research interests. It is expected that marine science students will include a significant number of courses taught in other science departments (e.g., genomics, as part of their M.S. or Ph.D. program of studies in Marine Science).
The focus of the MarSE program is on the Red Sea as a model system for training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in marine science and technology: as well as applications of marine science and technology to environmental and marine resource management.
Courses are organized by MarSE themes. Three introductory courses are required of all MarSE students, unless a comparable background can be demonstrated, but all other coursework is determined by the students and their advisors. The M.S. degree requirement is 30 credit hours, including 6 credit hours for M.S. thesis research, and the Ph.D. requires a minimum of an additional 12 hours of course work and 24 hours of dissertation research (total of 36 hours course work and 30 hours research). Typically, the duration of the M.S. degree is 1.5 to 2.0 years, and the Ph.D. degree is 3 years beyond that. More detailed information on degree requirements including qualifying, candidacy, dissertation and final defense are described in Section 4.
MarSE Courses
Courses are organized by MarSE themes plus two seminars that are common to all themes. Three introductory courses (MarSE 201, 202 and 203) are required unless a comparable background can be demonstrated. Core courses provide fundamental knowledge in the sub-disciplines of Marine Science and should generally be taken before other courses within one of the thematic areas.
- The Marine Environment
- Marine Life
- Ocean Engineering
- Management and Conservation of Marine Resources
- Seminars
The courses shown here are those that are somewhat specific to marine science and ocean engineering. A KAUST MarSE graduate student will be expected to take courses outside of this list, including applied mathematics, basic chemistry, basic fluid mechanics, etc., that will be found in lists other than MarSE. Where we know of a likely overlap with courses in another curriculum, we have so indicated in parentheses in the list below.
A well-rounded curriculum will include seminar courses that expose the students (and staff) to the classic and modern literature in a field of study and that allow students an opportunity to learn presentation skills. In the Fall semester, first- and second year MarSE students should participate in the MarSE 251 seminar,“Classic Papers in Oceanography,” and in the Spring semester MarSE 351, “Red Sea Oceanography.” In these seminar courses, students will have the opportunity to read, present and critique some of the most important scientific papers on the subject (broadly construed) of the seminar.