Is an online oceanography degree worth it?

Crossing many scientific disciplines, an online oceanography degree allows students to pursue biological, physical, archaeological, chemical, or geological oceanography concentrations.

At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, courses are available and can be applied to degrees in fields such as oceanography, biological science, marine science, and geology.

Many positions in oceanography include scientific research for a private company or a government.

Online courses in oceanography cover a wide range of general and in-depth subjects in the field. Distance learning is available for you, whether you are looking for an introductory course, a course involving government policy and environment, or a specific course in a field such as paleoceanography.

What are the Online Courses Available in Oceanography?

Introduction to the Oceanography Course

An overview of the processes and components of the oceans is given in this online class. The online oceanography degree will explore the natural systems, including geological, meteorological, and biological processes, that impact our oceans. The course will also weigh the impact of human activity on ocean environments and environmental changes.

Chemical Oceanography Course

Students are taught the chemical composition of the oceans and how elements such as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus are formed and distributed in this online oceanography course. Students learn about the connections that exist between the air and the sea.

Archaeological Oceanography Course

Students explore what lies on the ocean floor, including natural and artificial reefs and shipwrecks, through maps and diagrams. They explore the ethical, legal, and preservation problems that arise from saving objects off the ocean floor and learn to map them using different navigation methods and tools.

Physical Oceanography Course

This course of oceanography teaches the rotation of gravity, wind, friction, radiation, and the earth. Students learn about the heat exchange between the atmosphere and the ocean and how it affects the environment.

Climate Change Course

Students in oceanography learn the science behind climate change and how to research past outcomes to predict what can happen. They learn how the seas the coastal ecosystem and marine life are influenced by the planet’s warming.

Coastal Policy Course

This online course explores the problems and concerns facing coastal environments, such as pollution, and the political challenges involved in the implementation of shoreline conservation policies.

Food Web Dynamics Course

Students discuss marine animals’ feeding habits. They learn how each animal is an essential link in its food chain and how, within the marine ecosystem, each chain forms a complex food network.

Acoustical Oceanography Course

Oceanographers can also use acoustics as a research tool, and this course looks at its current applications. Examples of methods for using acoustics to study marine mammal behavior, geology, and climate science are discussed in both theoretical and real-life cases.

Importance of Earning Oceanography Degree

Climate change and overpopulation are causing the natural world to experience major problems. Oceans are becoming more acidic, and volatile weather patterns are changing. These effects have a negative impact, especially in the oceans, on biological life.
We must find ways to change course and undo this environmental devastation before it’s too late if humans want to be good stewards of our planet. We need scientists, including oceanographers, to lead the way and to develop an action plan to do this.
An oceanography career has its unique challenges and may have more obligations than many other careers. If you are interested in making discoveries and positively influencing our world, however, this position may be right up your alley.

Job Opportunities in Oceanography

For professionals employed in this sector, job opportunities are comprehensive. In both the public and private sectors, positions are available for oceanographers.

Professionals from this field will enter as a scientist, engineer, and technician depending on their skill and experience.

In government sector organizations such as the Geological Survey of India, the Meteorological Survey of India, the Department of Oceanography, etc., one can also get jobs.

After obtaining the full degree, you can get employment as a scientist, engineer, or technician in the public sector, private sector, and various governmental fields. In the public sector, candidates in Oil India may also make use of job opportunities.

You should go to different colleges and research centers for research studies. The study also offers several work choices. In most renowned colleges or universities, applicants may also choose a teaching career.

For a student seeking to pursue research or a faculty position, a master’s degree in oceanography is vital. A master’s degree offers excellent job opportunities for anyone wishing to work in this sector, according to the BLS.

In ocean-related industries such as marine fishing, ocean engineering, marine biomedicine, oil

and gas exploration, shipping, and sea-water processing, jobs are available for oceanographers. In federal, state, or local governments, there are also several positions for oceanographers. However, it is important to remember that most positions at this level require field experience that may not be given by an online degree.

Requirements of an Oceanography Degree

Regardless of your major, you will need a strong mathematics and statistics base. You’ll also need to take courses outside of your preferred track in other oceanography fields. A marine biologist, for instance, also needs to understand chemistry, while a geologist needs to understand biology’s basic concepts.
Many careers in oceanography require at least a bachelor’s degree. This degree of education helps you to apply for a lot of positions as a technician. However, if you have a graduate-level degree, your chances of success, along with your job title, duties, and salary, appear to go up.
You can need a master’s degree to be eligible for certain technician posts. Besides, many oceanographers go on to earn a doctorate and may even spend time with different research groups in postdoctoral positions.

Top Universities That Offer Oceanography Degree Online

1. Purdue University

2. Columbia Southern University

3. Walden University

4. Florida State University

5. Oregon State University

6. Western Governors University

Online oceanography degree is difficult to discover and includes on-campus practices and in-person experience because of the need for field experience and training. However, both bachelor’s and master’s levels can still be found, which prepare students for careers as oceanographers.