MSU-TCTO
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Institute of Oceanography and Environmental Science
"Exploring Oceans, Protecting Environment, Building a Sustainable Future"
Mindanao State University
Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography
AACCUP Accredited
Level II Re-Accredited Status
CHED
Commission on Higher Education
ISO 9001:2025 Certified
Quality Management System
About the Institute of Oceanography and Environmental Science
Part of MSU-TCTO, the Institute advances marine and environmental science through research, education, and extension—working alongside the College of Fisheries and other units to serve the Sulu Archipelago.
Pioneering Marine and Environmental Science
Empowering coastal communities through research, stewardship, and sustainable practices
General Background
R.A. 6060 established the Mindanao State University–Sulu College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-SCTO) on August 4, 1969 to extend higher education to Muslims and other cultural communities. In 1973, when Tawi-Tawi became a separate province, the institution was renamed MSU–Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO).
Within MSU-TCTO, the Institute of Oceanography and Environmental Science (IOES)—formerly the Center for Oceanographic Studies (COS)—began operations in 1996 with the Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. Commissioned to reinforce marine science research in the Sulu Archipelago and to provide extension services for environmental protection, conservation, and regional modernization, IOES added the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science in 2008 and now houses the Department of Marine Biology and the Department of Environmental Science.
Together with the College of Fisheries and other academic units, IOES contributes to MSU-TCTO’s mandate of producing competent graduates and supporting coastal communities through research, education, and stewardship of marine and environmental resources.
Our Impact in Numbers
Discover the scale of our academic excellence and community impact