Program Overview

Introduction to the Marine Affairs Program

The Marine Affairs Program is a professional, course-based, interdisciplinary graduate program designed to equip students with practical skills and knowledge in marine and social sciences. It combines core required courses and personalized electives covering diverse subjects such as climate change adaptation, marine conservation, knowledge systems, fisheries management, and ocean governance.

Master of Marine Management Degree

The Master of Marine Management (MMM) degree program admits a small cohort of approximately 20 students once per year, each September. This fosters enriched student relationships, mentorship, and collaboration. Students take a combination of required courses (5) and elective courses (3) at the graduate level. This structure prepares graduates for impactful careers in marine affairs across public, private, and community sectors.

Master of Marine Management Degree Program Structure

The MMM requires five (5) credits to graduate, 3.5 credits are Core required credits and 1.5 credits are electives (at the graduate level), selected to personalize your MMM degree. As of September 2022, the MMM program is offered on the Halifax campus following the guidelines of Dalhousie University's COVID-19 protocols.

Core Required Courses (3.5 credits)

• Fall Term:
  • MARA 5004 - Marine Management Skills Development (0.5 credit)
  • MARA 5010 - Contemporary Issues in Ocean and Coastal Management: Part 1 (0.5 credit)
• Winter Term:
  • MARA 5003 - Marine Science and Technology (0.5 credit)
  • MARA 5011 - Contemporary Issues in Ocean and Coastal Management: Part 2 (0.5 credit)
• Summer Term:
  • MARA 5002 Graduate Project (1.0 credit) (continues in the fall term)
• Fall Term:
  • MARA 5009 - Coastal Zone Management (0.5 credit)
  • MARA 5002 Graduate Project (continued)

Elective Courses (1.5 credits)

• 3 elective courses (worth 0.5 credits each) are selected in collaboration with a MAP Elective Selection Advisor over the course of the MMM program.

Internships

A cornerstone of the Master of Marine Management (MMM) experience is the internship, offering students real-world training and valuable professional connections. Typically completed between May and August, internships last a minimum of four weeks, with flexible timing to accommodate diverse opportunities.

Interdisciplinary PhD Opportunities

The Marine Affairs Program supports PhD research through the Interdisciplinary PhD Program in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Interested PhD candidates should first identify which member of the Marine Affairs faculty they are interested in working with and reach out to that person directly with an inquiry about supervision availability. Admission to the Interdisciplinary PhD Program is very competitive. Applicants are required to propose an area of research for consideration and discuss this with members of a potential PhD committee. Acceptance into the program is dependent on applicants having strong support from members of the Dalhousie University community that would serve on the student's PhD supervisory committee. Potential students are strongly encouraged to apply for scholarship funding or demonstrate evidence of financial support in their application.