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Marine & Coastal Science

Where the coast is the classroom

Fieldwork from the first semester, on a shoreline that changes every tide.

Study here

Programs built around the water

Forty-two programs across four schools, every one of them within 
a mile of open water.

All 12 programs
Marine biology hero — tide pool observation — Program imagery, marine biology cluster.
MS

Marine Resource Management

A professional master's in managing fisheries and other marine resources, built on the assessment science and the economics together.

  • 2 years
  • Graduate
Starts Fall
Marine biology hero — tide pool observation — Program imagery, marine biology cluster.
BS

Marine Biology

The foundational degree in marine life, and the route into most of the graduate work that follows it. Field work starts in the first year.

  • 4 years
  • Undergraduate
Starts Fall
Marine biology hero — tide pool observation — Program imagery, marine biology cluster.
BA

Marine Policy

Ocean governance taught inside a science faculty, so that the policy arguments rest on the evidence rather than gesturing at it. Includes the policy clinic.

  • 4 years
  • Undergraduate
Starts Fall, Spring

4,180+

Undergraduates

18:1

Student to faculty ratio

94%

In work or study within a year Class of 2025

4

Research vessels

Institutional Research, fall 2026 census.

Coastal research landscape used as the Northmoor University hero image.
Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences · 28 July 2026

R/V Cascadia Strait returns from six-week Arctic cruise

Six weeks, two mooring recoveries and one redeployment. The recovered instruments hold a full year of measurements from a site that cannot be visited in winter.

  • Oliver Brandt
Coastal research landscape used as the Northmoor University hero image.
Department of Marine Engineering · 24 June 2026

Engineering team places in an autonomous vehicle competition

The student competition team finished third at a regional autonomous underwater vehicle event, in the first year they had a basin to test in.

  • Dr. Samuel Hartley
Department of Marine Engineering
Coastal research landscape used as the Northmoor University hero image.
Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences · 11 June 2026

Autonomous glider completes an unattended shelf crossing

A glider flew repeat sections across the shelf break for eleven days without intervention and returned a complete record, including two exchange events.

  • Dr. Elena Reyes
Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences Department of Marine Engineering
Coastal research landscape used as the Northmoor University hero image.
Department of Life Sciences · 2 June 2026

First cohort graduates from MS Marine Mammal Science

The graduate program in marine mammal science has produced its first graduates. All five have positions in assessment, consulting or doctoral study.

  • Dr. Marcus Obi
Department of Life Sciences
What's on

Upcoming events

Full Calendar

Conference

Coastal Resilience Conference

  • 2:00 pm – 10:30 pm

Two days bringing together planners, engineers, agency staff and researchers working on adaptation in this region. Registration is $180, or $40 for students.

Conference registration

Seminar

Marine Mammal Science Seminar Series

  • 9:30 pm – 10:30 pm

A monthly research seminar during term, open to anyone. Speakers are drawn from the department, the region and occasionally further.

Open day

Community Tour of R/V Cascadia Strait

  • 3:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Open tours of the research vessel at the university dock. Free, no booking, and the crew answer every question asked.

Reserve a Seat
Where the work happens

Field stations and the fleet

Coastal research landscape used as the Northmoor University hero image.
Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences · 28 July 2026

R/V Cascadia Strait returns from six-week Arctic cruise

Six weeks, two mooring recoveries and one redeployment. The recovered instruments hold a full year of measurements from a site that cannot be visited in winter.

  • Oliver Brandt
Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences
Coastal research landscape used as the Northmoor University hero image.
Department of Marine Engineering · 24 June 2026

Engineering team places in an autonomous vehicle competition

The student competition team finished third at a regional autonomous underwater vehicle event, in the first year they had a basin to test in.

  • Dr. Samuel Hartley
Department of Marine Engineering
Coastal research landscape used as the Northmoor University hero image.
Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences · 11 June 2026

Autonomous glider completes an unattended shelf crossing

A glider flew repeat sections across the shelf break for eleven days without intervention and returned a complete record, including two exchange events.

  • Dr. Elena Reyes
Department of Ocean and Earth Sciences Department of Marine Engineering