M.S. in Marine Sciences University of South Alabama

Program Description

Oceans dominate the Earth. This is not only a geographic fact—71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans—but also a psychological, societal and economic reality. From a psychological perspective, the ocean has a pull on our hearts and minds that is inexplicable, but real. Economically, the boundaries formed where land and oceans meet (coastal zones) are critical to the financial health of the United States, with coastal counties supporting almost one-half of the nation’s GDP. Globally, oceans are Earth's most valuable asset, contributing $70 trillion to the global GDP annually. It’s no surprise that 40% of the world’s population lives in coastal zones. The judicious stewardship of marine and coastal resources requires expanding our knowledge of the processes that influence the ecosystem services and goods that fuel our socioeconomic needs.

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