Overview
Marine Affairs prepares students to contribute to the policy development and management of marine resources through integration of scientific, economic and social perspectives. Research at UM focuses on fisheries management, political ecology, natural resource economics, coastal zone management, marine spatial planning and marine protected areas, coastal and ocean law, and marine cultural resources.
This program is designed for students who wish to prepare themselves for graduate studies and careers in marine policy, political ecology, marine resource economics, management and conservation of marine resources, environmental impact analysis, marine cultural resources, marine anthropology, spatial planning, ocean and coastal law and policy.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Affairs Core Requirements | ||
| MSC 111 | Introduction to Marine Science | 3 |
| MSC 112 | Introduction to Marine Science Lab | 1 |
| MSC 217 | Physical and Chemical Processes in Coastal Ecosystems | 3 |
| MBE 230 | Introduction to Marine Biology | 3 |
| MSC 313 | Coastal Law | 3 |
| or MSC 314 | Ocean Law | |
| MBE 310 | Living Resources of the Ocean | 3 |
| or MSC 340 | Ocean Policy | |
| MSC 345 | Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment | 3 |
| MSC 460 | Spatial Applications in Marine Science | 3 |
| MSC 461 | Marine Affairs Junior Seminar | 3 |
| Marine Affairs Core Elective Requirements | ||
| Select 9 credit hours of approved Marine Affairs electives (MSC, MBE, EVR, OCE, RSM). At least 6 of which must be at the 300-level or higher. MSC 204 does not satisfy the Marine Affairs elective requirement but does satisfy the Statistics requirement. | 9 | |
| Biology Requirements | ||
| BIL 150 | General Biology (minimum grade of C- required) | 4 |
| BIL 160 | Evolution and Biodiversity (minimum grade of C- required) | 4 |
| Chemistry Requirement | ||
| CHM 110 | Chemical Problem Solving (minimum grade of C- required) | 3 |
| STEM Elective Requirement | ||
| 200 level or higher STEM elective course (Including but not limited to ATM, BIL, BMB, BME, CAE, CET, CHM, CSC, ECE, EVR, ECS, GSC, MAE, MBE, MIC, MTH, MSC, NEU, OCE, PHY, RSM) | 3 | |
| Geological Sciences Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| The Earth System | ||
| Earth System History | ||
| Origin and Geology of the Galapagos Islands. 1 | ||
| Microeconomics Requirement | ||
| ECO 211 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Mathematics Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: (MTH 108 or higher fulfills the Rosenstiel BA quantitative skills requirement) | 3-4 | |
| Precalculus Mathematics II | ||
| Finite Mathematics | ||
| Introductory Calculus | ||
| Calculus Concepts with Foundations A | ||
| Calculus I | ||
or MTH 171 | Calculus I | |
| Statistics or Computational Science Requirement 2 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Environmental Statistics | ||
| Foundations of Computational Marine Science | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics Section B | ||
| Approved People & Society Minor Requirement 3 | 15 | |
| Approved minor or additional major in Anthropology, Economics, Ecosystem Science and Policy, Geography, International Studies, Latin American Studies, Political Science, an approved field within the Miami Herbert Business School, approved field within the School of Education and Human Development, or an approved field within the School of Communication. | ||
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Written Communication Skills: | ||
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | 3 |
| or WRS 106 | First-Year Writing II | |
| Quantitative Skills: | ||
MTH 108 or higher (fulfilled through the major) | ||
| Areas of Knowledge: | ||
| Arts and Humanities Cognate | 9 | |
| People & Society Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the People & Society minor) | ||
| STEM Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through this STEM Major) | ||
| Additional Electives | 27-30 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-123 | |
- 1
Students who participate in the UGalapagos Program may use MSC 424 (a 3-credit course) to fulfill the Geological Sciences requirement.
- 2
Equivalent Statistics or Computational Science course may be substituted with permission from Marine Affairs Undergraduate Program Director.
- 3
Approved minor or additional major in Anthropology, Economics, Ecosystem Science and Policy, Geography, International Studies, Latin American Studies, Political Science, an approved field within the Miami Herbert Business School, approved field within the School of Education and Human Development, or an approved field within the School of Communication.
- *
500-level courses offered through the graduate program at the Rosenstiel School may be taken by Junior or Senior students with permission.
- **
Marine Affairs majors cannot declare a Marine Science minor.
Suggested Plan of Study (STEM Major)
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MSC 111 | Introduction to Marine Science | 3 |
| MSC 112 | Introduction to Marine Science Lab | 1 |
| CHM 110 | Chemical Problem Solving | 3 |
| MTH 113 | Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| WRS 105 | First-Year Writing I | 3 |
| Minor Course #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIL 150 | General Biology | 4 |
| GSC 110 | The Earth System | 4 |
| WRS 107 | First-Year Writing II: STEM | 3 |
| ECO 211 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MBE 230 | Introduction to Marine Biology | 3 |
| MSC 204 | Environmental Statistics | 3 |
| BIL 160 | Evolution and Biodiversity | 4 |
| 200 Level Stem Course | 3 | |
| A&H Course #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MSC 217 | Physical and Chemical Processes in Coastal Ecosystems | 3 |
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course #2 | 3 | |
| A&H Course #2 | 3 | |
| Elective #1 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MSC 313 | Coastal Law | 3 |
| MSC 461 | Marine Affairs Junior Seminar | 3 |
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course #3 | 3 | |
| A&H Course #3 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MSC 345 | Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment | 3 |
| Minor Course #4 | 3 | |
| Elective #2 | 3 | |
| Elective #3 | 3 | |
| Elective #4 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MSC 340 | Ocean Policy | 3 |
| MSC Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course #5 | 3 | |
| Elective #5 | 3 | |
| Elective #6 | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MSC 460 | Spatial Applications in Marine Science | 3 |
| Elective #7 | 3 | |
| Elective #8 | 3 | |
| Elective #9 | 3 | |
| Elective #10 | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
Additional Major Curriculum Requirements
If a student would like to add Marine Affairs as an additional major, they need to meet with the Marine Affairs Program Director before submitting their Academic Change Form to their Cane Navigator for processing.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Requisite Mathematics Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: (MTH 108 or higher fulfills the Rosenstiel BA quantitative skills requirement) | ||
| Precalculus Mathematics II | ||
| Finite Mathematics | ||
| Introductory Calculus | ||
| Calculus Concepts with Foundations A | ||
| Calculus I | ||
or MTH 171 | Calculus I | |
| Pre-Requisite Statistics or Computational Science Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Environmental Statistics | ||
| Foundations of Computational Marine Science | ||
| Introduction to Probability and Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Biobehavioral Statistics Section B | ||
An equivalent Statistics or Computational Science course may be substituted with permission from the Marine Affairs Undergraduate Program Director for students required to complete either Statistics or a Computational course for their primary major. Approved courses include but are not limited to ECS 204, EPS 351, GEG 310, ISE 311, MAS 201, MAS 311, MSC 321, NUR 202, SOC 211. | ||
| Pre-Requisite Biology Requirements | ||
| General Biology (minimum grade of C- required) | ||
| Evolution and Biodiversity (minimum grade of C- required) | ||
| Pre-Requisite Chemistry Requirement | ||
| Chemical Problem Solving (minimum grade of C- required) | ||
| Pre-Requisite STEM Elective Requirement | ||
200 level or higher STEM elective course (Including but not limited to ATM, BIL, BMB, BME, CAE, CET, CHM, CSC, ECE, ECS, EVR, GSC, MAE, MBE, MIC, MTH, MSC, NEU, OCE, PHY, RSM) | ||
| Pre-Requisite Geological Sciences Requirement | ||
Select one of the following: | ||
| The Earth System | ||
| Earth System History | ||
| Origin and Geology of the Galapagos Islands 1 | ||
| Pre-Requisite Microeconomics Requirement | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Marine Affairs Core Requirements | ||
| MSC 111 | Introduction to Marine Science | 3 |
| MSC 112 | Introduction to Marine Science Lab | 1 |
| MSC 217 | Physical and Chemical Processes in Coastal Ecosystems | 3 |
| MBE 230 | Introduction to Marine Biology | 3 |
| MSC 313 | Coastal Law | 3 |
| or MSC 314 | Ocean Law | |
| MBE 310 | Living Resources of the Ocean | 3 |
| or MSC 340 | Ocean Policy | |
| MSC 345 | Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment | 3 |
| MSC 460 | Spatial Applications in Marine Science | 3 |
| MSC 461 | Marine Affairs Junior Seminar | 3 |
| Marine Affairs Core Elective Requirements | ||
| Select 9 credit hours of approved Marine Affairs electives (MSC, MBE, EVR, MES, OCE, RSM). At least 6 of which must be at the 300-level or higher. MSC 204 does not satisfy the Marine Affairs elective requirement but does satisfy the Statistics requirement. | 9-16 | |
Marine Biology and Ecology Primary Majors must complete 16 credits. At least 13 of which must be at the 300-level or higher. All other majors are required to take 9 credits. | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 34-41 | |
- 1
Students who participate in the UGalapagos Program may use MSC 424 (a 3-credit course) to fulfill the Geological Sciences requirement.
- *
500-level courses offered through the graduate program at the Rosenstiel School may be taken by Junior or Senior students with permission.
- **
Marine Affairs majors cannot declare a Marine Science minor.
- Note:
Your primary major must have a minimum of 24 credits of core major requirements. They must be different than those used for this additional major.
Mission
The mission of the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science is to deepen our collective knowledge of our planet through cutting-edge scientific research on the oceans, atmosphere, geology, biota, and the human dimension, while training the next generation of scientists. We transfer the knowledge gained to our students, the national and international scientific community, and to policymakers and the public.
The educational mission of the BA degree in Marine Affairs at the University of Miami is to graduate students with the ability and desire to integrate knowledge of marine affairs and policy into their future careers.
Goals
This program strives to provide the rigor, flexibility, depth and integration to enable students to:
- Pursue a course of study that provides both depth and breadth in marine affairs and related science and policy courses.
- Prepare themselves for public and private sector employment, graduate school, and successful careers.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively.
- Students will demonstrate an overall knowledge and understanding of the core concepts in Marine Affairs.
- Students will be able to successfully integrate important concepts in marine affairs to address a real-world issue in marine policy and marine resource management.
