For the biological sciences, Ph.D. applicants should have a completed draft dissertation proposal that must be submitted with the application. The proposal content will be a major factor in acceptance. Each quarter, graduate classes typically meet one evening per week in a three hour session. Exceptions are field courses which usually entail seven days of intensive study. Note, both tracks lead to equivalent MS degrees.
All students enter the programs in the capstone review paper track.
Conversion to the research thesis track is possible only after agreement with a major professor and completion by the student of an approved thesis proposal. Commencement of the MS capstone review paper may begin only after the MS student has an approved proposal. An approved proposal must be signed off on by the student's committee and submitted to the Graduate Program Office before registering for capstone credits. The completed capstone paper is defended openly before the student's advisory committee and interested faculty and students. The capstone review committee consists of at least two members, one of which must be a faculty member of the Oceanographic Center.