Oceanography Master's Degree Program

The School of Oceanography offers both a non-thesis and thesis master's degree. The master's degree program consists of course work and a master's research project, a non-thesis written research summary or a thesis, presentation and oral final examination. In the past years over 95% of our students who have followed the master's program have selected the non-thesis option. In the School of Oceanography, a master's degree should usually be completed within 24-30 months (eight to ten quarters in residence). School funding requirements limit financial support to ten quarters for a master's degree.

If you have a M.Sc. prior to arriving at UW, your Master's supervisory committee will evaluate whether you may proceed to the Ph.D. without getting a second masters.

1. Scope of the M.Sc. Thesis

The master's degree is often a small project suggested by the adviser:  the student is then responsible for data analysis or theoretical development, and for writing a summary and discussion of the results. The supervisory committee will approve the research program, which is to be of scope equivalent to a paper publishable in a peer-reviewed journal within the student's field of study. Work that could result in a publishable technical paper is acceptable, but it is expected that the student will understand and discuss the full scientific context in their final examination.

Ideally, the student quickly assumes a primary role in determining the exact course of their master's work to develop the idea suggested by their adviser.  However, because of variation in background and preparation for graduate school, it is acceptable that the student follow a growth trajectory. In this case, the master's work may be heavily directed by the adviser, especially in its early stages, with the understanding that part of the evaluation for proceeding to the Ph.D. will be the student's capacity for independent scientific research.  

2.    UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS

Students are responsible for being aware of the Graduate School requirements for the master's degree. Of particular note:

• Final quarter rules. The master's Degree Request must be filed according to posted quarterly dates and deadlines. The student must maintain registration through the end of the quarter in which the degree is conferred or, if eligible, pay the Graduate Registration Waiver Fee within 14 days following the last day of the quarter in which all degree requirements were met.
   
• Time limit. The student must complete all master's degree requirements within six years. The timeframe/clock begins on the first day of the quarter that the Graduate Student uses a course to satisfy degree requirements when he/she is coded as either a Graduate Non-Matriculated student (Department Code with class 6) or as a Graduate Student (Department code with class 8) in the department to which he/she is admitted. UW Graduate Non-matriculated credits used towards the credit total are counted in the six years. Quarters spent On-Leave and out of status are counted in the six years.
   
• Thesis submission. Thesis track students are required to submit their thesis to the Graduate School. See the UW Thesis/Dissertation requirements and suggestions.
   

3.    MASTER’S DEGREE SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE

The supervisory committee for the master's degree consists of three or four members, one of who must be an Oceanography faculty member from outside the student's option. At least half of the committee must be graduate faculty with voting status in the School of Oceanography at the time of their addition to the committee. A majority of the committee must be academic faculty members whose primary University appointment is in the School of Oceanography. When your committee has been formed, send an email to the Graduate Program Advisor and Graduate Program Coordinator, who will review its composition. It is the student's responsibility to see that a supervisory committee is formed no later than the start of the second year.

See also: Graduate School policy 4.2.1.

4.    TRANSFER CREDIT

A student working toward a master's degree may petition the Dean of the Graduate School for permission to transfer to the UW the equivalent of a maximum of six quarter credits of graduate level course work (earned as a graduate student in another recognized graduate school) to satisfy course requirements. Such credits do not reduce the residence requirement at the University of Washington, the 18 quarter credits of numerically graded course work, and 18 quarter credits of 500-level-and-above course work. The petition must be accompanied by a recommendation from the Graduate Program Coordinator and an official transcript. The School of Oceanography may accept or reject individual courses.

5.    COURSE WORK

Satisfy all course work requirements.

6.    STUDENT GUIDANCE AND EVALUATION

Evaluation procedures are described here.

7A. MASTER’S DEGREE:  NON-THESIS OPTION

The non-thesis option requires course work and an approved research project (Ocean 600) of smaller scope than a thesis.  But over 95% of our students choose this option, as it leads more smoothly to a Ph.D., if that is your career goal.  A non-thesis program is signified on transcripts by the absence of a thesis title.  The supervisory committee will approve the research program, which is often a small project suggested by the adviser:  the student is then responsible for data analysis or theoretical development. The non-thesis M. Sc. requires a written document summarizing the research and an oral final examination (aka "defense"). The format of the written document will be decided in consultation between the student, advisor and committee. This document is to be submitted to the committee at least two weeks before the defense.

The final examination is by the supervisory committee and is usually concerned with the research project, and usually follows a public seminar.  This event must be publicized two weeks in advance of the event on the School event calendar and is open to members of the faculty and students. All Supervisory Committee members must be present at the examination, except if the committee consists of five or more members, one may be absent. Under all circumstances the Chairperson and the out-of-option member must be physically present. Video conferencing for other committee members may be allowed following instructions set forth by the Graduate School. Changes to committee membership may be made in emergency situations.  Consult the Graduate Program Coordinator or the Director.

The results of the examination must be reported to the Graduate School by the end of the quarter (the last day of examinations) in which the degree is to be conferred. The chairperson of the student’s committee should inform the Graduate Student Advisor of the result of the examination. If the examination is unsatisfactory, the Committee may recommend to the Graduate School that the student fail, or that he/she be allowed to take another examination after further study.

The post-defense procedure for the supervisory committee is described in the Student Evaluation and Guidance section.

7B. MASTER’S DEGREE:  THESIS OPTION

When the student considers that she/he has completed the master's research, the student meets with his/her supervisory committee.  The Committee members may make suggestions pertinent to the preparation of the thesis, or they may request additional work.  Instruction in the preparation of the thesis may be obtained from the Graduate School or the Graduate Program Advisor.  The first draft of the thesis is usually discussed only with the adviser.  The supervisory committee should be provided with a draft of the thesis early in the quarter in which the student expects to receive his/her degree.  Copies of the final draft of the thesis, approved by the Chairperson of the supervisory committee, should be given to the members of the supervisory committee seven days before the final examination.

The final examination is an oral presentation and defense of the thesis.  The meeting must be publicized two weeks in advance of the event on the School event calendar (http://www.ocean.washington.edu/events ) and is open to faculty and students.  The student is responsible for arranging notice for the examination.  The results of the examination must be reported to the Graduate School by the end of the quarter (the last day of examinations) in which the degree is to be conferred. The chairperson of the student’s committee should inform the Graduate Student Advisor of the result of the examination. If the examination is not satisfactory, the committee may recommend to the Graduate School that the student be allowed to take another examination after further study.

Note that there are deadlines and procedures for electronic submission of your thesis. The latest information is available through the UW Graduate School at https://grad.uw.edu/current-students/enrollment-through-graduation/thesis-dissertation/

8.    APPLICATION FOR MASTER’S DEGREE

During the period of evaluation following the final oral examination, the student remains a M. Sc. student.  When the results of this evaluation have been communicated to the Graduate Program Advisor, and if all degree requirements have been completed, you may apply to receive your M. Sc. degree by completing a Master's Degree Request, due by the last day of the quarter. See also the UW Final Quarter Timeline. 

9.    WAIVERS

A petition to waive any specific School of Oceanography requirement may be presented by the student to the Graduate Program Coordinator, who, in consultation with the School's Academic Affairs Committee, shall recommend action for faculty consideration.

* It is the student’s responsibility to provide a summary for their student file.