Marine Science, M.S.

The program will offer you a distinctive level of hands-on preparation in the field of marine science, with fully outfitted marine operations at MLML, an active research diving program, state of the art equipment and instrumentation, and exposure to an exciting range of cutting-edge research activities. 

Educational Objectives

Our emphasis on hands-on, project-based learning will provide you with exceptional opportunities to apply the core principles and theories you’ve learned in real-world settings working with state-of-the-art resources.

Our unparalleled location will take your courses and field work out into the Monterey Bay region with easy access to kelp forests, the rocky intertidal, the deep sea, and Elkhorn Slough.

Our partnership with Moss Landing Marine Laboratories will enable you to take advantage of cutting-edge equipment, instrumentation, marine facilities, boats, and aquaria.

Our significant research activities will expose you to work in a wide variety of disciplines within marine science through coursework and thesis research. CSUMB faculty research specialties include fish ecology, ecophysiology, climate change biology, marine predator ecology, marine microbial ecology, population genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, biological oceanography, and applications to policy and management.

Complete ALL of the following courses:

• MLML 685 - Graduate Seminar in Marine Science Units: 2 (MS 285)
• MLML 699 - Masters Thesis Units: 1-4 (MS 299)

Complete THREE of the following courses:

• MLML 603 - Advanced Marine Ecology Units: 4  (MS 203)
• MLML 641 - Advanced Geological Oceanography Units: 4 (MS 241)
• MLML 642 - Advanced Physical Oceanography Units: 4 (MS 242)
• MLML 643 - Advanced Chemical Oceanography Units: 4 (MS 243)
• MLML 644 - Advanced Biological Oceanography Units: 4 (MS 244)

Complete at least THREE of the following courses, not already selected above (selections must total at least 12 units):

• MLML 601 - Library Research Methods in Marine Science Units: 1 (MS 201)
• MLML 602 - Oceanographic Instrumentation Units: 4 (MS 202)
• MLML 604 - Sampling and Experimental Design Units: 4 (MS 204)
• MLML 605 - Aquaculture Units: 4  (MS 205)
• MLML 606 - Molecular Biological Techniques Units: 4 (MS206)
• MLML 608 - Scientific Methods Units: 4 (MS 208)
• MLML 611 - Ecology of Marine Turtles, Birds, and Mammals Units: 4 (MS 211)
• MLML 612 - Advanced Topics in Marine Vertebrates Units: 4 (MS 212)
• MLML 621 - Advanced Topics in Marine Invertebrates Units: 2-4 (MS 221)
• MLML 631 - Biology of Seaweeds Units: 4 (MS 231)
• MLML 633 - Advanced Topics in Marine Ecology Units: 1-4 (MS 233)
• MLML 646 - Geology of the Monterey Bay Region Units: 4 (MS 246)
• MLML 648 - Marine Benthic Habitat Techniques Units: 4 (MS 248)
• MLML 650 - Laboratory Analysis for Marine Scientists Units: 4 (MS 250)
• MLML 651 - Marine Geochemistry Units: 4 (MS 251)
• MLML 653 - Marine Pollution Units: 4 (MS 253)
• MLML 661 - Mixing, Estuarine, and Sediment Transport Units: 4 (MS 261)
• MLML 663 - Data Analysis in Marine Science Units: 4 (MS 263)
• MLML 671 - Population Biology Units: 3 (MS 271)
• MLML 672 - Subtidal Ecology Units: 4 (MS 272)
• MLML 673 - Marine Environmental Studies of the Gulf of California Units: 4 (MS 273)
• MLML 681 - Coastal Dynamics Units: 4 (MS 281)

As a student in the MLML graduate program you’ll be situated in a world-class location for studying marine science. The Monterey Submarine Canyon, the largest such feature on the west coast of North America, begins within a few hundred meters of the Moss Landing Harbor and the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory’s research fleet.

To the east is the Elkhorn Slough, the largest tract of tidal salt marsh in California outside of San Francisco Bay, and an important site for shorebirds, sea otters, and fishes. To the north and south are sand dunes, sandy beaches, and extensive kelp forest habitats along the rocky shoreline. Some of the most productive kelp forests and intertidal areas can be found in this region. MLML also is located between two large upwelling centers, which provide nutrients that not only stimulate an incredible amount of productivity but also provide a wealth of opportunities to study coastal oceanic processes.