Applied Coastal and Ocean Sciences, Ph.D.

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Stephen Skrabal

The doctor of philosophy in Applied Coastal and Ocean Sciences (ACOS) combines high caliber research in ocean and coastal science with entrepreneurial skills and career readiness training for students seeking to apply core principles of marine science to the development of solutions with societal and/or commercial benefit. The ACOS program leads to careers in academia and beyond. The ACOS program of study builds on the fundamental concepts and core disciplines in coastal and oceans science by requiring that students develop and execute a significant body of research. The ACOS program extends this foundational research by asking students to evaluate critically their ideas and findings in the context of solutions to commercial, technological, policy, or educational problems. The research intensive nature of the program is supported with coursework in both advanced coastal and ocean science, entrepreneurial thinking, and career readiness.

Total credits required:

60 post-baccalaureate degree
40 post-master’s degree

Target audience: STEM graduates (BA/BS/MA/MS) with an interest in the application of ocean science to issues of societal relevance and potential application beyond academia.

Goals:

Students will demonstrate an advanced understanding of the principles and concepts in core areas of marine science
Students will be able to develop, present, and defend a research plan.
Students will be able to implement a research plan to address questions and hypotheses in their research proposal
Students will be able to present their research findings in written and oral form.
Students will be able to identify ideas, processes, products, or services with potential to provide societal or commercial benefit.
Students will be able to develop and present a plan for developing an idea, process, service, or product to provide societal benefit

Admission Requirements

One official transcript is required from each U.S. post-secondary institution attended. Refer to the Getting Started page for international transcript instructions.
No test scores are required.
3 recommendations to be submitted through the online application with accompanying letters by individuals in professionally relevant fields, including those familiar with the student’s performance in school.
Curriculum Vitae (2 page maximum)
Previous Thesis Research: Summary of M.S. thesis research (2 page maximum).
If you are applying with an undergraduate degree only, upload a document that simply states “No master’s thesis.”
Ph.D. Research: Statement of Ph.D. research interests (2 page maximum)
Potential UNCW Faculty Mentor(s): Applicants should make initial contact with prospective faculty mentors prior to applying. Please contact the graduate program coordinator if you need assistance with this process.

Core Classes (13 credits)

BIO 564 - Biological Oceanography Credit Hours: 3
CHM 575 - Chemical Oceanography Credit Hours: 3
GLY 550 - Marine Geology Credit Hours: 3
PHY 575 - Physical Oceanography Credit Hours: 3
MSC 595 - Graduate Seminar Credit Hours: 1

Field Experience (1-3 credits)

Field or cruise experience requirement can be fulfilled through dissertation research and/or courses that have a field based component. Examples of field based courses include:Field or cruise experience requirement can be fulfilled through dissertation research and/or courses that have a field based component. Examples of field based courses include:

MSC 526 - Cruise or Field Sampling Credit Hours: 1
CHM 576 - Chemical and Physical Analysis of Seawater Credit Hours: 3

Quantitative Methods (3 credits)

Three (3) credits in quantitative methods or statistics. Students should choose one of the following:

BIO 515 - Introductory Biostatistics Credit Hours: 3
BIOL 515 - Introductory Biostatistics Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
ECN 525 - Environmental Economics Credit Hours: 3
ECN 530 - Natural Resource Economics Credit Hours: 3
PHY 577 - Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Physical Oceanography Credit Hours: 3
STT 512 - Applied Regression and Correlation Credit Hours: 3
STT 520 - Biostatistical Analysis Credit Hours: 3
STT 525 - Categorical Data Analysis Credit Hours: 3
STT 535 - Applied Multivariate Analysis Credit Hours: 3

Applied Coastal and Ocean Sciences Courses (6 credits)

Coursework in entrepreneurial thinking and career-readiness.

Must include:

MBA 552 - Commercialization and Venture Management Credit Hours: 3
MSC 610 - Research Assessment and Triage Credit Hours: 1
MSC 611 - Topics in Applied Coastal and Ocean Sciences Credit Hours: 1 (minimum of 2)
Potential, non exclusive topics for MSC 611:
- Communication
- Science Teaching
- Project Management
- Teams
- Leadership
- Policy Making

Advanced Topics in Coastal and Ocean Sciences (4 credits)

A minimum of 4 credits in doctoral level courses in coastal and ocean sciences. These courses are meant to be topical and build on core content that is typical at the MS level. MSC 601 is the primary vehicle for this part of the curriculum, but other doctoral (600) level courses can be considered as they are developed by individual departments (e.g., BIO 601 which is part of the Ph.D. in Marine Biology).

BIO 601 - Oceanography and Environmental Science Credit Hours: 2 Or 3
MSC 601 - Advanced Topics in Coastal and Ocean Sciences Credit Hours: 2

Electives (14 credits)

Electives - 14 credits, no more than 8 credits from Research (MSC 698) or Directed Independent Study (MSC 691)

BIO 501 - Introduction to Science as a Profession Credit Hours: 2 (2 credits required)
BIO 512 - Electron Microscopy and Cell Ultrastructure Credit Hours: 3
BIO 519 - Advanced Topics in Cellular and Molecular Biology Credit Hours: 4
BIO 526 - Advanced Topics in Microbiology Credit Hours: 2 To 4
BIO 530 - Advanced Topics in Evolutionary Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIO 534 - Advanced Topics in Ecology Credit Hours: 3
BIO 531 - Population Genetics Credit Hours: 3
BIO 539 - Advanced Topics in Population Biology Credit Hours: 2 TO 4
BIO 542 - Advanced Topics in Marine Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIO 549 - Advanced Topics in Physiology Credit Hours: 4
BIO 550 - Systematic Biology Credit Hours: 3
BIO 551 - Advanced Vertebrate Biology Credit Hours: 2
BIO 558 - Biology of Recreational and Commercial Fishes Credit Hours: 3
BIO 560 - Estuarine Biology Credit Hours: 4
BIO 561 - Barrier Island Ecology Credit Hours: 3
BIO 562 - Wetlands of the United States and their Management Credit Hours: 4
BIO 568 - River Ecology Credit Hours: 3
BIO 571 - Phytoplankton Credit Hours: 4
BIO 575 - Taxonomy of Aquatic and Wetland Plants Credit Hours: 3
BIO 578 - Biology of Harmful Algae Credit Hours: 3
BIO 579 - Advanced Topics in Organismic Biology Credit Hours: 2 Or 4
BIO 580 - Field Studies in Biology Credit Hours: 1 To 6
BIO 585 - Special Topics in Advanced Biology Credit Hours: 1 To 6
BIO 590 - Biomechanics Credit Hours: 4
BIO 591 - Directed Independent Study Credit Hours: 1 To 4
BIO 594 - Pract: College Bio Teaching Credit Hours: 2
BIO 596 - Critique of Scientific Literature Credit Hours: 1
BIO 601 - Oceanography and Environmental Science Credit Hours: 2 Or 3
BIO 602 - Ecology Credit Hours: 2 Or 3
BIO 605 - Evolution and Diversity Credit Hours: 2 Or 3
BIO 690 - Seminar Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 512 - Electron Microscopy Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 530 - Advanced Topics in Evolutionary Biology Lab Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 534 - Advanced Topics in Ecology Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 542 - Advanced Topics in Marine Biology Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
BIOL 564 - Biological Oceanography Laboratory Credit Hours: 1
CHM 505 - Pharmaceutical Chemistry I: Introduction to Drug Discovery Credit Hours: 3
CHM 506 - Pharmaceutical Chemistry II: Pharmaceutical Analysis Credit Hours: 3
CHM 512 - Structure Elucidation Credit Hours: 3
CHM 517 - Medicinal Chemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHM 567 - Biochemical Techniques and Instrumentation Credit Hours: 2
CHM 568 - Advanced Biochemistry Credit Hours: 3
CHM 576 - Chemical and Physical Analysis of Seawater Credit Hours: 3
CHM 592 - Special Topics in Chemistry Credit Hours: 1 To 3
CHML 512 - Mass Spectrometry and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Lab Credit Hours: 1
ECN 525 - Environmental Economics Credit Hours: 3
ECN 530 - Natural Resource Economics Credit Hours: 3
ENG 575 - Professional Science Writing Credit Hours: 3
ENG 577 - Grant and Proposal Writing Credit Hours: 3
ENG 578 - Science Writing for Cross-Cultural and Global Audiences Credit Hours: 3
EVS 501 - Introduction to Environmental Problems Credit Hours: 3
EVS 515 - Field Methods in Environmental Sciences Credit Hours: 3
EVS 516 - Field Methods for Coastal Environments Credit Hours: 3
EVS 518 - Fundamentals of Applied Environmental Research Credit Hours: 3
EVS 520 - Foundations of Coastal Management Credit Hours: 3
EVS 530 - Tropical Environmental Ecology Credit Hours: 3
EVS 531 - International Field Experience Credit Hours: 1 To 6
EVS 540 - Foundations of Environmental Conservation and Management Credit Hours: 3
EVS 554 - Remote Sensing for Environmental Management Credit Hours: 3
EVS 555 - Geospatial Analysis for Coastal Management Credit Hours: 3
EVS 564 - Natural Resource Policy Credit Hours: 3
EVS 570 - Advanced Environmental Law and Policy Credit Hours: 3
EVS 571 - National Parks and Protected Areas Credit Hours: 3
EVS 576 - Issues for a Sustainable Society Credit Hours: 3
EVS 577 - Environmental Site Assessment Credit Hours: 3
EVS 585 - Environmental Economics Credit Hours: 3
EVS 592 - Special Topics in Environmental Sciences Credit Hours: 1 TO 6
GEO 501 - Research Methods in Geoscience Credit Hours: 3
GEO 502 - Technical Communication in Geoscience Credit Hours: 3
GEO 503 - Advanced Field Methods Credit Hours: 4
GEO 592 - Topics in Geoscience Credit Hours: 1 To 4
GEO 593 - Advanced Topics in Earth Processes Credit Hours: 1 To 3
GEO 595 - Research Seminar Credit Hours: 1
GEO 598 - Internship Credit Hours: 1 TO 4
GGY 520 - Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems Credit Hours: 3
GGY 522 - Remote Sensing in Environmental Analysis Credit Hours: 3
GGY 524 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems Credit Hours: 3
GGY 526 - Environmental Geographic Information Systems Credit Hours: 3
GGY 528 - Advanced Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 3
GGY 529 - Aerial Drone Applications in Geosciences Credit Hours: 3
GGY 532 - Biogeography Credit Hours: 3
GGY 535 - Environmental Geography Credit Hours: 3
GGY 575 - Water Resources: Science and Policy Credit Hours: 3
GGY 593 - Advanced Topics in Geospatial Science Credit Hours: 1 To 3
GGY 594 - Teaching Practicum in GIS and Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 1 To 3
GLY 510 - Sedimentary Environments Credit Hours: 3
GLY 511 - Clastic Petrology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 512 - Carbonate Petrology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 513 - Advanced Igneous Petrology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 514 - Advanced Metamorphic Petrology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 515 - Methods of Sedimentology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 516 - Sedimentary Petrology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 520 - Global Climate Change Credit Hours: 3
GLY 521 - Seminar in Paleoceanography Credit Hours: 3
GLY 525 - Engineering Geology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 526 - Geohydrology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 531 - Micropaleontology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 533 - Paleoecology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 535 - Stratigraphic Paleontology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 539 - Paleoclimatology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 540 - Regional Geology of North America Credit Hours: 3
GLY 541 - Advanced Structural Geology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 543 - Tectonics Credit Hours: 3
GLY 545 - Sedimentary Basin Analysis Credit Hours: 3
GLY 551 - Seafloor Mapping Credit Hours: 4
GLY 552 - Modern Coastal Sedimentary Environments Credit Hours: 3
GLY 555 - Coastal Sediment Dynamics Credit Hours: 3
GLY 558 - Introduction to Coastal Management Credit Hours: 4
GLY 560 - Advanced Stratigraphy Credit Hours: 3
GLY 561 - Coastal Plains Geology Credit Hours: 3
GLY 565 - Introduction to Geophysics Credit Hours: 3
GLY 572 - Introduction to Geochemistry Credit Hours: 3
GLY 573 - Isotope Geochemistry Credit Hours: 3
GLY 575 - Marine Biogeochemistry Credit Hours: 3
GLY 585 - Relative Sea Level Credit Hours: 3
GLY 593 - Advanced Topics in Geology Credit Hours: 1 To 3
MCOP 511 - Coastal and Ocean Law Credit Hours: 3
MCOP 520 - Coastal and Environmental Science and Policy Credit Hours: 3
MCOP 521 - Institutions and the Environment Credit Hours: 3
MCOP 524 - Coastal Resources Management Credit Hours: 3
MCOP 525 - Coastal Ecosystem Governance Credit Hours: 3
MCOP 528 - North Carolina Coastal Issues and Experiences Credit Hours: 3
MCOP 531 - Fisheries Law & Management Credit Hours: 3
MCOP 540 - Interdisciplinary Field Seminar in Coastal and Ocean Policy Credit Hours: 3
MCOP 592 - Special Topics in Coastal and Ocean Policy Credit Hours: 3
MCOP 593 - Seminar in Coastal and Ocean Policy Credit Hours: 3
MPA 505 - Policy Analysis Credit Hours: 3
MPA 506 - Program Evaluation Credit Hours: 3
MPA 520 - Seminar in Coastal Processes and Problems Credit Hours: 3
MPA 521 - Coastal Management Credit Hours: 3
MPA 522 - Field Seminar in Coastal Management Credit Hours: 3
MPA 523 - Coastal Land Use Planning Credit Hours: 3
MPA 524 - Managing Coastal Hazards Credit Hours: 3
MPA 525 - Managing Coastal Ecosystems Credit Hours: 3
MPA 541 - Public Economics and Cost-Benefit Analysis Credit Hours: 3
MPA 542 - Managing Interorganizational Relations Credit Hours: 3
MPA 543 - Environmental Policy Analysis Credit Hours: 3
MPA 544 - Resource Economics Credit Hours: 3
MPA 545 - Government Planning and Geographic Information Systems Credit Hours: 3
MPA 548 - Energy Policy Credit Hours: 3
MPA 562 - International Environmental Policy Credit Hours: 3
MSC 691 - Directed Independent Study in Applied Coastal and Ocean Sciences Credit Hours: 1 to 4
MSC 698 - Research in Applied Coastal and Ocean Sciences Credit Hours: 1 to 4
PHY 550 - Fluid Mechanics Credit Hours: 3
PHY 576 - Chemical and Physical Analysis of Seawater Credit Hours: 3
PHY 577 - Observational Methods and Data Analysis in Physical Oceanography Credit Hours: 3
PHY 578 - Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Credit Hours: 3
PHY 579 - Ocean Circulation Systems Credit Hours: 3
PHY 580 - Coastal and Estuarine Systems Credit Hours: 3
PHY 592 - Special Topics Credit Hours: 1 To 3

Dissertation (12 credits)

Must include:

Research Prospectus and Prospectus Defense
No more than 12 credits in Dissertation (MSC 699–Dissertation in Applied Coastal and Ocean Sciences)
Multi-chapter dissertation written for publication that includes written results of research inventory and triage
Public defense
3-minute speed pitch, modeled on 3-Minute Thesis