General Advice: A Masters Degree gives you a shorter exposure to the academic world than a PhD does, but still lets you learn about your future career options, while building your resume at the same time.

To get accepted to a graduate program, you usually have to have a strong background in math & science (less math for biological programs). I recommend that you contact the department of interest (do some on-line research ahead of time – so you don’t waste their time) or, even better, directly contact a faculty member whose research you find interesting. Request more information on their department, application requirements, opportunities to view the department, etc.

Marine Sciences

• UC Berkeley -- Marine Science Program -- Earth and Planetary Science Department
  
• San Francisco State University -- Department of Geosciences -- Oceanography Program
  
• San Francisco State University – Biology Department -- Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies
• Moss Landing Marine Laboratories (Graduate programs only)
  
• UC Santa Cruz – Ocean Sciences -Institute of Marine Sciences
• Humboldt State University -- Department of Oceanography
• Scripps (UC San Diego)
• Oregon State University College of Oceanography
• University of Washington College of Oceanography

Geology

• California StateUniversity – Hayward - Geological Sciences Department
  
• San Francisco State University – Geociences Department
  
• San Jose State University – Geology Department
  
• U.C. Berkeley – Earth and Planetary Science Department
  
• U.C. Davis – Department of Geology
  
• UC Santa Cruz – Earth Sciences Department
  

Geography

• California State University – Hayward – Geography & Environmental Studies Department
  
• San Francisco State University –
  Geociences Department Meteorology
  Department of Geography and Human Environmental Studies
  Multidisciplinary Geographical Information Systems Center
  
• San Jose State University – Geography Department
  
• U.C. Berkeley – Geography Department