SMA Prospectus: The Setting—UW and Pacific Northwest

College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences

The University of Washington has a long history of leadership in marine-related fields beginning in the late 1890s. For many years, the University has produced leaders in the fields of marine fisheries, oceanography, and ocean engineering, and has attracted scholars in associated fields such as marine resource economics, marine law and policy, maritime transportation, and coastal zone management. The interdisciplinary marine studies program of the School of Marine Affairs is a natural extension of the University's leadership in traditional marine programs. The creation of the College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences in 1981 brought together five major marine-related departments, enhancing the University's national stature and international reputation in ocean and coastal studies. The other four units of the College are:

• School of Fisheries - established 1919
  Programs in marine and freshwater fish and shellfish resources, stock assessment, biology, and aquaculture.
• School of Oceanography - established 1930
  Center for blue-water and coastal teaching and research.
• Applied Physics Laboratory - established 1943
  Research and development for ocean engineering and environmental sciences.
• Washington Sea Grant Program - established 1968
  One of the U.S.'s largest and most comprehensive marine research, education, and outreach programs.

The University of Washington, through the Department of Zoology, also administers the Friday Harbor Laboratories, a marine research facility and field station on San Juan Island.

University of Washington: A Larger Context

Other divisions of the University offer courses and seminars of particular interest to students at the School. The School has a concurrent degree program with the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies that gives professionals in the marine field an understanding of the political, social, and economic factors affecting the interplay of nations in ocean and coastal issues. For students who have a law degree, the School of Law administers an LL.M. degree program that is closely affiliated with the Master of Marine Affairs Program. The School of Fisheries and the School of Marine Affairs have created a multidisciplinary joint curriculum in fisheries management. In addition, the School has developed close ties with the Washington Sea Grant Program and offers courses in collaboration with the Department of Landscape Architecture, the Option Program in Global Trade, Transportation and Logistics, and the Graduate School of Public Affairs.

Library and Computer Resources

Libraries at the University of Washington hold about 5 million volumes in Suzzallo-Allen (Main) Library and twenty-two branch libraries. The Government Publications Division of Suzzallo-Allen Library collects documents from federal, state, local, and foreign governments and from intergovernmental organizations. The Wilbert McLeod Chapman Collection of Papers, in Suzzallo-Allen's Manuscripts Section, holds materials from Dr. Chapman's long career as a fisheries biologist and an international fisheries expert.

Several branch libraries are particularly useful to Marine Affairs students. The Fisheries-Oceanography Library contains materials on most aspects of fisheries, physical and biological oceanography, marine affairs, and fishery and coastal management. The Engineering Library covers the engineering aspects of oceanography. The Architecture-Urban Planning Library contains holdings in urban and coastal planning theory and methods. The Law School has an excellent collection focusing on legal aspects of ocean management. The School of Marine Affairs houses a modest Coastal Resources Collection for use in advisory services and student research.

A student computing laboratory in the School houses Macintosh and personal computers (PCs), as well as laser printers. Students are offered e-mail accounts, access to the World Wide Web and computing workshops and consulting through the School and the University's Academic Computer Center.

The State and Region

The School of Marine Affairs is ideally located for its role as a leading academic and research center for marine affairs. The Northwest Coast of North America, from Northern California to Alaska, is one of the nation's great treasures. Its scenic beauty, proximity to Asia, natural resource wealth, and mild marine climate make it an ideal place for marine studies. The protected waters of Puget Sound, where Seattle and other port cities are located, form a remarkable deep-water fjord environment, the only one of its kind in the lower 48 states. And, because of the unique and relatively unspoiled environment, there is great interest in marine affairs of the region. Not only is Seattle a West Coast hub for maritime activities-fishing, shipping, and marine industry-the state of Washington is a pioneer in coastal zone planning and water quality management as well. Students attending the School will find themselves in a path-setting real world laboratory for marine policy and management, and will enjoy countless opportunities to participate in important contemporary marine affairs issues.