Oceanography

Program Officer

CDR Pamela Tellado

Spanagel Hall, Room 304

(831) 656-2045, DSN 756-2045

pamela.tellado@nps.edu

Brief Overview

The Oceanography program provides students with a sound understanding of the science of oceanography. The student develops the technical expertise to provide and use oceanographic and acoustical data and models in support of all aspects of at-sea operations. The graduate will be able to:

  • Interpret and predict oceanic and air-ocean interface conditions.
  • Operate modern oceanographic data management, archival and communications systems.
  • Plan, conduct, interpret and present results of research activities.
  • Thesis with multi-authors is not allowed.

This education further enhances performance in operational billets, technical management assignments and policy-making positions. Students will develop a sound, graduate-level, technical ability based on scientific principles.

Requirements for Entry

This program is open to International Officers, officers from other services and DoD civilians. It is open to METOC (1800) officers as a Ph.D. program.

A baccalaureate degree in the physical sciences, mathematics or engineering is required. Completion of mathematics through differential and integral calculus and one year of calculus-based college physics are required. An APC of 233 is required for direct entry. A refresher quarter is available for candidates who do not meet all admission requirements for direct entry, and is offered in the Spring or Fall quarter prior to enrollment.

Convenes

Oceanography is a 6-8 quarter course of study with entry dates in September and April. If further information is needed, contact the Program Officer for this program. Academic questions may be referred directly to the Academic Associate.

Program Length

24 months

Typical Course of Study - Fall

Quarter 1 (Fall)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
MR2020Computer Computations in Air-Ocean Sciences

2

2

-or-

OC2020Computer Computations in Air-Ocean Sciences

2

2

 

MA1115Multi Variable Calculus

4

0

MA1116Vector Calculus

3

0

MA2121Differential Equations

4

0

OC3230Descriptive Physical Oceanography

3

1

MA1115: 1st 6wks

MA1116: 2nd 6wks

Quarter 2 (Winter)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
MA3132Partial Differential Equations and Integral Transforms

4

0

 

MR3321Air-Ocean Fluid Dynamics

4

0

-or-

OC3321Air-Ocean Fluid Dynamics

4

0

 

OC3902Fundamentals of Mapping, Charting and Geodesy

3

2

MR3480Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Radiative Processes

4

1

OC3902: or Elective

Quarter 3 (Spring)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
MR3522Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Ocean/Laboratory

4

2

-or-

OC3522Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Ocean/Laboratory

4

2

 

MR3140Probability and Statistics for Air-Ocean Science

3

2

-or-

OC3140Probability and Statistics for Air-Ocean Science

3

2

 

OC3260Fundamentals of Ocean Acoustics

4

1

OC3240Ocean Circulation Analysis

4

0

Quarter 4 (Summer)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
OC4211Ocean Dynamics II

4

0

 

MR3150Analysis of Air/Ocean Time Series

3

2

-or-

OC3150Analysis of Air Ocean Time Series

3

2

 

IT1600Communication Skills for International Officers

3

0

IT1700Academic Writing for International Officers

3

0

IT1600, IT1700: or Elective

Quarter 5 (Fall)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
OC4900Directed Study in Oceanography

V

0

 

MR3570Operational Oceanography and Meteorology

2

4

-or-

OC3570Operational Oceanography and Meteorology

2

4

 

OC4267Ocean Acoustic Variability and Uncertainty

4

0

OC4610Wave and Surf Forecasting

2

2

Quarter 6 (Winter)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
MR4323Air and Ocean Numerical Prediction Systems

4

2

-or-

OC4323Air and Ocean Numerical Prediction Systems

4

2

 

OC0810Oceanography Thesis Research

0

8

OC4220Coastal Circulation

4

1

OC4213Nearshore and Wave Processes

3

1

Quarter 7 (Spring)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
OC4271Topics in Tactical Oceanography

3

0

 

MR4413/OC4413Air-Sea Interaction

4

0

-or-

OC4413/MR4413Air/Sea Interaction

4

0

 

OC0810Oceanography Thesis Research

0

8

OC0810Oceanography Thesis Research

0

8

Quarter 8 (Summer)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
OC4331Ocean Variability

4

0

OC0810Oceanography Thesis Research

0

8

OC0999Thesis Seminars

2

0

ELECTElective OCXXXX

0

4

Typical Course of Study - Spring

Quarter 1 (Spring)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
MR2020Computer Computations in Air-Ocean Sciences

2

2

-or-

OC2020Computer Computations in Air-Ocean Sciences

2

2

 

MA1115Multi Variable Calculus

4

0

MA1116Vector Calculus

3

0

MA2121Differential Equations

4

0

OC3230Descriptive Physical Oceanography

3

1

MA1115: 1st 6wks

MA1116: 2nd 6wks

Quarter 2 (Summer)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
MA3132Partial Differential Equations and Integral Transforms

4

0

 

MR3321Air-Ocean Fluid Dynamics

4

0

-or-

OC3321Air-Ocean Fluid Dynamics

4

0

 

OC3902Fundamentals of Mapping, Charting and Geodesy

3

2

MR3480Atmospheric Thermodynamics and Radiative Processes

4

1

OC3902: or Elective

Quarter 3 (Fall)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
MR3522Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Ocean/Laboratory

4

2

-or-

OC3522Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere and Ocean/Laboratory

4

2

 

MR3140Probability and Statistics for Air-Ocean Science

3

2

-or-

OC3140Probability and Statistics for Air-Ocean Science

3

2

 

OC3260Fundamentals of Ocean Acoustics

4

1

OC3240Ocean Circulation Analysis

4

0

Quarter 4 (Winter)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
OC4211Ocean Dynamics II

4

0

 

MR3150Analysis of Air/Ocean Time Series

3

2

-or-

OC3150Analysis of Air Ocean Time Series

3

2

 

OC4220Coastal Circulation

4

1

IT1600Communication Skills for International Officers

3

0

IT1600: or Elective

Quarter 5 (Spring)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
MR4413/OC4413Air-Sea Interaction

4

0

-or-

OC4413/MR4413Air/Sea Interaction

4

0

 

OC4900Directed Study in Oceanography

V

0

OC4267Ocean Acoustic Variability and Uncertainty

4

0

IT1700Academic Writing for International Officers

3

0

IT1700: or Elective

Quarter 6 (Summer)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
MR4323Air and Ocean Numerical Prediction Systems

4

2

-or-

OC4323Air and Ocean Numerical Prediction Systems

4

2

 

OC0810Oceanography Thesis Research

0

8

OC4331Ocean Variability

4

0

ELECTElective OCXXXX

0

4

Quarter 7 (Fall)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
OC0810Oceanography Thesis Research

0

8

OC4271Topics in Tactical Oceanography

3

0

OC3570Operational Oceanography and Meteorology

2

4

OC4610Wave and Surf Forecasting

2

2

Quarter 8 (Winter)

Course NumberTitleCreditsLecture HoursLab Hours
OC4213Nearshore and Wave Processes

3

1

OC0810Oceanography Thesis Research

0

8

OC0810Oceanography Thesis Research

0

8

OC0999Thesis Seminars

2

0

Educational Skill Requirements (ESR)

Oceanography (Masters) Program

Subspecialty Code: Not Applicable for MS Degree

Note - there is no p-code associated with this program, thus there are no official ESRs. This list describes the skills that this program will provide students upon successful completion of the program.

This program provides students with a sound understanding of the science of oceanography. The student develops the technical expertise to provide and use oceanographic and acoustical data and models in support of all aspects of at-sea operations. The graduate will be able to:

  1. Interpret and predict oceanic and air-ocean interface conditions.
  2. Operate modern oceanographic data management, archival and communications systems.
  3. Plan, conduct, interpret and present results of research activities.

This education further enhances performance in operational billets, technical management assignments and policy-making positions. Students will develop a sound, graduate-level, technical ability based on scientific principles.