SMA Master's Program

Note: This is an overview of the SMA Masters's program only. SMA students should refer to the Degree Requirements for the year they entered the School of Marine Affairs.

I. Introduction

The Master of Marine Affairs (M.M.A.) degree is granted by the School of Marine Affairs, an academic and research unit of the College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences. The M.M.A. degree program is a two-year graduate course of studies requiring the completion of 59 quarter credits. The M.M.A. is designed to familiarize students with a diversity of conceptual and methodological approaches and substantive areas in Marine Affairs.

The SMA offers two tracks for completing the Master of Marine Affairs degree: thesis and non-thesis. All students must complete the thesis track unless given specific permission for a non-thesis track as outlined below. Both tracks require completion of the same number of credits.

Thesis Track

 Students in the thesis track are expected to prepare a high quality thesis. Ideally, the thesis should be suitable for submission to a peer reviewed journal or equivalent publication. 

The SMA faculty believes the Master's thesis is a major part of the student's educational experience. An acceptable thesis

• demonstrates independent thought and research,
• contributes to understanding or potential resolution of a problem in marine affairs, and
• communicates effectively to a relevant audience.

The traditional academic thesis is a significant, multi-chapter paper communicating the results of research and analysis of a problem. Some theses attempt to explain and/or predict phenomena important to marine affairs (the scientific thesis). Others seek to identify policy issues, adopt an approach to policy development or evaluation, and make recommendations (the policy analysis thesis). Still others provide a detailed description and explanation of a marine affairs issue, problem, or case study, but do not attempt either to predict or evaluate (the descriptive thesis).

Students may choose to produce a non-traditional thesis, such as a publishable paper, a videotaped program or other project that is not predominantly written material. Such a thesis must meet the same standards of academic excellence as the traditional thesis, and it must involve sufficient documentation to satisfy Graduate School requirements (http://www.washington.edu/students/#ACADEMICS)

Non-thesis Track

The non-thesis track is intended for students who are mid-career or who would gain academically and/or professionally from a course of study other than the intensive research and writing experience required in a thesis. Non-thesis track students prepare a degree project that could take a variety of forms, including a place – based problem solving exercise, a specific policy proposal, or other practical exercise.  

Students who wish to pursue the non-thesis track must petition the GPC no later than the end of the eighth week of winter quarter of their first year of study. The petition must make a compelling case for the non-thesis track and present an explicit plan for courses, skills development or other educational experience which will lead to a successful degree project.

Non-thesis track students must have an SMA faculty advisor who concurs in the petition for non-thesis study. Non-thesis track students must fulfill all course requirements of the SMA curriculum and must identify ten additional credits of study that substitute for thesis credits and are acceptable to the faculty advisor.. A degree project could build upon relevant work experience, internship or other experiential learning. A degree project report will be developed and presented, individually or as part of a student group, during SMA 550B [Marine Affairs Seminar B].

II. Requirements

The required credits are distributed among the following topics:

A.    The Core Curriculum (29 credits minimum)

1. Introduction to Marine Affairs
2. Integrated Marine Affairs Practice
3. Economics
4. Marine Law
5. Policy Analysis
6. Policy Processes
7. Marine Science
8. Quantitative Skills
9. Qualitative Skills
10. Marine Affairs Seminar A (thesis) or B (non-thesis)

B. Electives (20 credits minimum – or 10 additional elective credits for non-thesis track)

A total of 20 credits of Elective courses are intended to enhance the student's knowledge of Marine Affairs in areas pertinent to the thesis research project or the degree project and the student's special interests. Electives provide the needed depth of understanding in substantive fields of inquiry and in methods of research and analysis. At least 6 credits from 2 classes must be taken from the SMA curriculum.

By selecting appropriate courses, thesis advisors, and thesis committee members students may choose to emphasize one or more of these as a focus of study. Elective credits can also include up to 10 credits of Independent Study (SMA 600). Additional advice on elective course offerings can be sought from first yearfaculty advisors, thesis committee chairs, and the Graduate Program Coordinator.

The School of Marine Affairs faculty have identified the following topical areas of interest:

• Marine Environmental Protection and Restoration
• Integrated Coastal Management
• Ocean Governance and Regime Development
• Living Marine Resources Policy and Management
• Marine Recreation and Leisure
• Seaports, Marine Transportation and Waterfront Development
• Global Change and its Human Dimensions
• Public Education, Outreach and Awareness
• International Applications and Outreach)

 C. The Thesis and Thesis Presentation (10 credits minimum – for thesis track students)

 D. Career Skills (non-credit requirement)

III.  Progress Toward the M.M.A. Degree

Advising

Students are not required to identify a faculty sponsor in order to be admitted to the School of Marine Affairs.

During Orientation for the entering class every autumn quarter, each student is assigned to a faculty member who will serve as the First Year Advisor and who will assist the student in planning his/her program and identifying a thesis topic and committee chair over the course of the year. Any time during the first year, the First Year Advisor may be replaced by a Thesis Committee Chair or Degree Project Advisor, who will help the student identify a thesis committee and will direct academic work over the remainder of the student's program of studies.

First Year of Study

The first year of study is devoted to developing a comprehensive understanding of the marine affairs field and to strengthening analytical skills, demonstrated by making substantial progress toward the completion of the core course requirements and electives.

Each student will work with her/his First Year advisor and/or Thesis Committee Chair to design a course of study based on the student's goals and interests, and satisfying the M.M.A. requirements. The Graduate Program Coordinator and the Graduate Program Assistant may also provide assistance in these matters.

Second Year of Study

During the second year of study, students are expected to develop competence in a particular aspect of marine affairs through additional course work, seminars, and the preparation of the required thesis, or the preparation of a degree project (for non-thesis track students).

M.M.A. Degree

Conferral of the M.M.A. degree is conditional upon meeting the standards of academic performance established by the University of Washington Graduate School and upon satisfactory completion of the Master of Marine Affairs Degree Requirements . Course descriptions and required prerequisites for the courses may be found in the University of Washington General Catalog (http://www.washington.edu/students//ACADEMICS)     

IV. Options

A. Internships

Practical experience in a marine organization is considered advantageous to each student's professional development. The faculty and career services coordinator will assist students, when possible, to find positions in legislative, governmental, for profit and not-for profit organizations in the U.S. and abroad for full or part-time assignments. Up to 10 graded credit hours may be earned during the internship assignment by arranging an SMA 600 independent study project under the supervision of an appropriate faculty member with written approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator. Internships should be carefully selected to contribute to the student's research, thesis work, and professional career goals.

B. Certificate Programs

The University of Washington has several Graduate Certificate programs available to SMA students. Certificate programs can usually be completed using the SMA Elective credits.

• Graduate Certificate Program in Environmental Management:

  This is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students to contribute to sustainable utilization and enhancement of the natural and human environment. Through coursework, seminars, and a capstone experience, students acquire the tools to solve real-world environmental problems via the three avenues of science, policy, and business. The program provides an excellent education and training opportunity for a diverse array of graduate students preparing for careers in the broad field of environmental affairs.  
  20 credits http://depts.washington.edu/envirmgt

• Graduate Certificate Program in Global Trade, Transportation and Logistics Studies (GTTL)

  This program provides students with practical knowledge and skills that can be applied to careers in business and government. Graduates enter the workforce with a fundamental understanding of how to move goods and materials through our world's vast and complex transportation network, how to navigate through the legal and regulatory framework of international commerce, and how to utilize technology solutions for efficient and secure trade and communications.
  20 credits.http://depts.washington.edu/gttl/

• Graduate Certificate in International Development Policy & Management

  Despite tremendous advances in technology, medicine, communication, and global trade over the last century, the developing world remains riddled with war, poverty, hunger, disease, human rights abuses, economic inequality, corruption, and environmental degradation. These problems undermine the health, stability, freedom, and prosperity of citizens in developing countries. Understanding the roots of these problems; the social, economic and political contexts in which they occur; and the tools available to address them is fundamental for devising effective long-term solutions. This program will equip UW graduate students in a variety of fields with the conceptual framework and practical tools needed to become effective development practitioners.
  21 credits. http://www.evansuw.org/students/intdev/index.html

• Graduate Certificate in Interdisciplinary Policy Dimensions of the Earth Sciences

  This innovative new program provides graduate students in the Earth sciences a forum to explore interdisciplinary and policy dimensions of their science, and extend their graduate research to encompass those dimensions. Students will apply earth sciences to issues of public policy, design graduate research that contributes to solving pressing problems confronting society, develop interdisciplinary thinking and problem-solving skills, and experience the dilemma of crafting sensible policies in the face of ambiguous and often contradictory scientific findings. http://depts.washington.edu/poeweb/gradprograms/pdes/

  C. Foreign Languages

  There is no foreign language requirement for the M.M.A. degree. However, due to the nature of the field and its international aspects, those students having a background in one or more foreign languages will be encouraged to employ them by planning programs of study and research that focus on marine activities and institutions in an appropriate foreign area. In cases where the special interests of students concern specific areas of the world (e.g., the Far East, South America), competence in a foreign language may be essential. The need for a foreign language will be determined by the student's supervisory committee.

  Competency in spoken/written English is essential to successful completion of the Program of Studies.

  For more complete program study information, see Program of Studies for 2004.

UW School of Marine Affairs 3707 Brooklyn Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98105-6715 uwsma@u.washington.edu