Oceanographers study the oceans and coastal areas.
An oceanologist, or oceanographer, is a type of geoscientist who studies the planet's oceans and coastal water systems. Oceanographers may study the effects of climate, the physical and chemical properties of the ocean, coastal ecosystems, erosion patterns and the movement of the ocean waters. Subsets of oceanography include marine biology and marine geology. Oceanographers may work for geological surveys, oil and mining companies, universities and research institutes.
Undergraduate Education
A bachelor's degree in geosciences or oceanography is a minimum requirement for any job as an oceanographer. The exact courses you will take depends upon your specialty area. For example, majors in marine biology may need to take courses in general and fishery biology, zoology and biometrics, along with courses in statistics, math, chemistry and physics. Students focusing on climate may need to take courses in environmental problem solving, climate change economics, physical and chemical oceanography and marine modeling, in addition to general courses in biology, chemistry and physics.
Graduate Education
Most oceanography jobs will require a master's degree or a doctorate in a specialty area. If you want to conduct oceanographic research, you will need at least a master's degree. A master's or doctorate program will focus on the specific area of oceanography that you want to eventually work in. For example, if you are studying for a master's in marine biodiversity and conservation, in order to work in marine conservation, you would take courses in marine biodiversity and also topics such as economics of the environment and marine science. Master's and doctoral programs may also involve conducting independent research or study and writing a dissertation.
Post-Doctoral Education
If your goal is to conduct research in oceanography or to teach at university level, you may also need to spend some time working as a post-doctoral researcher in your area of oceanography. This generally involves working on a research project with a research institute, such as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts, or conducting research with an organization such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium. You will work under the supervision of a senior researcher, learning to conduct advanced research and write research papers. You may also train as a post-doctorate in a university, conducting research under the supervision of a professor, and teaching some undergraduate or graduate courses.
Additional Education
Many oceanography students work as interns or research assistants during the summer, in order to gain experience in their field and make contacts. This work may take place in a laboratory, or out in the field. Because many areas of oceanography involve working out in the field, on the ocean or in coastal areas, many oceanographers also have SCUBA certification and are licensed to operate various types of boats. Some oceanographers may also be licensed to operate submersibles. Education and work experience in the field of oceanography also involves learning to use remote-sensing equipment and learning use techniques such as digital mapping and computer modeling.
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