Graduate Program

Graduate students in the MLML Vertebrate Ecology Lab study marine and estuarine birds, marine mammals, and sea turtles. Under the guidance of advisor Dr. Jim Harvey, students pursue a program tailored to prepare them for careers in research, teaching, or environmental studies, or for entrance into advanced graduate programs. The program combines class work and field studies to provide students with experience in all aspects of field research, including designing field studies, writing grant proposals, conducting research, analyzing data, and writing papers regarding research findings.

Curriculum

As noted in the Description and Requirements of the MLML Program, Moss Landing graduate students must take three of five specified lower division classes to become fully classified in the MLML marine science master's program. To meet this requirement, most Vertebrate Ecology Lab students take Marine Ecology (MS 103), Physical Oceanography (MS 142), and Biological Oceanography (MS 144). Other courses taken generally include the following:

• Quantitative Marine Science (MS 104)
• Marine Birds and Mammals (MS 112)
• Scientific Methods (MS 208)
• Ecology of Marine Birds and Mammals (MS 211)
• Population Biology (MS 271)
• Scientific Writing (MS 280)
• Graduate Seminar in Marine Biology (MS 285)
• Master’s Thesis (MS 299)

Each student admitted to the Vertebrate Ecology Lab plans his or her course of study with Dr. Harvey's guidance. Depending upon a student's interests and prospective thesis project, other classes may supplement or be substituted for some of the above classes.

Research

A review of the thesis projects of current Vertebrate Ecology Lab students, the thesis titles of previous graduates of Dr. Harvey's lab, and the description of Dr. Harvey's research interests will provide an idea of the types of marine bird, mammal, and sea turtle studies typically conducted at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories.

Admission requirements

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the graduate program at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, successful applicants to the Vertebrate Ecology Lab have usually completed a bachelor's degree in a biological science with a G.P.A. of at least 3.4, have good G.R.E. scores (ranking in the upper 25%), and have acquired relevant field experience through, for instance, a job or internship.

Dr. Harvey typically accepts three to four new students each year. If you are interested in learning your potential for acceptance to the MLML Ornithology and Mammalogy graduate program, please send to Dr. Harvey:

• a letter describing your interests;
• copies of your college transcripts;
• copies of your G.R.E. scores; and
• a curriculum vitae or résumé.

Related MLML Web pages

• Description and Requirements of the MLML Graduate Program
  
• California State University Consortium Campuses
  
• Application Materials

Advice for prospective graduate students

The types of undergraduate and graduate programs that an individual should pursue depend upon his or her interests and long-term goals. Each university and marine laboratory has unique areas of specialization that depend upon the research interests of the institution's faculty and the classes taught at the institution. For a general description of the academic background typically necessary for admission to marine science graduate programs, possible methods to use to find academic programs tailored to fit your interests, and the types of jobs available to graduates of marine science programs, we encourage you to review Strategies for pursuing a career in marine mammal science.

Dr. Harvey's contact information

Maintained by: Brian Hoover
Office of the Webmaster
Comments: webmaster@mlml.calstate.edu
Last revision: February 20, 2003
URL, this page: http://www.mlml.calstate.edu/groups/bird_mam/gradprog.htm