Oceanography Courses and Certifications

Fundació Navegació Oceànica Barcelona;  University of Buckingham

Oceanography: a key to better understand our world

287 ratings at Coursera

Learn the foundations of oceanography: temperature, salinity and geostrophic circulation, satellite remote sensing, the carbonate system and ocean chemistry, and the formation of ocean basins.

• Coursera
• 7 weeks, 4 hours a week
• Self-Paced
• Paid Course

Introduction to Oceanography

An introductory survey of oceanography covering ocean exploration, Earth structure, marine geology, circulation, waves, ecosystems, and conservation.

• Study.com
• 9 hours 20 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Paid Course

Oceanography: Exploring Earth's Final Wilderness

100 ratings at The Great Courses Plus

Probe the ocean depths in this intriguing course that explores what we know about the world's oceans from the tidal zones to the deepest points on the ocean floor.

• The Great Courses Plus
• 19 hours 22 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Trial Available

MGG-013: Oceanography

Explore how ocean floor structure, seawater properties, circulation, and climate change shape the global marine environment.

• Swayam
• 15 weeks
• Available until Nov 15, 2026
• Free Online Course

One Planet, One Ocean

27 ratings at edX

A holistic view of how the ocean functions, how human interactions with the ocean can be understood, and what solutions are available to support both sustainable use and stewardship of our blue planet

• edX
• 6 weeks, 4-6 hours a week
• Self-Paced
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Our Global Ocean – An Introduction Course

Our ocean is vast, mysterious, and key to all life on our planet. This short course will introduce you to the basics of our ocean, marine life, and the connection between humans and our ocean.

• edX
• 5 weeks, 1-2 hours a week
• Self-Paced
• Free Certificate

Learn the ocean literacy principles and organize classroom hands-on activities on ocean and climate, seafood, marine pollution and human health, and the ocean as medicine.

• EMMA
• 5 weeks
• Self-Paced
• Free Online Course

GEO GIRL

Discovery of Dark Oxygen Produced at the Sea Floor - Reshaping Our Understanding of Earth's Oxygen Cycle

Explores groundbreaking discovery of 'dark oxygen' produced in deep ocean, challenging our understanding of Earth's oxygen cycle and its implications for life origins and marine ecosystems.

• YouTube
• 14 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

GEO GIRL

Dark Oxygen Discovery Follow-Up - Addressing Comments and Questions

Explores "dark oxygen" produced by seafloor nodules, addressing formation, recharging, hydrogen fate, synthesis potential, oxygen contribution, and implications for marine life and Earth's evolution.

• YouTube
• 28 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Royal Institution

How the Ocean Shapes Our World - Understanding the Blue Machine

Explore the ocean's complex systems, from currents to underwater waterfalls, and its crucial role in shaping our world. Discover how understanding marine science is vital for addressing environmental threats.

• YouTube
• 56 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

The Royal Institution

Water World - Earth's Heating and Plumbing Systems - Christmas Lecture 2020

Explore Earth's heating and plumbing systems with physicist Helen Czerski as she reveals how ocean currents distribute heat and nutrients, shaping our planet's climate and ecosystems.

• YouTube
• 1 hour
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

CEC;  University of Mysore

Physical Geography - Climatology and Oceanography

Explore how atmospheric processes and ocean circulation interact to shape global climate, from temperature, pressure, air masses, and storms to ocean basins, currents, and reefs.

• Swayam
• 10 weeks
• Available until Oct 31, 2026
• Free Online Course

Hydrology and Oceanography

An introduction to hydrology and oceanography, examining Earth’s water systems across inland and marine environments.

• Swayam
• Available until Oct 31, 2026
• Free Online Course

The Royal Institution

Discovering the Hidden Secrets of the Ocean - New Era of Ocean Exploration

Explore the ocean's hidden secrets with cutting-edge technology, uncovering new ecosystems, mapping the seafloor, and livestreaming deep-sea discoveries. Learn about innovative marine research and its global impact.

• YouTube
• 58 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video

Earth and Space Sciences X

Oceanography - Marine Provinces

3 ratings

Learn how bathymetry and seafloor mapping reveal marine provinces, from continental margins and abyssal plains to mid-ocean ridges, trenches, and transform faults.

• YouTube
• 51 minutes
• Self-Paced
• Free Video