Oceanography prepares people to study the ocean and its movements. Students learn about the interaction of the ocean with the atmosphere and land. They also study the seafloor and ocean chemistry. In addition, they learn about the effect of pollution on the ocean.

Did you know that water covers 71 percent of the Earth? Most of it is found in the ocean. The ocean touches everyone's life whether we live near one or not. It provides us with food, energy sources, and minerals. The ocean affects our daily weather and the world climate. It is important in transportation, defense, and recreation.

Wouldn't you like to know when a tsunami was headed your way? These huge walls of water can reach 120 feet in height. Underwater disturbances such as volcanoes or earthquakes cause these monster waves. It is not safe to be in their path. You learn about tsunamis in the oceanography program. You also learn about currents and tides. You could use this training to help improve the tsunami warning system.

Imagine that ocean is a gigantic bathtub and someone pulls the plug. What would you see? You might think it would look like a flat, sandy desert with a few tub toys that sank. Actually, it has mountains and valleys just like dry land. In this program, you learn ways to study the seafloor using sophisticated instruments and, sometimes, robotic devices, which are used in oil exploration to locate seafloor volcanoes and to find ships that sank.

In some courses, you learn about ocean water chemistry and pollution. You also learn about the variety of sea life - both plant and animal. What gets dumped into the ocean has an impact on all living creatures. You learn about the delicate balance between the environment and ocean life.

About 20 colleges offer a bachelor's degree in oceanography. A bachelor's degree takes four years beyond high school and prepares you for an entry-level position as an oceanographic technician.

You need a graduate degree if you plan to do research or want a more advanced position. About 25 universities offer graduate programs in oceanography. Master's degree programs usually take about six years beyond high school, and the Ph.D., about two to three years beyond that.

During graduate school, most students choose to specialize in a particular area such as:

• Biological Oceanography - focuses on all aspects of marine plant and animal life
• Physical Oceanography - studies the temperature, density, waves, and currents, and the relationship between the ocean and the atmosphere
• Geological Oceanography - studies topographic features and physical composition of the ocean floor
• Chemical Oceanography or Chemical Geochemistry - investigates the chemical composition of ocean water and ocean floor