The ocean covers 70% of the Earth's surface and sustains billions of lives. It drives global trade, feeds communities and regulates the climate systems we all depend on. And right now, the ocean needs defenders.
Climate change, pollution and overuse are pushing ocean systems to their limits. Meeting those challenges requires a new generation of leaders who understand how ocean systems work, know how to build solutions across industries and communities, and are ready to shape what the blue economy looks like for the next generation.
Studying the ocean online
ASU Online offers three ocean focused degree programs, each designed to build a deep understanding of ocean systems and the communities that depend on them:
- Bachelor of Science in ocean futures — Learn how the ocean works, why it's changing and what that means for the people and economies that depend on it.
- Bachelor of Science in ocean futures with a concentration in coastal and marine science — Focus on the science behind coastal challenges and the practical skills needed to solve them.
- Master of Science in coastal and marine science and management — Build the research, partnership and leadership skills to drive real change in ocean health and sustainability.
Across all three programs, you'll build expertise in marine biology, oceanography, ocean conservation, coral reef ecology and more and the skills to turn that knowledge into real, lasting solutions. From marine policy analyst to fisheries manager, the career possibilities are wider than most people expect. Explore the full range of ocean careers you can pursue with an ASU ocean futures degree.
Built for students who can't or don't want to relocate
One of the most important things these programs offer is access to the curriculum, faculty and resources potential students might not have had access to originally.
One student benefitting from access to these programs is Delaney Sevchik who has lived in Arizona her whole life. As a marine mammal specialist, she's built a career around the ocean without ever leaving the desert.
When she decided to pursue her master's degree, she didn't want to give up her job or her proximity to family, but she didn't want to settle for a program that wasn't serious about the ocean, either.
ASU's Master of Science in Coastal and Marine Science and Management gave her everything she needed.
"ASU Online has been beneficial to me because I'm able to stay in Arizona and get my master's degree, which is what was my long-term goal," she said.
Her story isn't unusual. These programs were designed for people who are passionate about the ocean but rooted in their lives whether that's a Phoenix suburb, a Midwestern city or anywhere else far from the nearest shoreline.
Where can an online degree in ocean futures take you
The blue economy is projected to reach $2.5 trillion annually, and the challenges facing our oceans aren't waiting. Neither should you. Whether your path leads toward research, policy, conservation, renewable energy or coastal community work, the world needs people who are ready to show up and shape what comes next and ASU's online ocean futures programs are built to get you there.