The history of the College of Physical and Environmental Oceanography can be traced to the 1930s. In 1931, Yang Zhensheng, headmaster of National Qingdao University, proposed that the majors of oceanography and meteorology, not established in other universities, gradually be introduced.  In 1932, professors were employed to begin teaching on marine science. In 1934, the Qingdao Institute of Marine Biology was built and began hosting summer workshops. This series of events established the academic setting for the marine professions with an emphasis on marine studies.

Following the Anti-Japanese war, the Department of Oceanography and the Marine Research Institute was established in Xiamen University in 1946. Professor Tang Shifeng acted as the first head of the department and the first director of the institute. In the same year，the Institute of Marine Research was also established at Shandong University, which was approved by the Ministry of Education in February 1947 to set up the Department of Oceanography.  In 1949,Doctor He Chongben returned to China and was employed as professor of Shandong University.In 1950, he transferred to the meteorological group of the physics department and was appointed as the director of the Institute of Marine Physics in the next year. Wang Binhua(or Wang Huawen), head of Qingdao Meteorological Observatory was also an Adjunct Professor of the meteorological group.

In 1952, there was an adjustment of colleges and departments in the universities. Three teachers, including Professor Tang Shifeng from the physics and chemistry group of the Marine Department, Xiamen University, and 18 students were transferred to Qingdao, which was combined with the Institute of Oceanography of Shandong University to set up the Department of Oceanography. He Chongben served as the director who, along with Jing Zhenhua and others,continued to build the Physical Oceanography profession. Famous marine biologists, Professor Tong Dizhou and Professor Zeng Chengkui also participated in the preparatory work. Between 1953 and 1954, professors, Wen Shengchang, Wang Binhua, and Niu Zhenyi were transferred to the Department of Oceanography, Shandong University. From 1954 to 1957, Professors, Mao Hanli and Shu Xingbei were employed to teach and do research here.

In 1958, with the approval of the Ministry of Higher Education, the name of Physical Oceanography was changed to Marine Hydrology and the educational research group was expanded to include Marine Meteorology.

In October 1958, the main body of Shandong University moved to Jinan. The remaining part in Qingdao was established as Shandong Oceanography Collegein 1959. The Department of Oceanography was renamed the Department of Marine Hydrometeorology with two professions of marine hydrometeorology and marine meteorology. He Chongben was promoted to the Academic Dean of Shandong College of Oceanography. Wang Binhua was appointed as deputy director of the department, presiding over the work of the department.

During the Cultural Revolution, the above two majors were merged into marine hydrometeorology, which was re-divided into two majors in 1973. In1978, Wen Shengchang was appointed as department dean. In 1980, the name of the marine hydrology profession was again changed to physical oceanography and the department was renamed the Department of Physical Oceanography and Marine Meteorology. In 1983, the Board of Education approved the establishment of the Institute of Physical Oceanography with Wen Shengchang serving as the director and Wang Jingming as the dean. In the same year, the Board of Education approved the establishment of the Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Zone where He Chongben served as the director. In 1984, in order to further develop the discipline, the major staff of the Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Zone was integrated and formed the research center of Marine Environmental Protection, He Chongben acting as the honorary director and Xi Pangen as the director. Due to the need for engineering construction, the Coastal Engineering profession was added in the same year. The Teaching and Research Section and the laboratory of Marine Engineering and Dynamics were established with Hou Guoben serving as the director.

In 1985, the University decided to include the Coastal Engineering profession, the Teaching and Research Section and the laboratory of Marine Engineering and Dynamics in the Marine Engineering Department. The Marine Department contributed to the establishment of the Marine Engineering Department and its subsequent College of Engineering.

In 1988, our university was renamed Ocean University of Qingdao. In 1991, Physical Oceanography and Marine Meteorology were renamed Oceanography and Weather Dynamics respectively. The College of Physical and Environmental Oceanography was established in 1993, comprised of the Department of Oceanography, the Department of Marine Meteorology, the Institute of Physical Oceanography, the Institute of Marine Environmental Science and the Physical Oceanography Laboratory. Wen Shengchang served as Honorary Dean, Feng Shizuo as Dean. In 1994, Feng Shizuo was promoted to Vice President and Yu Guangyao took the position of dean that was succeeded by Sun Fu in 1995. In1998, Oceanography and Weather Dynamics was renamed Marine Science and Atmospheric Science respectively. In the same year, our university decided to set up the Environmental Science and Engineering Institute, affiliated with the College of Physical and Environmental Oceanography, comprised of the Institute of Marine Environmental Science, the Marine Environmental Protection Research Center, the Institute for Industrial Water Reuse Technology (as classified according to the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering), the Test Center of Resources and Environmental Engineering Survey Design, and the Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics with Li Fengqi serving as dean. In 2001, our university decided to establish the College of Environmental Science and Engineering. These units of the Institute were no longer affiliated with the College of Physical and Environmental Oceanography but together formed a new college.

In 1999, Tian Jiwei was succeeded as dean of College of Physical and Environmental Oceanography. Xu Tianzhen, assistant to the president, took over the position in 2003. Then Wei Hao took over the position in 2005. Guan Changlong has acted as the dean since 2008.