Marine Affairs

3707 Brooklyn Avenue Northeast

Graduate Program

Graduate Program Coordinator
3707 Brooklyn NE, Box 355685
206-543-4326, 206-543-7004
uwsma@u.washington.edu

The School of Marine Affairs offers an interdisciplinary program of study leading to the Master of Marine Affairs degree. Marine affairs concerns management and policy questions on the uses of the coastal and offshore regions of the ocean and their resources. The core curriculum includes courses from marine affairs, economics, law, marine sciences, and public affairs.

Master of Marine Affairs

The School of Marine Affairs offers an internationally recognized master's degree program for launching careers in marine policy and administration. Students learn creative approaches to resolving marine problems and conflicts, charting rational use of living and non-living marine resources, and managing human activities on the coasts, at sea, and in estuaries, wetlands, and large inland bodies of water.

A major program objective is to prepare students for professional careers in policy making, management, teaching, and research. Breadth of study is emphasized, and all students are expected to gain familiarity with relevant aspects of the social, technological, and environmental sciences. In addition, each student is expected to develop a professional and scholarly proficiency in a particular aspect of marine affairs.

Completion of the M.M.A. program normally requires two academic years for students who have received a baccalaureate degree. During the first year, students develop a comprehensive understanding of the marine affairs field and acquire analytic skills. During the second year, a special competence is developed in a topical area of interest (e.g., ocean and coastal management, ports and marine transportation, marine environmental protection, marine resources management, ocean and coastal tourism and recreation), and a thesis is prepared and presented under the guidance of a faculty supervisory committee. Individual courses of study may be adjusted to accommodate prior experience and academic background. Mid-career and other qualifying students can apply to follow a non-thesis track emphasizing additional coursework and a degree project.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the School of Marine Affairs is based on evaluation of required application materials in competition with other applicants. Required materials include Graduate Record Examination general-test scores, completed departmental supplementary information form, three letters of recommendation, official academic transcripts, and a statement of career objectives. Applicants must apply directly to, and be accepted by, the University's Graduate School. Course sequences begin each autumn quarter, and new students normally are admitted only at that time.

Degree Requirements

• The Core Curriculum (29 credits minimum)
  1. Introduction to Marine Affairs: SMA 500 (5), SMA 501 (3)
  2. Economics: SMA 536 (3). (Students may be waived by the Graduate Program Coordinator from SMA 536 due to adequate undergraduate training, but are required to take at least one economics course at the 400 or 500 level. The following courses are suggested: SMA 537 (3), SMA 538 (3), ECON 435 (5), ECON 436 (5).)
  3. Marine Law: SMA 506/LAW 561 (3) or SMA 515/LAW 565(3)
  4. Policy Analysis: SMA 519 (3) or PB AF 513 (3)
  5. Policy Processes: one of the following: SMA 507 (3), SMA 508 (3), SMA 521 (3), SMA 523 (3), PB AF 590/CFR 592 (3) (when course content appropriate; check with Graduate Program Coordinator); PB AF 592/FM 571 (5)
  6. Marine Science: SMA 591 (3). (Students may be waived by the Graduate Program Coordinator from SMA 591, but are required to take at least one 400- or 500-level science course. The following courses are suggested: SMA 510 (3); FISH 450 (4); FISH 454 (3); BIOL 472 (5); or BIOL 473 (3).)
  7. Quantitative Skills: one of the following: The required skill level is equivalent to intermediate statistics, including an understanding of point estimates, confidence intervals and regression equations. Students not meeting this requirement through undergraduate classes or experience should take one appropriate course while at SMA. Recommended courses include: Q SCI 381 (5), STAT 301 (5), or STAT 311 (5). (Note: Although 300-level courses do not qualify for graduation credits, the School will waive 3 credits of the 59-credit SMA graduation requirement for students completing one of these courses.)
  8. Social Science Data Collection and Analysis: one of the following: SMA 476 (3), SMA 512 (3), PB AF 507 (3), GEOG 425 (5), or CRF 400 (3)
  9. Marine Affairs Seminar: SMA 550 (3)
• Electives (20 credits minimum – or 10 additional elective credits for non-thesis track): Elective credits must qualify as graduate credit (typically 400- or 500-level courses) offered in any UW department or school. Students should consult with their advisor or Thesis Committee Chair in choosing a set of elective courses. At least 6 credits, and two courses must come from the following list of SMA courses: SMA 433 (5), SMA 480 (3), SMA 485 (3), SMA 499 (var.) (when subject is African Population, Development and Marine Enviroment), SMA 509 (3), SMA 510 (3), SMA 514 (3), SMA 516 (3), SMA 517 (3), SMA 540 (3), SMA 555 (3), SMA 581 (3), SMA 550 (1-3) (cannot simultaneously be used to meet core requirements).
• The Thesis and Thesis Presentation (10 credits minimum – for thesis track students): SMA 700 (minimum 9 credits); SMA 570 (1).
• Career Skills (non-credit requirement): First year: One career counseling appointment during fall quarter. One resume review session during winter quarter.Second year: One career counseling appointment during fall quarter. One resume review session during winter quarter.

Financial Aid

The School of Marine Affairs has a limited number of positions for graduate student appointments as research assistants. Applicants in need of support are urged to investigate outside sources of funding.