Program Overview

Five-Year B.A. in Marine Affairs/M.P.S. Program

The Department of Environmental Science and Policy (EVR), in cooperation with the Undergraduate Marine and Atmospheric Science Program, offers a five-year B.A./M.P.S. Program in Marine Affairs. This program enables qualified students to earn a B.A. in Marine Affairs in four years with the opportunity to earn a Master of Professional Science (M.P.S.) with only one additional year.

Overview

• The program is designed for students who want to pursue a career in marine affairs and have a strong foundation in the field.
• The program combines the undergraduate and graduate degrees, allowing students to complete both degrees in five years.

Admission Requirements

• Conditional acceptance to the M.P.S. program is based on the student’s GPA at the end of their sophomore year.
• Students must then take GRE exams and apply for admission to the graduate program at Rosenstiel during their junior year.

Curriculum Requirements

• Students must follow the curriculum corresponding to their respective track in the MPS program.
• A list of courses (required and elective) are listed on each track page of the MPS website.
• The program requires:
  • B.A. Degree Requirements: 120 credit hours
  • M.P.S. Degree Requirements: 30 credit hours
  • Total Credit Hours: 150

Sample Plan of Study

• The plan of study is designed to help students complete the program in five years.
• The plan includes:
  • Freshman Year:
    • Fall: Introduction to Marine Science, Introduction to Marine Science Lab, Chemical Problem Solving, Finite Mathematics, First-Year Writing I, Minor Course #1
    • Spring: General Biology, The Earth System, First-Year Writing II: STEM, Principles of Microeconomics
  • Sophomore Year:
    • Fall: Introduction to Marine Biology, Environmental Statistics, Evolution and Biodiversity, Principles of Chemistry 1, HUM Course #1
    • Spring: Physical and Chemical Processes in Coastal Ecosystems, MSC Course, Minor Course #2, HUM Course #2, Elective #1
  • Junior Year:
    • Fall: Coastal Law, MSC Course, Minor Course #3, HUM Course #3, Elective #2
    • Spring: Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment, Minor Course #4, Elective #3, Elective #4, Elective #5
  • Senior Year:
    • Fall: Ocean Policy, MSC Course, Minor Course #5, Elective #6, Elective #7
    • Spring: Spatial Applications in Marine Science, Elective #8, Elective #9, Elective #10, Elective #11
  • Year One:
    • Fall: MPS Graduate Coursework
    • Spring: MPS Graduate Coursework
    • Summer: MPS Graduate Coursework