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Class of 2004-2005
Master of Advanced Studies

in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation

The Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, in cooperation with UCSD  Division of Extended Studies and Public Programs has established a new program leading to a Master of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation.  The program is designed to teach current and future professionals about marine ecosystems from the scientific, economic, and policy perspective, as well as to provide important cultural and communication skills needed to improve conservation of marine biodiversity in the world's most diverse and threatened ecoregions through development of local capacity and management tools.

For more information http://mbc.ucsd.edu/ 

Commentary on grading policy for the MAS program
The twelve-month MAS program in the CMBC is an intensive, highly interdisciplinary program that co-mingles exceptional masters students with equally exceptional PhD students in several core courses.  Each of these core courses, offered by senior faculty at UCSD, can be taken only for a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) rather than for a traditional letter grade.  The faculty strongly believe that the S/U grading is pedagogically a very sound approach for the unique, intensive, and interdisciplinary courses offered.  Similarly, students are encouraged  to use the S/U option when available for other courses during the academic year as well.  Thus, for the CMBC MAS students, “Satisfactory” grades do not in any way reflect a student’s avoidance of traditional letter grades.  Additionally, the “Satisfactory” grade is equivalent to a traditional letter grade of either an “A” or “B,” anything less would garner an “Unsatisfactory” grade.

The CMBC MAS students are carefully selected to ensure that they can perform well in a very vigorous academic setting among PhD students at SIO – one of UCSD’s most competitive PhD program.  MAS students who complete the 48 credit hour MAS program have clearly exhibited an outstanding academic performance in a unique, interdisciplinary program at an internationally renown institution.