WHAT IS OCEANOGRAPHY?
Oceanography is an environmental field focused on understanding the oceans and their processes, including tides, waves and currents, as well as physical parameters such as temperature and salinity. Oceanographers draw their expertise from many scientific fields that apply to the marine environment, including physics, geology, chemistry, biology, meteorology, and geography. Experience with SCUBA diving, boat operation and the handling of marine organisms is usually a great asset, but not always required.
Oceanographers often spend a considerable amount of time in the field, setting up experiments, installing and monitoring equipment, collecting data, etc.; but they also spend considerable time on computers, applying for research grants, analyzing and interpreting data, constructing theories and models based on experiments, and documenting their findings and conclusions. Some oceanographers are in the field for several months at a time on research vessels or at remote field stations; others rarely leave the mainland and their home office.
WHAT ARE THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS?
Oceanography is considered an Earth Science, for which students study the ocean and its processes. Expect the coursework to include mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, geology, geography, marine science, and environmental science. Sub-disciplines include physical oceanography (including the study of light, radar, sound, heat, and wind); chemical oceanography (including the study of ocean chemistry and chemical reactions); geological and geophysical oceanography (including the study of topographical and physical features of the ocean floor); and biological oceanography (including the study of sea life), which overlaps greatly with the field of marine science. Specific courses we've seen include:
- Geological Oceanography
- Introduction to Life in the Sea
- Global Tectonics
- Chemical Oceanography
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Great Resources
on Oceanography
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- Mineralogy
- Paleontology
- Stratigraphy
- Ocean Engineering
- Cartography
- Geomorphology
- Marine Geology
- Physical Oceanography
- Hydrology
- Sedimentology
- Petrology
- Structural Geology
- Economic Geology
- Remote Sensing
- Paleoecology
CAREERS AND SALARY OUTLOOK
Because there is such a great overlap with marine sciences, oceanography graduates are equipped to enter almost any ocean-related field. The International Oceanographic Foundation reports that: "The long term job outlook for all oceanographic occupations is very good. The oceans hide the vast majority of unexploited resources on earth. As resources become more and more scarce, humans will turn to the oceans for oil, minerals and food. As a result, we will need people not only to extract these resources, but to monitor the effects of this activity and to preserve the viability of our oceans."
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Career Guidance
from EnviroEducation.com
 When you embark on a career in oceanography, do you envision yourself with a brief case in one hand and scuba gear in the other? NOAA's Evan Forde offers his insight into the field... >>>
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics includes Oceaonography in the category of environmental science and geosciences. The average salary of environmental scientists in 2002 was $47,600, while geoscientists averaged $67,470. Hydrologists earned an average of $56,530 that year. Oceanographers working for the Federal government had an average salary of $79,023 in 2003. The petroleum, mineral and mining industries are vulnerable to recessions and other market factors; as a result, oceanographers in these industries may have less job security than those in other jobs.
Approximately 40 percent of Oceanographers are employed by various Federal agencies and activities, such as the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. An additional 40 percent work as teachers and researchers in colleges and universities. Private industry employs some in research and development work, and a small number are engaged in independent consultation and writing.
RELATED AREAS OF STUDY
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