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Studies & Degrees in Oceanography

Oceanography is the scientific study of the ocean. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it covers marine life and ecosystems, ocean circulation, plate tectonics and the geology of the seafloor, and the chemical and physical properties of the ocean. The field is usually divided into four branches: biological, chemical, geological and physical oceanography. NOAA notes that the branches are intertwined, so every oceanographer needs a sound understanding of biology, chemistry, geology and physics.

A degree therefore starts with the basic sciences and mathematics and then applies them to the sea: currents, waves and tides, seawater chemistry, plankton and food webs, sediments and the seafloor, and the link between ocean and climate. Fieldwork is part of the training. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) points out that oceanographers may spend months at sea on a research ship, and several universities run their own vessels for teaching.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees. The School of Oceanography of the University of Washington offers a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Oceanography; the Bachelor of Science ends with a senior thesis in biological, chemical or physical oceanography, marine geology and geophysics, or ocean technology. At the University of British Columbia (UBC), oceanography is studied within the Bachelor of Science, through the Honours in Fisheries Oceanography programme or combined with another science. At the United States Naval Academy, the oceanography major covers the physical principles of meteorology and oceanography.
  • Brazil. Oceanography is a degree in its own right (bacharelado). At the Universidade de São Paulo (USP) it lasts a minimum of 8 semesters and leads to the title of Bacharel em Oceanografia. At the Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC) the course has 3,200 hours, an expected length of 4 years, and 40 places a year.
  • Spain. Oceanography is studied inside the bachelor's degree (grado) in marine sciences. The Grado en Ciencias del Mar of the Universidad de Cádiz has three specialisations: oceanography, living resources (fishing and aquaculture) and coastal management. It can be combined with environmental sciences in a double degree. Official bachelor's degrees in Spain have 240 ECTS credits.
  • Master's degrees. Many students specialise at this level after a first degree in biology, chemistry, physics or earth science. The Marine Sciences programme of Utrecht University is a two-year, English-taught master's of 120 ECTS credits that awards an MSc in Earth Sciences. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
  • Minors and short courses. The University of Washington has an oceanography minor for students of other degrees. ASU Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) offers courses and internships for university students from around the world.

A doctorate is the usual route into research. The BLS notes that for some positions employers prefer candidates with a master's or doctoral degree.

Where to study oceanography

SpainExchange lists 30 active schools for oceanography. Seventeen are in the United States. Spain, Australia and Brazil have two each, and Ethiopia, Ghana, the Netherlands, Bermuda, Vietnam, France and Canada have one each. Examples in the United States are the University of Washington in Seattle, Oregon State University, the University of North Carolina Wilmington and the United States Naval Academy. Elsewhere the list includes UBC in Vancouver, UNSW Sydney, Utrecht University, the University of Ghana, USP and UFC in Brazil, and in Spain the Universidad de Cádiz and the Universitat de Barcelona.

Most of these programmes are taught in English. First degrees in Spain and Brazil are normally taught in Spanish and Portuguese, so check the language of instruction of each programme before applying. Access to the sea matters too: ask what ship time, field stations and laboratory work are included. The Cádiz faculty, for example, uses the oceanographic vessel UCADIZ, and USP works with the research ship Alpha Crucis.

Careers

Oceanographers work in research institutes and universities, government agencies for weather, climate, fisheries and the coast, environmental consultancies, and marine industries. NOAA states that several thousand marine scientists work in the United States on issues that range from climate change, declining fisheries and eroding coastlines to new drugs from marine resources. The Universidad de Cádiz names biotechnology, ocean energy and ecosystem services, next to aquaculture and fishing, as growing areas of employment.

The BLS counts oceanographers among geoscientists. It states that geoscientists typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation, and it projects employment of geoscientists in the United States to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Frequently asked questions

Is oceanography the same as marine biology?

No. Marine biology studies the plants and animals of the sea and overlaps with biological oceanography. Oceanography also includes the physics, chemistry and geology of the ocean.

Which school subjects do I need to study oceanography?

Mathematics and the natural sciences. UBC, for example, asks applicants to its science degrees for mathematics plus chemistry and physics at Grade 11 level or equivalent. Check the entry requirements of each university.

How long does an oceanography degree take?

It depends on the country. The Brazilian bacharelado takes at least 8 semesters, a Spanish bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits, and the Utrecht master's takes two years.

Can I study oceanography in Spain?

Yes, as part of a degree in marine sciences. The Grado en Ciencias del Mar of the Universidad de Cádiz has a specialisation in oceanography.