Master of Science in Marine Science
Doctor of Philosophy

For More Information

Location: 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas, phone (361) 749-6801, fax (361) 749-6777; campus mail code: T2500

Mailing address: University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Graduate Program, 750 Channel View Drive, Port Aransas TX 78373-5015

E-mail: gradinfo@utlists.utexas.edu

URL: http://www.utmsi.utexas.edu/

Facilities for Graduate Work

Facilities for graduate work in marine science are located at the shoreside laboratory of the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas. The institute is located on the Aransas Pass ship channel among the dunes at the tip of Mustang Island, with easy access to bays, beaches, and the Gulf of Mexico. Environmental systems nearby include the hypersaline Laguna Madre, seagrass meadows, rivers, oyster reefs, fresh and saltwater marshes, and the nearshore and offshore Gulf of Mexico waters. The Port Aransas facility offers classrooms, laboratories (wet and dry), core facilities laboratory, research pier, seawater system, mariculture tank systems, and a specialized library. The institute’s fleet includes a 57-foot trawler (R/V Katy) and 10 smaller boats. In addition, there is a pool of four-wheel-drive vehicles for work in and around the local habitats. The shoreside research and teaching facilities also include a cafeteria, dormitories, and graduate student apartments.

Graduate students take their early coursework in Austin, including supporting work in other departments. Many courses taught in Port Aransas are available to students on the Austin campus via video teleconference facilities. Normally, one or two long semesters are spent in Austin. Most students then reside in Port Aransas while they undertake thesis and dissertation research at the Marine Science Institute. These students also take additional instruction at the Institute, including organized courses and seminars.

Areas of Study

Graduate study is organized around a curriculum with three core areas: fish physiology and ecology, ecosystems dynamics, and biogeochemistry. Each of these broad core areas includes specialized topics. Further information is available from the graduate advisor.

Graduate Studies Committee

The following faculty members served on the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) in the spring 2024 semester.

Brett J Baker Simon J Brandl Edward J Buskey Jordan Casey Kenneth H Dunton Deana L Erdner Andrew Jerome Esbaugh

Lee A Fuiman Sharon Zinah Herzka Mark Lever Zhanfei Liu Kristin Nielsen Peter Thomas

Admission Requirements

A prospective student’s undergraduate training should include 24 semester hours in one of the life or physical sciences. At least 12 of these hours must be in upper-division work. Adequate preparation in mathematics is expected of all students.