Students gain familiarity with issues confronting the policymaker and manager at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. Students also develop an understanding of the socioeconomic, political, and legal effects of decisions and their implications.

Specialty areas in this major include: fisheries and marine ecosystems management, coastal management, maritime transportation and ports, and ocean policy.

REQUIREMENTS
All students admitted to the University of Rhode Island are eligible to major in MAF B.S. (formally, Coastal and Marine Policy and Management.)

The program requires:
This degree is appropriate for students wishing to emphasize the important interrelationship between the natural sciences and coastal and marine policy and management.

To accomplish this interdisciplinary expertise, students take courses in one or more of the natural sciences along with required management and policy courses.

30 credits (minimum) coastal and marine policy studies
3 credits statistics and 3-4 credites of oceanography, as well as additional preparation in natural sciences and math

A total of 126 credits is required for graduation.

Students are encouraged to pursue internships, as they often create an important link between the university and applied, professional settings.

ACADEMIC OPTIONS
The MAF B.S. major may be combined with studies in other majors such as Aquaculture and Fisheries Science, Marine Biology, Geosciences, Natural Resources Science, Political Science, and Environmental and Natural Resource Economics.

Students may earn a double major or a major and minor through combined study.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
This major establishes a strong background for careers in the public or private sectors in a wide variety of marine-related fields.

Typical areas of employment include positions in government agencies (federal, state, and local) concerned with coastal zone, environmental protection, or fisheries management, and in marine transportation.

In the private sector, graduates find positions in environmental consulting firms, marine insurance, public-interest non-governmental organizations, marinas, ports, and companies involved in shipping.

FURTHER STUDIES
The MAF B.S. major serves as an excellent educational background for continued study in law—especially environmental, fishery, coastal zone, admiralty, and ocean law.

Students are also well prepared to pursue graduate and professional programs in environmental management, public administration, community planning, marine affairs, and related fields.

< Back to list of Undergraduate Degrees