Master of Arts and Master of Science in Marine Science (M.A./M.S.) Admission
Admissions requirements include:
- A $50 non-refundable application fee.
- A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- A completed graduate admission application form.
- An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Submission of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score report.
- Submission of a two page Statement of Research and Professional Goals.
- Applications should be submitted by February 1st. Applications completed after that date will be considered on a space available basis.
In addition to all program admission requirements listed above, all international student applicants must meet the JU Admissions requirements as outlined under International Students.
Admission to the MA/MS in Marine Science program is selective and limited to those students who demonstrate potential for successfully completing the program. The decision is based on evaluation of the student's undergraduate program and grades earned, work experience (if applicable), letters of recommendation, statement of research and professional goals, and the personal interview.
An undergraduate degree in Marine Science is not necessary for admission to the MA/MS in the Marine Science Program, however, all applicants must be accepted by the Graduate Review Committee (GRC) to either the MS/MA in the MSC Program and must demonstrate adequate potential to successfully complete graduate level courses in the field of marine science. Students whose undergraduate specialization is not in Marine Science may be required to take additional undergraduate courses in order to qualify for advanced study. Each student will either have a thesis committee (MS) or an academic advisor (MA). The advisor/committee will assist the student in developing an academic plan and must approve all work done in pursuit of the degree.
Students not meeting entrance requirements outlined above may be admitted as non-degree seeking and be allowed to six semester hours of graduate level MSC course work at JU. Students must receive permission from the instructor before taking additional 500-level MSC courses at JU until they meet all admission requirements.
- All applications and official transcripts of undergraduate as well as graduate work must be on file in the Office of Graduate Admission prior to initial registration.
- Any exceptions to the preceding requirements must be approved by the Director of Marine Science Graduate Studies.
All application materials should be mailed to:
Transient or Non-degree Student Application - Applications for admission to JU as a transient or non-degree seeking student must be filed with the Office of Graduate Admission prior to initial registration. Admission requirements include:
- A bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution.
- Official transcript(s) showing all undergraduate and graduate course work of the candidate.
Admission to Candidacy - A student may be admitted to candidacy for the degree only if all admissions materials have been filed with the Office of Admission - Graduate Programs. Students who have been admitted to graduate study as non-degree seeking must complete six credit hours of graduate-level courses in the major subject areas at JU with a grade of "B" or better. The Director and GRC will then decide whether or not the student should be admitted to candidacy for the MA/MS in Marine Science degree.
Transfer of Credit - six semester hour credits or ten quarter-hour credits of course work with grades of "B" or above at the graduate level in courses similar in content and rigor to Jacksonville University's MA/MS in Marine Science Program may be transferred from other regionally accredited institutions upon written petition by the student and with the approval of the Director and GRC. Graduate credit hours earned more than six years prior to graduation from the MA/MS in Marine Science Program will not be accepted. Graduate credit hours earned by correspondence will not be accepted.
All work transferred is subject to examination by JU. In no case will credit be transferred until the student has successfully completed six credit hours of graduate work at JU. Any work transferred to JU will be entered as hours earned only and will not be used in the computation of the GPA. Only graduate courses will be considered for transfer. Further, this work must be pertinent to the course of study planned at JU. The last six hours of graduate credit toward the MA/MS in Marine Science degree must be earned at Jacksonville University.
An Accelerated Bachelor of Science to Master of Arts (ABM) Marine Science Program is available. Please refer to the Graduate Programs section of this catalog.