Graduate Program Overview
This page contains an overview of the marine science, oceanography, and fisheries graduate program (M.S. and Ph.D.) at UAF. If you're not already familiar with our program, we recommend you read over this information first, and then follow the links to more detailed information about the oceanography, marine biology, and fisheries graduate programs.
Programs of study
The School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences offers the M.S. degree in biological, chemical, fisheries, geological, and physical oceanography; marine biology; fisheries; and seafood science and nutrition (interdisciplinary degree). M.S. students in fisheries have a choice of several emphasis areas: Fish and shellfish ecology, stock assessment and fishery management, conservation biology and genetics, stock enhancement, toxicology; all programs include elements of biometry. The Ph.D. is offered in marine biology, oceanography, fisheries and in an interdisciplinary program in seafood science and nutrition.
M.S. programs in fisheries, oceanography and marine biology require at least one year of residence at UAF (which includes the School's outlying centers at Juneau, Seward, and Kodiak). Marine science faculty and students reside at Fairbanks and Seward. Fisheries faculty and students reside at Fairbanks and Juneau. Seafood science and nutrition is offered through faculty at the Fishery Industrial Technology Center (FITC) in Kodiak. M.S. degrees require a minimum of 30 credits. At least 21 credits must be at the graduate level. All M.S. programs require a thesis. Successful completion of an oral comprehensive examination and an oral defense of thesis examination are required of all M.S. students.
There are no fixed course requirements, nor is an MS degree required to earn the Ph.D. in oceanography, although the student is expected to complete course work at least equivalent to that required for the M.S. degree. The Ph.D. is awarded for proven ability and scholarly attainment, and each candidate's program is planned with the graduate advisory committee. Requirements include one year of full-time course work beyond the M.S. degree and at least 18 credits of thesis research. All Ph.D. candidates must pass a written comprehensive examination. Oceanography Ph.D. students must also pass an oral comprehensive exam. A dissertation is also required of all candidates.
"Student Learning Outcomes Assessment" plans are available for the M.S. in Oceanography, the Ph.D. in Oceanography, the M.S. in Marine Biology, and the Ph.D. in Marine Biology. These outline the goals, objectives, and assessment criteria for each of these programs.
Research facilities
The Institute of Marine Science is the oceanographic research arm of the School, with major facilities in Fairbanks. Its coastal facilities include the Seward Marine Center, home port of the National Science Foundation research vessel Alpha Helix. The Kasitsna Bay Laboratory is used for marine biology research. The Juneau Center is on the University of Alaska Southeast campus, adjacent to the National Marine Fisheries Service Auke Bay Laboratory. The Juneau Center houses the majority of fisheries faculty and focuses on marine fisheries. Fisheries research on the Fairbanks campus is freshwater-oriented. The Fishery Industrial Technology Center at Kodiak conducts research in seafood processing and sustainable harvesting. Specialized research facilities and equipment with the School include stable isotope mass spectrometers, a flow cytometer, gas and liquid chromatographs, a gamma-ray spectroscopy system, liquid scintillation counter, atomic absorption spectrophotometers, automated nutrient analysis systems, controlled-temperature chambers, and running seawater systems (at Seward and Juneau).
More information on these facilities and others is available at the SFOS academic and research facilities overview.
Amanda Byrd, Matt Grey and Candace Picco (left to right) sieve sediment samples
in the field to collect data on frequency and size distribution of sand dollars.
Financial aid
Financial aid in the form of research assistantships and a few teaching assistantships ($13,416-$22,780 per year) is available to qualified students. This support generally requires 20 hours per week of research or related duties. Students receiving assistantships are eligible for a waiver of tuition.
Cost of study
For 2004-2005, Alaska state residents enrolled in graduate courses are charged $222 per credit; nonresident fees are an additional $231 per credit. Tuition is scheduled to increase 10% for the 2005-2006 academic year.
Living and housing costs
On the Fairbanks campus, residence hall charges range from $1385 per semester for a double room in a dormitory to $1430 per semester to share an apartment in the Student Apartment Complex. A meal ticket ranges from $1220-1400 per semester. A limited number of apartments are available for married students. Off-campus housing is available nearby.
Housing is available on the University of Alaska Southeast campus. Details can be found on the UAS Student Housing site. For more information on graduate fisheries housing locations, contact the Fisheries Division office (907-465-6451).
Student group
The Fisheries Program currently has 32 M.S. and 17 Ph.D. fisheries students attending at Juneau and 20 M.S. and 2 Ph.D. students on the Fairbanks campus. In marine science and limnology, there are 29 M.S. and 10 Ph.D. students in marine biology and 8 M.S. and 14 Ph.D. students in oceanography attending at the Fairbanks campus. About half of the students are women, and 10 percent are from outside the U.S.
Brenda Konar's 2003 scientific diving students pose in the snow.
Location
The University of Alaska Fairbanks is 4 miles from downtown Fairbanks, on 2,250 acres. It has an enrollment of 7,118 undergraduates and 783 graduate students. The Fairbanks area, with a population of about 75,000 people, is only 130 miles from the Arctic Circle, making the University the northernmost institution of higher education in North America.
The Juneau Center, although administratively a part of UAF, is located near the University of Alaska Southeast campus. Juneau is the state capital, with a population of about 25,000.
Kodiak Island is a 3,500 square mile island in southeast Alaska. Kodiak has one of the largest commercial fishing ports in the nation and is an ideal place for graduate work. The Fishery Industrial Technology Center (FITC) is located on the Trident Basin in Kodiak, and works year-round to discover better methods to harvest, preserve, process, and package Alaska's rich ocean bounty. With nine faculty members, students enjoy a low student–faculty ratio.
The School
The School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences was created in 1987 to focus the fisheries and marine programs throughout the University of Alaska system. It consists of the Fisheries Program, the Graduate Program in Marine Sciences and Limnology, the Fisheries Division (with academic and research facilities at Fairbanks and the Juneau Center), the Alaska Sea Grant College Program, The Fishery Industrial Technology Center, the Institute of Marine Science, and the Marine Advisory Program. There are 50 faculty members within the School, and students enjoy a small student-faculty ratio.
Applying
An official transcript from each college or university attended is required, with at least three letters of recommendation. A $50 fee must accompany the application. The Graduate Record Examinations General Test score is required, with a Subject Test recommended. A statement of academic goals should be sent along with the other application materials. Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year, although we start reviewing applications for the fall semester on 1 March. Applicants have the best chance of receiving a research assistantship if their application is complete by 1 March.
Correspondence and information
Academic Programs
School of Fisheries and Ocean SciencesUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks
P.O. Box 757220
Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7220
Telephone: (907) 474-5840
Fax: (907) 474-5863
Email: academics@sfos.uaf.edu
More information on our graduate programs in fisheries, marine biology, and oceanography.