University of California, San Diego
AC-4: Graduate Program

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography Ph.D. program is a research-oriented program that emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of research in marine, earth, and atmospheric sciences. The program is designed to train students to perform cutting-edge research and to apply and communicate scientific knowledge for the benefit of society and the environment. 

Sustainability education is a key component of the Scripps Oceanography PhD program. The institution is committed to responsible stewardship of its resources and education, incorporating UC's sustainability policy initiatives and programs. The program encourages students to take courses from various UC San Diego departments and to consider interdisciplinary research projects that address sustainability challenges. 

The PhD program offers specializations in Oceanography, Marine Biology, and Earth Science, joint PhD programs in Earthquake Science and Applied Geophysics, and a concurrent PhD/MBA program with the Rady School of Management. The program also offers opportunities for students to engage in sustainability-focused research projects, such as those related to climate change, ocean health, and global conservation. 

Overall, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography PhD program provides students with a comprehensive education in oceanography and sustainability, preparing them for careers in research, policy, and management that address the complex sustainability challenges facing our planet. 

The Master of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity & Conservation (M.A.S. M.B.C.) Program trains the trailblazers of tomorrow to address the world's most pressing ocean and coastal challenges. Students learn about marine ecosystems and conservation through an interdisciplinary, hands-on curriculum in marine biology, ecology, oceanography, social justice, communication, economics, law, and policy.  

M.A.S. M.B.C. students enjoy access to world class researchers, NOAA Fisheries scientists, and the Birch Aquarium. The program is also connected to valuable non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community partners who are at the forefront of marine conservation issues in California, the U.S. and globally.  

Alumni spearhead research, lead agencies, work with Tribes, create policy, craft effective communication strategies, direct NGOs, produce films and impact marine conservation in meaningful ways. With demonstrated success, our alumni change the way the world understands and manages its ocean resources. 

The Master of Advanced Studies in Climate Science and Policy (M.A.S. C.S.P.) Program is a one-year master's degree that fills an increasing global need for scientific, policy, and communication professionals to take action in response to the threats posed by climate change and to help effectuate the ongoing transition to a low carbon society. 

Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the M.A.S. C.S.P. Program focuses on the physical science and policy dimensions of climate change. Whether your interests lie in public policy, education, environmental justice, journalism, finance, insurance, international development, research science, or another climate-related discipline, this is the foundational program to promote or advance your career. Students in the MAS CSP Program explore climate change from an interdisciplinary perspective, learning about the interconnected scientific, policy and political dimensions of climate change. Key areas of focus in the MAS CSP Program include the physical science basis of climate change, the impacts of ongoing climate change on human and ecological systems, existing climate politics and governance, and how to communicate climate information to key audiences. 

Our graduates possess a broad understanding of the potential solutions to help government and industry achieve their energy reduction and climate mitigation and adaptation targets. Moreover, our alumni are poised to lead the societal transformation required to navigate the ongoing climate challenge. 

-Ph.D. in Geosciences https://scripps.ucsd.edu/doctoral/program-areas/geosciences-gs   

Program Description: The Ph.D. in Geosciences at Scripps Institution of Oceanography is a graduate program that offers a comprehensive education in the geosciences, with a focus on interdisciplinary research and sustainability education. The program's emphasis on interdisciplinary research prepares students to address complex environmental challenges and develop innovative solutions. Overall, the Ph.D. in Geosciences at Scripps Institution of Oceanography provides students with a comprehensive education in the geosciences, preparing them for careers in academia, research, and policymaking, where they can apply their knowledge and skills to address global environmental challenges. 

-M.S. in Geosciences https://scripps.ucsd.edu/doctoral/program-areas/geosciences-gs   

Program Description: The Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Geosciences at Scripps Institution of Oceanography is a graduate program that offers a comprehensive education in the geosciences, with a strong emphasis on sustainability education. The program's emphasis on sustainability education prepares students to address complex environmental challenges and develop innovative solutions. By combining academic rigor with practical experience, the M.S. Geosciences program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography provides students with a comprehensive education in sustainability, preparing them for careers that make a positive impact on the environment. 

-Ph.D. in Marine Biology https://scripps.ucsd.edu/doctoral/program-areas/marine-biology-mb   

Program Description: The Ph.D. program in Marine Biology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the study of marine organisms and their interactions with the environment. The program emphasizes sustainability education, preparing students to address the complex environmental challenges facing our oceans and coastal ecosystems. 

The program's emphasis on sustainability education is reflected in its focus on understanding the impacts of human activities on marine ecosystems and developing solutions to mitigate these impacts. Students in the program are trained to think critically about the complex relationships between human and natural systems, and to develop innovative solutions to promote sustainability and conservation. 

In addition to its research focus, the program also provides training in policy and management, preparing students for careers in academia, government, and non-profit organizations. The program's faculty includes experts in marine policy, conservation biology, and ecosystem management, providing students with a comprehensive education in sustainability and conservation. 

-M.S. in Marine Biology https://scripps.ucsd.edu/doctoral/program-areas/marine-biology-mb  

Program Description: The M.S. in Marine Biology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, is a graduate program that focuses on the study of marine organisms and their interactions with the environment. The program emphasizes sustainability education, preparing students to address the complex environmental challenges facing our oceans and coastal ecosystems. 

The program's emphasis on sustainability education prepares students to think critically about the complex relationships between human and natural systems, and to develop innovative solutions to promote sustainability and conservation. Students can access world-class researchers and facilities, including the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, and are connected to valuable non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community partners at the forefront of marine conservation issues. 

Overall, the M.S. in Marine Biology at Scripps Institution of Oceanography is a unique program that combines rigorous academic training with a focus on sustainability education, preparing students to become leaders in the field of marine biology and conservation. 

-M.S. in Oceanography https://scripps.ucsd.edu/masters   

Program Description: The M.S. in Oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, is a graduate program that focuses on the study of the ocean and its interactions with the environment. The program emphasizes sustainability education, preparing students to address the complex environmental challenges facing our oceans and coastal ecosystems. 

The program's emphasis on sustainability education prepares students to think critically about the complex relationships between human and natural systems, and to develop innovative solutions to promote sustainability and conservation. Students can access world-class researchers and facilities, including the Birch Aquarium at Scripps, and are connected to valuable non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community partners at the forefront of marine conservation issues. 

Overall, the M.S. in Oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography is a unique program that combines rigorous academic training with a focus on sustainability education, preparing students to become leaders in the field of oceanography and conservation. 

-Ph.D. in Applied Ocean Science https://catalog.ucsd.edu/curric/APOC.html  

Program Description: Applied Ocean Science (AOS) is an interdepartmental Ph.D. program with a focus on the interface between ocean exploration and technology. It is administered by an interdepartmental group composed of members of the faculties of cooperating departments: the Department of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. 

This interdepartmental curriculum combines the resources of these departments to produce oceanographers who are knowledgeable about modern engineering and instrumentation, as well as marine oriented engineering scientists who are familiar with the oceans. Since physical, chemical, geological, and biological aspects of the oceans and all forms of engineering may be involved, the curriculum provides maximum flexibility in meeting the needs of each individual student. 

-M.S. in Applied Ocean Science https://scripps.ucsd.edu/doctoral/program-areas/applied-ocean-science-aos   

Program Description: The M.S. in Applied Ocean Science (AOS) at UC San Diego is an interdisciplinary program that combines the resources of the Department of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The program focuses on the interface between ocean exploration and technology, giving students a full understanding of modern engineering and instrumentation, and marine-oriented engineering sciences.  

The program provides students with a deep understanding of the complex relationships between human activities and the ocean environment, which is essential for developing sustainable solutions to ocean-related challenges. The program's interdisciplinary approach and focus on the interface between ocean exploration and technology results in students and alum equipped to address sustainability issues in the context of ocean science and engineering. 

-M.A. in Global Health https://globalhealthprogram.ucsd.edu/graduate/overview.html   

Program Description: The M.A. in Global Health at UC San Diego is a one-year program that provides students with an interdisciplinary curriculum focusing on urgent social concerns and equips them with the ability to understand and productively intervene in processes of health, illness, and healing across the globe. The program emphasizes sustainability education, preparing students to address the complex health challenges facing global communities. 

Through the program, students will gain a deep understanding of the complex relationships between human health, environmental sustainability, and social justice. They will learn to analyze the root causes of health inequities and develop strategies to promote health equity and sustainability in diverse cultural and environmental contexts. 

The Program for Interdisciplinary Environmental Research (PIER) is designed to train students to find creative and practical solutions within ecological, social, economic, and ethical constraints. PIER provides graduate students from existing UC San Diego Ph.D. programs with the opportunity to specialize in research and training on the biological, physical, economic and social aspects of environmental research, conservation, and sustainability. 

Through PIER, graduate students interact and communicate with peers in radically different disciplines throughout their Ph.D. projects. Such communication across disciplines from the outset is key to fostering a capacity for interdisciplinary “language” skills and conceptual flexibility. 

PIER is an approved UC San Diego Specialization available in 11 departments: Anthropology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Economics, Ethnic Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Rady School of Management, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Sociology, and Visual Arts. 

The M.P.P. degree at the School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) at UC San Diego is a professional degree that prepares students with the skills needed to compare best practices in Latin America, Asia, and other parts of the world. The program recognizes that US policies on many fronts are no longer "best practices" globally, and therefore, it provides a comprehensive education in public policy making in a global context.   

The M.P.P. program offers specializations in several areas, including energy and environmental policy. This specialization is particularly relevant to sustainability education, as it prepares students to address the complex environmental challenges facing our planet. The program's focus on energy and environmental policy highlights its strong connection to sustainability education, as students will gain a deep understanding of the importance of sustainable energy systems and environmental conservation.  

Overall, the M.P.P. degree at GPS provides students with a comprehensive education in public policy making, with a strong focus on sustainability education, preparing them for careers in government, non-profit organizations, and private sector companies that address global sustainability challenges. 

The Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering with an Applied Ocean Sciences (AOS) Concentration at UC San Diego is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the application of advanced technology to ocean research, exploration, and observation. The program is administered by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) and is a collaboration between the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. 

The AOS concentration emphasizes the resolution of key scientific issues through novel technical development, particularly involving the application of signal processing, machine learning, and data science methods. Subject areas for study include marine acoustics, optics, electromagnetics, geophysics, marine ecology, sediment transport, coastal processes, physical oceanography, and air-sea interaction.

The program provides students with a deep understanding of the complex relationships between human activities and the ocean environment, which is essential for developing sustainable solutions to ocean-related challenges.  

-M.S. in Electrical Engineering with Applied Ocean Sciences Concentration https://ece.ucsd.edu/faculty-research/ece-research-areas/applied-ocean-sciences   

Program Description: The M.S. in Electrical Engineering with an Applied Ocean Sciences (AOS) Concentration at UC San Diego is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the application of advanced technology to ocean research, exploration, and observation. The program is administered by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) and is a collaboration between the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.  

The AOS concentration emphasizes the resolution of key scientific issues through novel technical development, particularly involving the application of signal processing, machine learning, and data science methods. Subject areas for study include marine acoustics, optics, electromagnetics, geophysics, marine ecology, sediment transport, coastal processes, physical oceanography, and air-sea interaction.  

The program provides students with a deep understanding of the complex relationships between human activities and the ocean environment, which is essential for developing sustainable solutions to ocean-related challenges.   

NOTES:  

UC San Diego is constantly updating the list of graduate majors and concentrations, so it is worth noting that this may not be an exhaustive list based on time of reviewing this document. This is a compilation of programs as of Summer 2024.   

METHODOLOGY:  

To populate the information described herein and ensure accuracy, UC San Diego Staff utilized a three-pronged research approach: (1) communication with the Campus Registrar Office, which provided us with a list of graduate majors for the desired academic time period; (2) review the university website; and (3) TritonGPT, a suite of UC San Diego specific AI Assistants, to perform a gap analysis using novel prompt questions and statements (e.g. “list all graduate major concentrations”).