Graduate student Emma Gallagher conducting research

Academics

Marine science and technology graduate degree programs 

UMass Dartmouth's School for Marine Sciences & Technology (SMAST) is a premier educational and research facility located in New Bedford, MA.  

Marine science is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to studying the ocean’s dynamic systems, including marine life, ecosystems, and physical processes. Marine scientists explore the intricate connections between the natural environment, marine life, and human activity, and how these interactions shape ecosystems, influence biodiversity, and support sustainable use of ocean resources.    

At SMAST, our graduate programs combine cutting-edge research with hands-on learning to prepare the next generation of leaders in marine science and technology.  As a student in one of our programs, you will engage in curiosity-driven and societally relevant research under the mentorship of faculty members who are leaders in their professional fields and are active in research at regional, national, and international levels.  

Our master's and PhD programs allow students to focus their studies on a research topic of their choice. Join one of our programs and become part of the next generation of marine scientists.

Intercampus Marine Science Program

SMAST is also part of the system-wide University of Massachusetts Intercampus Marine Science (IMS) Program, granting the MS and PhD degrees. As a student enrolled in the IMS Program, you gain access to marine sciences resources within the entire University of Massachusetts (UMASS) System.

Option areas of study

UMass IMS program offers seven (7) option areas to choose from:

  • Marine and Atmospheric System Modeling and Analysis (MASMA)
  • Coastal Systems Science (CSS)
  • Integrated Coastal Management (ICM)
  • Living Marine Resources Science and Management (LMRSM)
  • Marine Biogeochemical Cycles and Environmental Change (MBEC)
  • Marine Observation Technologies (MOT)
  • Ocean and Human Health (OHH)

Learn more about the IMS option areas of study.

Research focus areas

SMAST students work independently as well as collaboratively with some of the most highly regarded oceanographic institutions to pursue a range of leading-edge research projects, including (but not limited to) the following areas: 

Biogeochemical Cycling

Coastal Ecosystem Dynamics and Restoration

Computational Modeling

Fisheries Science

Marine Renewable Energy

Ocean Observing/Remote Sensing

Ocean Physics

Learn more

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