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Professional Diploma in Physical, Chemical and Biological Oceanography

This professional diploma gives you a deep immersion in the processes that govern the oceans and the dynamics of marine currents. You will work with current dynamics, ocean chemistry, nutrient cycles and marine ecosystems, with measurement methods and data analysis throughout.

100% online800 hours8 modulesTaught in EnglishEnrol any time

What is this programme?

This professional diploma offers a deep immersion in the processes that govern the oceans. It covers the dynamics of marine currents, the chemical composition of seawater and the diversity of ocean life, and links them together so that you understand the ocean as an integrated system. Its purpose is to equip you with the tools to analyse and interpret oceanographic data, model marine processes and assess the impact of human activities on ecosystems. It also presents current sampling, analysis and remote sensing techniques applied to oceanography.

What sets this diploma apart: a multidisciplinary approach that integrates marine physics, chemistry and biology for a global view; advanced tools, using software and models to analyse and simulate oceanographic processes; case studies on real problems such as climate change, pollution and overfishing; and practical applications, developing the skills to manage marine resources sustainably and conserve ecosystems.

Programme highlights

  • Solid foundations: explore the physics, chemistry and biology of the ocean and how they interconnect.
  • Integrated analysis: learn to analyse oceanographic data to interpret processes and anticipate changes in the marine environment.
  • Cutting-edge tools: use software and modelling techniques to simulate ocean dynamics.
  • Practical applications: see how oceanography is applied in coastal management, sustainable fisheries and climate change mitigation.
  • Professional development: broaden your options in research, environmental consultancy and government bodies.
  • Career boost: the programme aims to advance your professional path and contribute to ocean conservation.

Study plan

01Fundamentals of Oceanography, Ocean Structure and Integrated Foundations of the Marine System100 h
The concept of oceanography and the relationship between its physical, chemical and biological branches. Origin, evolution and global distribution of the oceans as part of the Earth system. Ocean structure: basins, continental margins, ridges, trenches and shelves. General properties of seawater and their role in ocean dynamics, chemistry and marine life. Spatial and temporal scales of ocean processes, from local to planetary circulation. Interaction between ocean, atmosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere and biosphere in the climate system. Methods, approaches and applications of modern oceanography in research, management and monitoring. History of oceanography.
02Physical Oceanography: Water Properties, Water Masses, Circulation and Marine Dynamics100 h
Temperature, salinity, density and pressure as basic physical variables. Stratification of the water column: thermocline, halocline and pycnocline in different environments. Formation, identification and evolution of water masses in open oceans and regional seas. Surface and deep circulation and their role in transporting heat, salt and nutrients. Currents, gyres, upwelling and downwelling as key dynamic processes. Tides, waves and coastal dynamics in the redistribution of energy and matter. Physical variability of the ocean and its relationship with climate phenomena, extremes and global change. Thermocline and stratification.
03Chemical Oceanography: Seawater Composition, Biogeochemical Cycles and Exchange Processes100 h
Chemical composition of seawater and distribution of major, minor and trace elements. Dissolved gases, ocean-atmosphere exchange and the behaviour of oxygen, CO2 and nitrogen. The carbonate system, alkalinity and chemical regulation of pH in ocean and coastal environments. Marine nutrients and their role in biological productivity and trophic structure. Biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon and sulphur. Chemical processes of mixing, precipitation, adsorption, oxidation-reduction and transformation of compounds. Ocean acidification, chemical pollution and anthropogenic alterations of marine chemistry. The ocean carbon system.
04Biological Oceanography: Marine Organisms, Productivity and Ecological Functioning100 h
Fundamentals of biological oceanography and its relationship with the physical environment, chemistry and life. Marine biodiversity, from microorganisms to large vertebrates, in pelagic and benthic ecosystems. Phytoplankton, zooplankton, nekton and benthos as functional components of communities. Primary and secondary production and their role in energy transfer. Food webs, ecological efficiency and mechanisms of biological regulation. Spatial and temporal distribution of organisms according to light, nutrients, temperature and circulation. Biological response to natural and human disturbances in coastal, oceanic and polar ecosystems. Phytoplankton and primary production.
05Physical-Chemical-Biological Interactions and the Functioning of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems100 h
Coupling between physical, chemical and biological processes in the structure and functioning of the ocean. Ocean fronts, upwelling and mixing zones as areas of high productivity and ecological complexity. Coastal, estuarine, reef and oceanic ecosystems from an integrated perspective. Cycles of matter and energy at the water-sediment-atmosphere interface. Seasonal variability and extreme events as modulators of ecological and biogeochemical dynamics. Ecological connectivity between habitats: dispersal, migration and recruitment. Ecosystem functioning and the environmental services the ocean provides at local and global scale. Upwelling and productive zones.
06Observation, Sampling and Analysis Methods in Physical, Chemical and Biological Oceanography100 h
Principles of oceanographic cruise design and choice of observation scales according to objectives. Physical instrumentation: CTD, current meters, ADCP, buoys and remote sensors. Chemical sampling techniques for nutrients, gases, inorganic carbon and pollutants. Biological sampling methods for plankton, benthos, microbial communities and fauna. Processing, quality control and interpretation of multidisciplinary data. Remote sensing, numerical modelling and time series in integrated studies. Ethics, safety and good practice in field and laboratory work. Oceanographic cruises and research vessels.
07Climate Change, Human Impacts and Marine Environmental Management from Integrated Oceanography100 h
The ocean's role in regulating the climate and absorbing heat and carbon. Effects of warming on circulation, stratification, sea level and regional processes. Acidification, deoxygenation and changes in marine productivity. Marine pollution from nutrients, metals, hydrocarbons, plastics and other pressures. Impacts on biodiversity, fisheries, coastal ecosystems and biogeochemical functioning. Monitoring, environmental assessment and oceanographic indicators for marine and coastal management. Conservation, adaptation and sustainability approaches based on oceanographic knowledge. Acidification and warming.
08Integrated Project in Physical, Chemical and Biological Oceanographic Analysis100 h
Definition of the case study: an ocean region, a coastal ecosystem or an environmental problem. Physical characterisation of the system through hydrographic variables, circulation and local or regional dynamics. Chemical assessment based on nutrients, dissolved gases, carbon and environmental quality. Biological analysis of communities, productivity and ecological structure. Integration of physical, chemical and biological results to interpret the functioning of the ecosystem. Identification of relevant pressures, risks or changes in the study area. Presentation of the integrated project. Presentation and defence of the final project, with technical conclusions, an integrated approach and a proposal for applied analysis.

Duration and format

800hours in total
8modules of 100 hours
100%online, at your own pace
Openenrolment all year round

At 10 hours a week you would finish in about 80 weeks; at 20 hours a week, in about 40.

What you will learn

  • Assess how human activities affect marine ecosystems.
  • Develop predictive models of oceanographic processes that support the sustainable management of marine resources.
  • Analyse in an integrated way the interactions between the physical, chemical and biological factors of the ocean.
  • Design and implement monitoring strategies for the early detection of environmental change.
  • Propose innovative solutions to mitigate marine pollution.
  • Lead multidisciplinary oceanographic research projects that deepen our understanding of the ocean.

Career outcomes

  • Technician or analyst in oceanographic laboratories: analysis of water, sediment and marine organism samples.
  • Scientific researcher: participation in projects, data analysis and publication of results.
  • Environmental consultant: environmental impact assessment of coastal and marine activities and design of environmental management plans.
  • Marine resource manager: planning and management of marine protected areas and assessment of fish stocks.
  • Aquaculture technician: water quality control, monitoring of environmental parameters and optimisation of production processes.
  • Oceanographic data analyst: processing of large data volumes for modelling and forecasting.
  • Environmental educator: design of educational programmes on the ocean and its conservation.
  • Technician in government institutions: support for decisions on coastal and marine resource management.

Entry requirements

  • Academic profile: a degree in Marine Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Engineering or a related field.
  • Prior knowledge: basic notions of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology are recommended.
  • Documentation: up-to-date CV, copy of your degree or academic transcript, national ID or passport, and a motivation letter explaining your interest in oceanography.
  • Desirable skills: analytical and synthesis ability, teamwork and an interest in scientific research.
  • Admission is provisional until the committee validates your documentation; if the requirements are not met, the full amount is refunded.

How to enrol

Enrol online

Complete your enrolment on this page, or apply through admissions if you prefer to talk to us first.

Receive your access

We send you the details to enter the virtual campus and start the programme.

Study at your pace

Work through the modules when it suits you and complete the programme from anywhere in the world.

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