The seven partner institutions of the LMRCSC provide undergraduate, graduate and community programs in marine sciences.
Undergraduate Programs
Undergraduate Programs
LMRCSC B.S. students participate fully in field and laboratory research under the supervision of faculty and graduate students. All LMRCSC undergraduate students have the opportunity to present results of their research at regional or national meetings to help hone their presentation skills.
Students attend one of the seven LMRCSC partner institutions, each of which offers B.S. degrees and operate autonomously and sets its own admissions standards.
The cornerstone to the educational approach of LMRCSC is mentoring and all LMRCSC receive sound guidance by experienced faculty to ensure success.
Undergraduate training through LMRCSC is designed to prepare students to pursue master’s of science and doctoral degrees, which fisheries professionals are generally expected to possess.
| LMRCSC Undergraduate Degree Programs | |
| Delaware State University | B.S. in Natural Resources |
| Hampton University | B.S. in Marine Science |
| Oregon State University | B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Science B.S. in Natural Resources B.S. in Environmental Economics, Policy and Mgmt. |
| Savannah State University | B.S. in Marine Science |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | B.S. in Environmental Science (Marine Science concentration); B.S. in Biology |
| University of Miami Rosentstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences | B.S. in Marine Science; B.A. in Marine Affairs |
Financial Support
All partner universities offer financial support to students pursuing advanced degrees, though the type and amount vary depending on the institution.
Undergraduate financial assistance:
- Tuition
- Hourly work in a research lab
- Travel to internship sites and national meetings
Professional Development
Internship opportunities: Because of its affiliation with NOAA, LMRCSC faculty connect students to internship, scholarship and research opportunities at labs nationwide and at LMRCSC partner institutions.
More information on internships in marine science is available at the “Internships” tab above.
Training workshops: The Center offers students regular workshops in scientific and nonscientific topics such as teaching assistant training.
Outreach: LMRCSC students at all levels will have the opportunity to mentor younger students through the Center’s K-12 education and outreach programs. Discussing their own research with K-12 students and the general public reinforces knowledge, increases confidence with speaking, and improves teaching skills.
Research Cruises: Since 2005, LMRCSC has provided its students with the opportunity to gain experience in open ocean fisheries research through research cruises aboard NOAA vessels and more than 50 students have participated. Students are introduced to NOAA Fisheries Service sampling techniques, learn teamwork and study species both familiar and unknown.
Graduate Programs
Partner Institutions
LMRCSC supports master of science and doctoral students in NOAA-mission sciences amongst its seven partner institutions. These students receive unique educational and research training opportunities in fisheries and marine science, making them highly competitive for professional positions at NOAA and other agencies.
Each student matriculates at one of the seven LMRCSC partners, each of which offers master’s of science degrees, operate autonomously and sets its own admissions standards.
The cornerstone to the educational approach of LMRCSC is mentoring and all LMRCSC receive sound guidance by experienced faculty to ensure success.
| LMRCSC Graduate Degree Programs | |
| Delaware State University | M.S. in Natural ResourcesApplication |
| Hampton University | M.S. in Biological Sciences with concentration in Environmental Science Application |
| Oregon State University | M.S. and Ph.D in Fisheries Science, M.A., M.S., and Ph.D in Applied EconomicsApplication |
| Savannah State University | M.S. in Marine Science Application |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | M.S. and Ph.D in Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Science; Professional Science Masters in Quantitative Fisheries/Resource Economics; M.S. and Ph.D in Toxicology; M.S. in Natural Resource Management; M.S. and Ph.D in Food and Agricultural Science Application |
| University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science – Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (UMCES-IMET) | M.S. and Ph.D in Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Science IMET is a non-degree granting institution. Please contact Project Director Dr. Rosemary Jagus for more information on application options). |
| University of Miami RosenstielSchool of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences | M.S. and Ph.D in Marine Biology & Fisheries; M.A. in Marine Affairs; Master of Professional Science in Fisheries Biology and other areas Application |
Graduate Research
Research activities are conducted collaboratively across the partner institutions and students often cross-train at multiple institutions.
LMRCSC students are expected to have NOAA scientists on their graduate committees and will often complete hands-on research at NOAA facilities during their academic programs.
Financial Support
All partner universities offer financial support to students pursuing advanced degrees, though the type and amount vary depending on the institution. Travel support is available for students to present research at regional and national meetings is made available to students.
Types of financial assistance:
- Stipend
- Tuition Support
- Travel support to conduct research at NOAA laboratories or LMRCSC partner institutions
- Travel support to national meetings and conferences
- Eligibility for health benefits (where applicable)
Additional Opportunities
Grant writing opportunities: The LMRCSC sponsors an annual request for proposals (RFP) process, known as “TAB.”
Career assistance: LMRCSC faculty and staff assist recent and soon-to-be graduates with the often challenging process of securing employment by offering CV and cover letter development assistance, dissemination of job opportunities and through career development workshops. Students also make professional contacts through training experiences at NOAA labs and other facilities.
Training workshops: The Center offers students regular workshops on both scientific and non-scientific topics such as teaching assistant training.
Outreach: LMRCSC students at all levels have the opportunity to mentor younger students through the Center’s K-12 education and outreach programs. Discussing their own research with K-12 students and the general public reinforces knowledge, increases confidence with speaking, and improves teaching skills.
Research Cruises: Since 2005, LMRCSC has provided its students with the opportunity to gain experience in open ocean fisheries research through research cruises aboard NOAA vessels and more than 50 students have participated. Students are introduced to NOAA Fisheries Service sampling techniques, learn teamwork and study species both familiar and unknown.
Online and Distance Learning: The campuses of the LMRCSC are linked via a ‘Virtual Campus’ system consisting of traditional videoconferencing and online modalities such as Blackboard/Wimba, GoToMeeting and Adobe Connect. In addition, the LMRCSC has enacted an Articulation Agreement which allows students at one institution to enroll in courses at another, maximizing access to infrequently taught courses.
The National Marine Fisheries Service, in a 2008 report to Congress, cited nine courses deemed essential for training fisheries scientists. Six of these courses have been offered through LMRCSC with the remaining three in the planning stages. This system also allows students at all partners to access the monthly LMRCSC seminar series to stay abreast of current research both within and outside the Center.
Internship Programs
Undergraduate Internships in Marine and Fisheries Sciences
The LMRCSC and its partners offer internships to undergraduate students in research, in the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program format. Internship opportunities in marine sciences are available at the external organizations listed below.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs are typically framed as a summer internships and provide intensive, hands on experience in research as well as instruction in presentation skills, scientific ethics and communication. The programs exist at research and educational institutions across the country. REU can help students launch their career in science, as well as prepare students for graduate school and more advanced research. REU programs are generally oriented toward rising seniors, but the REU program at UMES is targeted toward students at the freshman and sophomore levels.
The LMRCSC is proud to offer REU programs as an excellent complement to the Center’s educational programs. LMRCSC graduate students work alongside faculty and the REU students, providing guidance and mentorship and gaining valuable teaching and supervisory experience.
Three LMRCSC partner universities offer REU programs in the marine and fisheries sciences:
- UMCES-IMET’s REU in Marine Science
- SSU’s Bridge to Research REU
- Oregon State University’s REU program in marine science
Learn more about nationwide NSF REU programs
Internships at External Organizations
NOAA EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship Program
NOAA Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center Internships
NOAA NEFSC Partnership Education Program
Gulf of Maine Research Institute Internship
UMES REU in Marine and Estuarine Science
National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Sites
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources MIMES
Leveraged Programs
NSF CREST-CISCEP, Princess Anne, MD
CREST Center for the Integrated Study of Coastal Ecosystem Processes and Dynamics (CREST-CISCEP) is a National Science Foundation grant-funded program at the University of Maryland Easter Shore that aims to expose students, especially those from underrepresented groups, to the marine sciences through summer internships, paid undergraduate and graduate level assistantships, and K-12 and public outreach activities.
CREST-CISCEP Programs include:
- Undergraduate/Graduate Programs – CREST-CISCEP provides support to undergraduate and graduate students interested in marine and estuarine science. Learn more about program offerings for undergraduate and graduate students.
- Student Enrichment and Experiential Learning (SEEL): LMRCSC faculty host and mentor 7 high school students from Worcester, Wicomico and Somerset county public schools at UMES for 7 weeks during summer. Students conduct research along-side their mentors, LMRCSC graduate students and REU undergraduates and present their results during a symposium on the final day of the internship. Learn more.
- Coastal Marine Sciences Workshop (CMARS) Teachers from Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester counties are invited to participate in a paid, two-week on-campus workshop that will give them the tools to create lesson plans and educational and/or lab activities in environmental science. The workshop will accommodate six teachers and provide a stipend, meals, and continuing education or college credit.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates, several locations
Research Experiences for Undergraduates programs are typically framed as a summer internships and provide intensive, hands on experience in research as well as instruction in presentation skills, scientific ethics and communication. The programs exist at research and educational institutions across the country. REU can help students launch their career in science, as well as prepare students for graduate school and more advanced research. REU programs are generally oriented toward rising seniors, but the REU program at UMES is targeted toward students at the freshman and sophomore levels.
The LMRCSC is proud to offer REU programs as an excellent complement to the Center’s educational programs. LMRCSC graduate students work alongside faculty and the REU students, providing guidance and mentorship and gaining valuable teaching and supervisory experience.
Three LMRCSC partner universities offer REU programs in the marine and fisheries sciences:
- UMCES-IMET’s REU in Marine Science
- SSU’s Bridge to Research REU
- Oregon State University’s REU program in marine science
Learn more about nationwide NSF REU programs
Geosciences Bridge Program, Princess Anne, MD
The Geosciences Bridge Program is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and NOAA’s Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC) at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The program is for high school seniors to introduce them to ocean sciences, atmospheric sciences, and geographic information systems (GIS)/Remote Sensing techniques; strengthen their knowledge of mathematics; teach them life skills that will prepare them for college life; and enhance their academic performances through advisement, social support, and tutorial services.
The program offers a 6-week paid internship ($500/week stipend + housing + meals) for students planning to pursue careers in the geosciences. The program includes lectures, field trips, hands-on activities, 2 courses for college credit (math and freshman seminar), housing, meals, travel to and from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and a stipend.
Applications can be found here: https://www.umes.edu/cscgeosciences/
Applications due: March 31, 2017
Program dates: July 5 – August 11, 2016
Hampton University Kayak and Summer Camps, Hampton, Virginia
Hampton University’s (HU) the Department of Marine and Environmental Science and the Chesapeake Experience host summer camps for students ranging in age from 9-18, which are sponsored by the LMRCSC.The camps provide opportunities for students to gain skills in kayaking, learn about the ecology and biodiversity of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the research going on at HU, and much more.
In the summer of 2015, participants in the 9-12-year-old age group engaged in daily kayaking, map activities, creation of field guides and beach seining, fishing and crabbing. The 12-15-year-old kayak camp included activities in the field, time to practice paddling skills, and a trip aboard the University’s RV Aquaria III to collect and examine specimens and diverse ecosystems. The Marine Science camp for 15-18 year old students was collaboratively hosted by HU and The Nature Conservancy. The participants worked with HU marine scientists, getting direct experience in the zooplankton genetics lab and aboard RV Aquaria III, and took an overnight field trip to The Nature Conservancy. More information on camps offered by Hampton University.
Savannah State University Coast Camp, Savannah, Georgia
The Savannah State University Coast Camp is designed to teach students how to be better stewards of the marine environment using NOAA’s 7 ocean literacy principles. Students are divided into 4 classes: lower elementary (7-8 years), higher elementary (9-10 years), middle school (11-13 years), and high school (14-18 years). Each class is taught by 3-4 counselors. The LMRCSC plans for this camp to be a national model for an ocean literacy camp for youth and involves undergraduate and graduate marine science students in teaching as role models and camp counselors. To date the camp has trained approximately 400 youth and 6 in-service teachers. Learn more.
SciTech Student Learning Laboratory, Baltimore, Maryland
SciTech is a collaborative program between IMET and Towson State University, housed at IMET, designed to provide teachers and students in grades 6 through 12 with a unique hands-on experience in the field of marine science and biotechnology. Lab sessions are offered on topics such as bioremediation, plankton and the ecosystem, biofilms/biodiversity, oyster and blue crab biology and zebrafish development designed by IMET faculty. SciTech also sponsors a number of workshops and internships for teachers during the summer. Learn more.
