Marine Science, Hydrographic Science and Marine Biology: which is which?

Marine Science is a multidisciplinary field focusing on the study of ocean processes. Research and training in the Marine Science degree programs involves physical, chemical, biological, and geological oceanography along with remote sensing, ocean acoustics, and numerical modeling. Research programs are carried out in both the coastal and open ocean as well as sediments, large lakes, and rivers.

Hydrographic Science is the science of measuring and depicting those parameters necessary to describe the precise nature and configuration of the seabed, its geographical relationship to the land mass, and the characteristics and dynamics of the sea. These parameters include bathymetry, tides, currents, waves, physical properties of sea water, geology and geophysics.

Students interested in ocean processes, biomass distributions, bio-optics and primary productivity should consider our Marine Science programs. Students interested in the biology of specific marine organisms may wish to consider other Southern Miss degree programs in the Department of Biological Sciences or the Department of Coastal Sciences.

While the Department of Marine Science does not offer undergraduate degrees, it does open several of its courses to undergraduates. Click here to learn about undergraduate requirements for admission to the graduate course of study.

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