Course Overview

The BS in Oceanography provides students with an interdisciplinary education and training in one of three areas of ocean science: Ocean Observing Systems and Technology (OOST), Ocean Climate (OC), and Marine Ecosystem Science and Health (MESH).  All students will gain skill in handling, evaluating, and analyzing large datasets.

The exploration and exploitation of energy resources in deeper waters offshore (e.g. Gulf of Mexico), the continued growth of human populations along the coast, and growing efforts to predict and mitigate coastal hazards (e.g. hurricanes, tsunami, oil spills, and harmful algal blooms) is driving an increase in the need and opportunities for well-trained ocean scientists.The BS in Oceanography curriculum: 1) provides students with an interdisciplinary understanding of the oceans and the processes affecting them for use in careers in marine science or other related fields; 2) provides students with the skills to retrieve, evaluate, and analyze large oceanographic datasets such as those generated from long term oceanographic studies and observing systems; and 3) emphasizes critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Students planning on attending graduate school are encouraged to also complete a minor in a STEM field.  Many graduates will obtain jobs in a variety of fields including marine technical support, energy and transportation industries, insurance industries, hazard mitigation, marine operations, homeland security, oil spill response, etc.

General Eligibility

Undergraduate students who meet the following general admission requirements at the time of application are assured admission to  A&M-Central Texas:

• Minimum 2.0 cumulative transfer GPA on a 4.0 scale;

• Minimum 30 academic, college-level transferable semester hours. Applicants pursuing an Applied Science or Aviation Science degree may meet this requirement utilizing select workforce education credit from an approved Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree upon completion of 45 hours, to include all general education courses within the AAS.

• Must be eligible to return to all previously attended colleges or universities.

Part Time Work Details

n/a

Language Requirement

• The University requires all students to take at least one year of a foreign language. This requirement is completed by having taken two units of the same foreign language in high school, completing one year of the same foreign language in college or completing the credit-by-examination process.

  Minimum TOEFL Essentials score of 8.5, or. Minimum IELTS Academic test score of 6.0 overall band (Texas A&M University does not accept the IELTS General test)