Program Overview

Maritime Studies MA

The Maritime Studies MA program at East Carolina University is a unique academic program that combines a love of oceanic exploration, ships and sea faring history, and the archaeology of shipwrecks. The program provides hands-on underwater training, primary document historical research, and other practical skills such as remote sensing and grant writing.

About the Program

The program was established in 1981 and has since become one of the world's leading academic underwater archaeology programs. It has graduated 201 MA students in this field, with an overall graduation rate of 71 percent. A large percentage of graduates go on to get jobs in the field as archaeologists, contract archaeologists, government cultural resource managers, museum archaeologists, curators, museum directors, national and state park staff, conservators, and teachers at all levels.

ECU Advantage

The program is preeminent in the field of underwater archaeology, with only six programs in the world offering graduate degrees in this area. The program staff includes professors with national and international reputations in research excellence, including eight full-time PhD archaeologists and historians, backed by three technicians, as well as a fully staffed Diving and Boating Safety Office.

What You Will Study

The Maritime Studies MA requires a total of 36 semester hours of coursework. The program includes:

• Core courses (12 semester hours)
  • HIST 5530 - Field School in Maritime History and Underwater Research
  • HIST 6805 - History and Theory of Maritime Archaeology
  • HIST 6820 - Maritime Archaeological Field Methods
  • HIST 6900 - Historiography: Introduction to Research
• Electives (12-15 semester hours)
  • History (HIST) electives that support the student's thesis research
• Research skills requirement (3-6 semester hours)
  • Courses selected based on advising, including geography (GEOG) or quantitative history (HIST)
  • A language course for credit may be taken if approved by the program coordinator
• Thesis (6 semester hours)
  • An oral comprehensive examination will be a component of the thesis defense
  • Candidates will be required to demonstrate knowledge of their field of study as well as establish how their thesis contributes to that field of study
  • HIST 7000 - Thesis

Comprehensive Assessment Requirement

The program includes a comprehensive assessment requirement, which is a component of the thesis defense. Candidates will be required to demonstrate knowledge of their field of study as well as establish how their thesis contributes to that field of study.