Oceanography
Cal Poly Maritime Academy | Bailey College of Science and Mathematics
Immerse yourself in ocean science at the heart of the San Francisco Estuary — the largest on the West Coast. This program combines strong scientific foundations with hands-on learning through field and lab research, global study opportunities and professional development.
Solano Campus | Vallejo, California
The Oceanography degree requires one year of college chemistry and physics, as well as a minimum of one semester of calculus and two computer programming courses.
All students must also complete one semester of ocean policy coursework. Students study abroad through our international experience program. All students are placed in an internship (320 hours) or directed research project that will culminate with a piece of original research.
About the Program
A rigorous interdisciplinary pathway for students passionate about the ocean, this program equips you with a strong foundation across the core sciences — biology, chemistry, physics and geology — while also emphasizing applied problem-solving skills critical to addressing today’s pressing ocean challenges.
From your first semester, you’ll Learn by Doing. Our unique waterfront location and direct access to the San Francisco Bay serve as a natural laboratory, where coursework and field experiences merge. You’ll deploy instruments and conduct experiments both on the water and in our laboratories. Faculty-guided research projects encourage you to ask questions, analyze data, and generate and present your findings that contribute to the broader understanding of ocean systems.
Learn by Doing
Undergraduate research is embedded throughout the curriculum beginning with your first year.
As a cadet, you'll be part of hydrographic and microplastics surveys aboard our research vessel Questuary. You'll also be involved in the operation of shore stations and oceanographic buoys, maintain and operate modern oceanographic instruments and master lab techniques while contributing to long-term observational studies of local marine environments.
Upper division coursework includes a capstone experience either through directed research under the supervision of an oceanography faculty member or through a cooperative education experience with a government natural resource agency, university, non-governmental organization or company in representing the blue economy.
Investigating Harmful Algal Blooms
Oceanography students participated in surveys of an unprecedented harmful algal bloom in Central San Francisco Bay. The team provided critical measurements of abundance and activity of the bloom as it spread across the Bay.
Read About This StoryOur Graduates
With a degree in oceanography from Cal Poly Maritime Academy, you'll be prepared for an impactful career in ocean science, marine resource management or environmental policy. You will be ready to confront today's key challenges in marine and coastal environments.
Our graduates have found research, technical and scientific careers with national agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Coast Guard and state institutions like the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.