About
Details at a Glance
Degrees Offered
Our Program
The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) was established in 1965 as the Marine Sciences Research Center (MSRC) of New York State. We have since expanded the scope of our efforts to include atmospheric sciences and sustainability studies. The mission of SoMAS is to advance knowledge and solve critical global and regional problems through the study of human and natural systems. Indeed, SoMAS faculty and staff have always had a passion to do science in service to society. As our unofficial motto states, we are “Making Scientific Research Count.” We consider ourselves passionate stewards of a natural and sustainable Earth, at a time when challenges between society, the sea, and the sky are growing in number and intensity. Our unique access to important coastlines and estuaries and a nearby living laboratory in one of the world’s great megacities, New York City, affords us an exceptional opportunity to address these issues.SoMAS strives to be a world-class integrative program in marine, atmospheric and sustainability research and education, committed to a culture that promotes academic excellence, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Admissions
Requirements
Additional Requirements
M.A. in Marine Conservation and Policy:
Minimum 3.00 G.P.A in undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate coursework.
One semester of college level biology, and three additional semester courses in college level math or science.
M.S. or Ph.D. in Marine and Atmospheric Sciences:
Minimum 3.00 G.P.A. in undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate coursework.
Two semesters of college level calculus, physics, and chemistry, plus advanced coursework in a scientific discipline.
Application Deadline
M.A. in Marine Conservation and Policy:
January 15, and rolling until July 15
M.S. or Ph.D. in Marine and Atmospheric Sciences:
January 15 for Fall enrollment
October 1 for Spring enrollment
Student Body
Inclusion
Clubs & Associations
The SoMAS Graduate Student Club's mission is to facilitate and foster an enjoyable extracurricular environment for the SoMAS graduate student community. The SoMAS Graduate Student Club hosts annual events including Vax to Flax and Okubofest. Visit them on Facebook for a closer look.
While not affiliated directly with SoMAS, many of our students also participate in the Spirit of Stony Brook Marching Band.
What Our Students Say
“I was looking for a unique program that would allow me to specialize in communicating about marine conservation topics to bridge the gap among scientists, policymakers and the public. The one-year program offered that flexibility.”
Rachel Coccia, Marine Conservation and Policy ‘17“The Marine Conservation and Policy program is a very unique and fast-track graduate program that helped launch my career in environmental conservation."
Danica Warns, Marine Conservation and Policy ‘15“My internship taught me a great deal, and the MCP program was the perfect leader into the Knauss fellowship. You get experience in both science and policy in the MCP program."
Kenneth Lang, Marine Conservation and Policy ‘13
“I was looking for a unique program that would allow me to specialize in communicating about marine conservation topics to bridge the gap among scientists, policymakers and the public. The one-year program offered that flexibility.”
“The Marine Conservation and Policy program is a very unique and fast-track graduate program that helped launch my career in environmental conservation."
“My internship taught me a great deal, and the MCP program was the perfect leader into the Knauss fellowship. You get experience in both science and policy in the MCP program."