Degree
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Marine AffairsContact
Charles Tilburg, Ph.D.
Academic Director, School of Marine and Environmental Programs
ctilburg@une.edu
Mission
The mission of the School of Marine and Environmental Programs at the ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ is to help our students gain an understanding of the natural world, develop critical thinking skills, and become scientifically literate. Together, we lay a foundation for lifelong learning and meaningful contributions to society and offer a baccalaureate education to students interested in all facets of the marine environment.
Our programs encompass a wide variety of disciplines that seek to understand the way the ocean functions, how it is related to earth systems science, and how humans interact with the environment. Students will learn theoretical underpinnings and applications of disciplines from biology to chemistry, geology, and physics. These disciplines are critical to life as we know it on the planet. Students will be able to apply these disciplines to solving real problems encountered in coastal and marine ecosystems and by the human communities that depend on them.
Major Description
The Marine Affairs major is aimed at providing future student leaders a solid grounding in the vital fields of coastal and marine science, as well as resource use, marine governance systems, management, policy, ecosystems ecology, conservation, and sustainable development. This major is suitable for students who are concerned about the marine environment, and are interested in careers in the ecosystem and human health interactions, ocean management, political decision making, and marine sustainability science and policies. The program focuses on hands-on activities, internships, and research experiences in addition to classroom work.
The Marine Living Learning Community (MLC)
All entering first-year Marine Science, Marine Affairs, and Marine Entrepreneurship majors are invited to participate in a year-long living learning community focused on developing the skills needed to be a successful student, discovery of their majors and associated learning opportunities, and building relationships with peers, faculty, and professional staff.
The MLC integrates classroom learning, student success programming, experiential opportunities, as well as team-building and leadership development programs designed to assist Marine majors in their transitions from High School to College to Career.
Learning Community courses and events allows students an opportunity to expand their interests and grow personally, as well as professionally. A dedicated team comprised of faculty, professional staff, and peer leaders supports the MLC. This community of learning enriches classroom content and allows an opportunity to apply learning in context.
Students who participate in the MLC are expected to:
- Live together in a Residence Hall Community designed by the Office of Housing and Resident/Commuter Life.
- Take two (2) or more designated courses in common over the course of their first year.
- Participate in required experiential learning opportunities and community programs.
Curricular Requirements
| CAS Core Requirements* | Credits |
|---|---|
| Total Credits | 42 |
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BUEC 390 – Environmental Economics or BUEC 395 – Ecological Economics | 3 |
| CHE 110/110L – General Chemistry I w/Lab or CHE 130/130L – Principles of Chemistry w/Lab | 4 |
| GIS 161 – Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| MAF 200 – Introduction to Marine Pollution | 3 |
| MAF 210 – Introduction to U.S. Ocean Governance | 3 |
| MAF 310 – Ocean and Coastal Law | 3 |
| MAF 320 – Internship | 3–12 |
| MAF 400 – Marine Affairs Capstone | 3 |
| MAR 105/105L – Introduction to Ecology/Evolution of Marine Organisms w/Lab | Credits Fulfilled by Core Requirements |
| MAR 106/106L – Introduction to Cellular/Molecular of Marine Organisms w/Lab | 4 |
| MAR 150/150L – Discovering the Ocean Environment w/Lab or MAR 270/270L – Oceanography w/Lab | 4 |
| MAR 250/250L – Marine Biology w/Lab or MAR 350/350L – Marine Ecology w/Lab | 4 |
| MAR 316 – Science in Society | 3 |
| MAT 150 – Statistics for Life Sciences or MAT 170 – Applications of Functions | Credits Fulfilled by Core Requirements |
| PSC 125 – Understanding Law or PSC 210 – Constitutional Law | 3 |
| Total Credits | 43–52 |
| Select One (1) Course from the List Below | Credits |
|---|---|
| CMM 210 – Understanding Media | 3 |
| CMM 240 – Social Media: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| CMM 305 – Public Relations in the Digital Age | 3 |
| EDU 202 – Curriculum Theory and Design | 3 |
| ENV 321 – Environmental Communications | 3 |
| SPC 100 – Effective Public Speaking | 3 |
| WRT 233 – Professional and Technical Writing | 3 |
| WRT 317 – Proposal and Grant Writing | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 |
| Select One (1) Course from the List Below | Credits |
|---|---|
| BUMG 301 – Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| BUMG 303 – Management of Non-profit Organizations | 3 |
| BUMG 311 – Business and Society Relations | 3 |
| BUMK 200 – Marketing | 3 |
| BUMK 310 – Advertising | 3 |
| OBI 335 – Outdoor Recreation Planning and Policy (Formerly ORM 335) | 3 |
| SOC 226 – Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 |
| Open Elective Courses (as needed to reach 120 credits) | Variable |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 120 |
|---|
*Must take MAR 105/105L as Lab Science Course and MAT 150 or MAT 170 as Math Course
Graduation Requirements
A minimum grade of C- must be achieved in all science, mathematics, and Marine Affairs courses used toward graduation in any of the programs in the Department of Marine Science. A 2.00 cumulative average in sciences is a requirement for graduation in any of the programs in the School of Marine and Environmental Programs.
Program Completion Timeline
Students have a maximum of seven (7) years to complete the graduation requirements
Students in this major can participate in the pre-health graduate school preparation tracks.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate a strong content-knowledge foundation in their specific field of study (Marine Biology, Oceanography, Marine Entrepreneurship, or Marine Affairs).
- Students will communicate effectively in both oral and written format to convey their scientific knowledge, interdisciplinary training, and findings to peers, professional audiences, decision-makers, and/or the public.
- Students will demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills in their specific field of study by designing, carrying out, and interpreting the results of their experiments, by evaluating the literature published by professionals, by making recommendations to policy makers and/or by creating and innovating in their field.
Minor
Minor Requirements
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 105/105L – Bio I: Ecology/Evolution w/Lab or MAR 105/105L – Ecology/Evolution of Marine Organisms w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 106/106L – Biology II: Cellular/Molecular w/Lab or MAR 106/106L – Cellular/Molecular of Marine Organisms w/Lab or BIO 104 – General Biology or any four (4)-credit Lab Science Course | 4 |
| Total Credits | 8 |
| Select Four (4) from the List Below | Credits |
|---|---|
| BUEC 390 – Environmental Economics | 3 |
| BUMG 303 – Management of Non-profit Organizations | 3 |
| ENV 321 – Environmental Communications | 3 |
| MAF 200 – Introduction to Marine Pollution | 3 |
| MAF 210 – Introduction to U.S. Ocean Governance | 3 |
| MAF 300 – Climate Change, Oceans, and the Law | 3 |
| MAF 310 – Ocean and Coastal Law | 3 |
| MAR 316 – Science and Society | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 20 |
|---|
*Can't double count with other requirements.
UMaine School of Law 3+3 Pathways Program
³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Marine Affairs-UMaine 3+3 Law Pathway Program Information
The ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ’s Marine Affairs–UMaine 3+3 Law program is for students who wish to complete a B.A. and a J.D. degree in six (6) years rather than the typical seven (7). For more information see the Marine Affairs 3+3 page in this catalog.
Transfer Credit
Courses previously completed at another accredited college can be transferred to this degree program. Transferred courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the marine sciences courses offered at UNE in order to count as exact equivalents. Otherwise, they will transfer as general electives. All Science/Math courses previously completed must be no older than five (5) years.
Other options and restrictions apply. See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Admissions
See Undergraduate Admissions for more information.
Financial Information
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.
Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog
This catalog outlines the academic programs, degree criteria, policies, and events of the ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ for the 2024–2025 academic year and serves as the official guide for academic and program requirements for students enrolling at the University during the Summer of 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 semesters.
The information provided is accurate as of its publication date on April 26, 2024.
The ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ reserves the right to modify its programs, calendar, or academic schedule as deemed necessary or beneficial. This includes alterations to course content, class rescheduling, cancellations, or any other academic adjustments. Changes will be communicated as promptly as possible.
While students may receive guidance from academic advisors or program directors, they remain responsible for fulfilling the requirements outlined in the catalog relevant to their enrollment year and for staying informed about any updates to policies, provisions, or requirements.