MSc in Marine Biology and Ecology

General information on the programme. Sea is an important resource for every maritime country as it can improve commercial prosperity of the country and standard of the citizens in a variety of ways, such as though exploitation of living and non-living resources, aquaculture, tourism, navigation, etc. Some of the above mentioned activities are not compatible and can potentially be harmful to each other. Because of that, specially trained experts, that would know how to sustainably exploit marine environment to the benefit of people and marine ecosystems, are necessary for creating and implementing developing strategy of the country. That task can be completed through systematic education that has following goals: (1) understand and explain physical, chemical and biological processes in the sea; (2) be able to predict changes in marine ecosystems that develop under different influences, and (3) to sustainably exploit marine resources.

Main purpose of Marine biology and ecology (MBE) study is a systematic education of personnel for work in area of marine biology and ecology, which includes a wide range of biological investigations from diversity of marine organisms to their distribution, characteristics, mutual relations and interactions with marine environment. Further on, due to increasing threat of marine pollution caused by dumping of various toxic and dangerous substances into the sea, and irrational use of marine resources, special attention throughout the study will be given to protection of endangered species and ecologically endangered areas. From all of the above, it is evident that work in the area of biological oceanography, besides strong biology background requires a wide knowledge of chemistry and physics, physical and chemical oceanography, as well as meteorology (physics of the atmosphere). Generally speaking, understanding of biological processes in the sea requires good understanding of functioning of the marine ecosystems, what requires high degree of multidisciplinary study that can be gained though this program. Practice of organizing studies that educate personnel in the science of the sea is well known in all developed maritime countries, and many such studies have a long tradition.

Connection of the study with contemporary scientific findings. Marine biology and ecology graduate study is a highly multidisciplinary. At this level, knowledge from specific areas related to biology, ecology and marine protection are added to fundamental knowledge in natural history gained in previous years of study. Interaction between course contents and contemporary scientific findings, which was already established at undergraduate level, is further developed. Number of enrolled students is even smaller (maximum 12 students) than at undergraduate level, what give high possibilities for direct involvement of students in scientific work.

Majority of elective courses, which make up 70% of total courses are not taught in a classical ex cathedra way, but are conducted through practical work in specialized laboratories. At this level of education process high importance is placed on consultations and individual approach to learning. Due to multidisciplinary problematic, some courses are jointly taught by few professors. For example: Methods in marine biology, Selected issues in benthic ecology, Biological invasions and Endangered species in the Adriatic Sea. Small number of students enables organisation of advisor system where one advisor will be responsible for four to five students.

Student mobility scheme. Student mobility will be enabled using following ways:

• All courses at graduate level are one term courses
• Fast passing of exams (year by year study)
• Mobility will be encouraged within the University of Split (elective courses from other Departments and Faculties), between Universities in Croatia (first such case is an example of student from Marine biology and ecology that is in Academic year 2004/2005 taking courses at Department of Geology, University of Zagreb), and between University of Split and other Universities in Europe (contacts for cooperation have been established with similar studies in Italy, Sweden, and Poland).

One of the important elements in stimulating student mobility, as well for implementation of entire Bologna process, is speed of study (study year by year) what will be encouraged in several ways:

• Appropriate student course load
• Increased efforts of professors and students in relation to mandatory class attendance and participation, frequent checkups of student knowledge by exams, quizzes and other methods. Student will be encouraged to engage in constant study during the term and will have possibility to pass the exam immediately after they took the course.

Student mobility will be additionally stimulated though wide selection of elective courses (70% of courses are elective). We believe that a wide range of elective courses that is offered at graduate level will attract students from other studies, since contents of some courses can be geared to their specific interests.

Svrha studija Biologija i ekologija mora (BEM) upravo jest obrazovanje kadrova za rad na području biološke oceanografije, koji uključuje široki raspon bioloških istraživanja od raznolikosti morskih organizama do njihove rasprostranjenosti, obilježja, međusobnih odnosa i interakcija s morskim okolišem. 

Stečena znanja na diplomskom studiju Biologije i ekologije mora daju magistrima mogućnost izbora daljnjeg školovanja na poslijediplomskim studijima koji se bave problematikom istraživanja i zaštite mora, ali i zaštitom okoliša i upravljanjem prirodnim resursima uopće.

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