University of Washington

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The Graduate School at the UW
College of the Environment

The Region

The School of Marine and Environmental Affairs is ideally located for its role as a leading academic and research center for marine and environmental affairs. The Northwest Coast of North America, from Northern California to Alaska, is one of the nation's great treasures. Its scenic beauty, proximity to Asia, natural resource wealth, and mild marine climate make it an ideal place for marine and environmental studies.

The protected waters of Puget Sound, where Seattle and other port cities are located, form a remarkable deep-water fjord environment, the only one of its kind in the lower 48 states. And, because of the unique and relatively unspoiled environment, there is great interest in marine and environmental affairs of the region.

Seattle is home to major fishing, shipping, and other maritime industries and to important federal offices and marine laboratories such as the NOAA facilities at Sand Point. Not only is Seattle a West Coast hub for maritime activities, but the state of Washington is a pioneer in coastal zone planning and water quality management as well. Students attending the School will find themselves in a path-setting real world laboratory for marine and environmental policy and management, and will enjoy countless opportunities to participate in important contemporary issues in marine and environmental affairs.