Program Overview

The School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA) is one of a handful of graduate programs in the United States focused on the intersection of natural and social sciences with public policy. SMEA is known for its interdisciplinary research as well as its educational program. These efforts have had particular impact on development of the international Law of the Sea, fishery management and marine environmental policy, the impact of climate variability and change, and on coastal zone management theory and practices.

Defining Marine and Environmental Affairs

The field of Marine and Environmental Affairs focuses on the connections between marine and terrestrial environmental and the surrounding communities. To encompass such a broad field, the School utilizes a framework called “Human Dimensions of Global Change in the Marine Environment” (HDGCME). The framework also advances the goals of the College of the Environment: “aiding in discovery through partnerships with industry, government, and non-profits to create an environment where natural and social sciences (as well as humanities) can interact through research, education and application.”

Master's Degree & Interdisciplinary Study

The School of Marine and Environmental Affairs has the authority to grant the Master of Marine Affairs degree, a professional degree for college graduates and mid-career government and industry officials. The degree name remains unchanged from Master of Marine Affairs even though the school name recently changed to reflect a broader curriculum and understanding of the interconnection between the marine and terrestrial environments and the policies affecting both. Students with a wide variety of educational, cultural, and work experience are encouraged to apply, so that the student body reflects the diversity and multidisciplinary interactions of the marine and environmental affairs field. Students with natural science degrees find an opportunity to learn more about the context in which science and technology are applied, while those grounded in the social sciences or professional fields can develop skills in the management of marine and environmental resource problems.

Structure of Studies

The Master of Marine Affairs degree program is a two-year graduate degree requiring the completion of 50 course credits and 9 master's thesis credits. Courses address the past, present, and future of marine and environmental events, societies and institutions; problem anticipation and articulation; microeconomic theory and analysis; and techniques of policy analysis. A student's first year is spent in core courses developing a comprehensive understanding of marine and environmental affairs and strengthening analytical skills. This year is also the time to take elective courses that relate to one’s thesis interests to better define those interests. During the second year, a student takes advanced courses and seminars to develop special competence within an area of concentration. It is also during this year that each student plans, conducts, and reports upon independent research that contributes to the understanding and potential resolution of a marine and environmental affairs policy problem (the thesis). A faculty committee supervises thesis preparation with expertise both within and outside the student's field. There is no foreign language requirement for the MMA degree. However, marine and environmental affairs is an international discipline and students proficient in one or more foreign languages are encouraged to plan coursework and research that focus on marine and environmental activities in an appropriate foreign area.