210 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM—1965 
Many students and faculty advisors have written the Committee 
inquiring about the preparation necessary for entry into the field of 
oceanography. It should be noted that nearly all institutions award 
only graduate degrees in marine science, and batehelor's degree is 
requisite for beginning students in this field. The following excerpt 
from the bulletin of the University of Miami Institute of Marine Science 
sets forth typical requirements for undergraduate preparation. 
(‘Oceanography'' is used in its narrow sense at Miami, including only 
physical and chemical oceanography and omitting biological and geo- 
logical oceanography, which are called Marine Biology, Marine Geology, 
and Fisheries). 
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULA 
The department receives many inquiries concerning proper under- 
graduate preparation for entrance to its graduate program. To guide 
students, several undergraduate programs are suggested for preparation 
in Fisheries, Marine Biology, Oceanography, and Marine Geology. Other 
disciplines are not considered since each university has its own set of 
requirements designed to give students broad exposure to the liberal 
arts. 
Students interested in pursuing marine science should select an 
undergraduate major in one of the basic scientific disciplines. The 
undergraduate college should be selected on the basis of curriculum and 
staff strength in that major. In the biological sciences Zoology is 
much preferred to Botany as an undergraduate major but, hopefully zoology 
students will include basic botany courses in their curriculum, Within 
the general scope of the program suggested below, prospective marine 
biology students most interested in experimental biology should take care 
to be well prepared in chemistry, biochemistry, and mathematics, Stu- 
dents interested in systematics, anatomy, etc., should strengthen their 
zoology, genetics and related course program. 
Prospective marine geologists should acquire strong backgrounds 
in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics. 
The student should at the same time be careful to satisfy the 
graduation requirements of his own University. Students should consult 
their Department for assistance on individual programs. 
University College science caurses that lack laboratories are not 
acceptable substitutes for the basic science courses. Students may wish 
to spend one summer at a marine laboratory in order to have a more firm 
basis for decision concerning their future career in marine science. 
In the suggested curricula on the following pages, courses are 
designated as "required'’ (those believed to be essential) and "suggested" 
(those which should be taken if the student's program can include them). 
No 
