Application to the University of Washington and the School of Marine Affairs

The two-year course sequence leading to the M.M.A. degree begins each Autumn quarter, and students are admitted to the program only during that quarter. We are now accepting applications for AUTUMN QUARTER 2008.

Application Deadlines

• All applications must be received by the School of Marine Affairs by January 15, 2008. However, applicants are strongly advised to send their completed applications as early as possible.
• International Applicants: International applicants need to submit their applications by November 1, 2007 to ensure that the necessary visa paperwork can be completed in time for Autumn quarter admissions
• The School of Marine Affairs does not mail paper applications.

Admission Criteria

Admission to the School of Marine Affairs is highly competitive due to the limited number of places available and the high quality of applicants. Successful applicants typically rank highly on some of the following:

• A demonstrated ability to maintain high grades, particularly in areas pertinent to the marine affairs field.
• High GRE scores.
• Significant practical/professional experience in teaching, research, government, business, or industry.
• Strong recommendations from undergraduate instructors, advisors, professional supervisors or colleagues
• A thoughtfully considered and clearly stated career objective.

While there is no undergraduate major preferred as a prerequisite to graduate study at the School, many students enter the program from backgrounds in the social, technological, and environmental sciences. Individuals with major experience in the humanities are encouraged to apply as well, particularly if there is evidence of special interests and aptitudes supporting a career objective in the marine affairs area. For example, a communications background may support a career goal in marine affairs journalism; strength in one or more foreign languages may support an interest in international aspects of marine policy or resource management.

The total background of the individual is evaluated as well as particular strengths and weaknesses and, in some cases, a strong background in one area (such as professional experience in the field) may balance out a less satisfactory performance in another (such as undergraduate studies).

It is not necessary to select a faculty advisor prior to entering the School of Marine Affairs. Each incoming 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.

Applicants to the Master of Marine Affairs (M.M.A.) degree program must meet the admission standards of both the University of Washington Graduate School and the School of Marine Affairs.

To be accepted by the Graduate School, an applicant must have:

• completed an undergraduate program of study recognized as appropriate preparation for graduate work;
• have a minimum of a 3.0 (B) grade point average for coursework taken during the last 60 semester or 90 quarter hours if the cumulative GPA is less than 3.0;
• have taken the general (Verbal, Analytical, Quantitative) Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and have requested test results be sent to the UW Graduate School (UW Code: 4854);
• have the ability as determined by the University to make satisfactory progress toward a graduate degree.

International Applicants

An international applicant is anyone who is NOT a United States citizen or permanent resident. If you fit this definition, please check the UW Graduate School information website at http://www.grad.washington.edu/admissions/adminfo.html for important information about admission and application requirements. The deadline for international applicants to apply for Autumn 2008 is Nov. 1, 2007.

International applicants must be able to submit a statement of financial ability. This statement will be available upon submission of their application. The School of Marine Affairs is not able to guarantee funding of international students.

All international applicants must complete the GRE test. International applicants must also take the TOEFL exam. The exception is applicants from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom, and those who have received a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited U.S. institution or from an institution in the countries listed. These applicants are exempt from the TOEFL exam.

Note: The School of Marine Affairs does not mail paper applications.

The application process for 2008 will be online.

The only exceptions will be

• official transcripts from undergraduate and graduate institutions
• the optional RA/TA application

These documents need to be postmarked and mailed by January 15, 2008, to the School of Marine Affairs:

Student Services Coordinator
School of Marine Affairs
3707 Brooklyn Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98105-6715

Transcripts must be official, sealed copies of any undergraduate or graduate work completed at the time of application. Transcripts may be sent individually from the institutions, or sent in a single envelope by the applicant.     

The optional RA/TA application is available at http://sma.washington.edu/students/admissions/Form_3.doc (MS Word) and should be filled out anyone who is seeking a funded assistantship while at the School of Marine Affairs. If you choose to apply for an RA/TA position, you need to answer questions 1 to 11, and 19-21. (You DO NOT need to respond to the other questions or submit another essay.) Filling out the application does not guarantee that you will receive an RA/TA position, although most students who wish to get an assistantship are able to get one during at least part of their course of studies at SMA.

The online application is available at https://www.grad.washington.edu/applForAdmiss/.

If you have extenuating circumstances that prevent you from applying online, or are having problems with the online application procedure, please contact us at smaadmit@u.washington.edu.

Online Steps required by the UW Graduate School

• Select your graduate program – “Marine Affairs, School of”
• Review requirements and deadlines
• Review checklist of application materials
• Report all undergraduate and graduate schools
• Print application
• Pay fee and submit application

Steps required by the School of Marine Affairs

• Submit your resume or curriculum Vitae. This can be uploaded in Word, PDF, RTF, or written in plain text. Please be sure that your name, ‘School of Marine Affairs, and the year and quarter to which you are applying at the top of your document.
• Submit the completed SMA Program Application Form, http://sma.washington.edu/students/admissions/SMA_Application.pdf
• Submit self-reported GRE scores. These will be verified later with the official GRE scores.
• Designate at least 3 recommendations. Letters of recommendation can, in some cases, have a significant effect on the admissions decision. The strongest recommendations are those submitted by an instructor or advisor who knows your work well and can give a well-substantiated assessment of your academic potential. For applicants who have been out of school for some time, professional recommendations are appropriate.
  NOTE: We strongly prefer online letters of recommendation, and you will be able to see immediately when the letters arrive. If your recommenders are only willing to submit paper copies of letters of recommendation, you can use the following form. (We are not able to verify receipt of letters that are received by mail.)
  Recommendation Letter (MS Word)
• Submit your Career Objectives. Describe your education and career objectives in marine affairs. What type of career role do you see for yourself? This can be up to two pages, but should be at least one page. Please give this section careful thought and preparation. This can be uploaded in Word, PDF, RTF, or written in plain text. Please be sure that your name, ‘School of Marine Affairs, and the year and quarter to which you are applying at the top of your document.

PLEASE NOTE: Be sure to retain a copy of your user name and password. You will use this to check the progress of your application, verify when (and if) your letters of recommendation and transcripts arrive. Because this information is available to you online, we will not be able to answer individual requests for verification of receipt of these documents.

All records become part of the official file. They will not be returned or forwarded to other departments.

Evaluation Process

The evaluation of applicants and the selection of prospective students is the responsibility of a four-member Admissions Committee composed of School of Marine Affairs faculty members. Applicants are evaluated individually and in competition with one another, and offers of admission are extended to top-ranking applicants within the departmental admissions quota assigned by the Graduate School.

Evaluation is based solely on information submitted by the applicant for inclusion in his/her admissions file. Therefore, it is to the applicant's advantage thoroughly to prepare and promptly to submit all application material.

Offers of Admission

Following the evaluation process, the SMA Admissions Committee will notify candidates of admission or denial to the graduate program. Notification will generally begin the first week in March and continue through mid to late April.

Applicant files will be held for one year and individuals may re-apply at any time. The results of previous evaluations will not enhance or jeopardize an applicant's chances for future admission.

Equal Opportunity

The University of Washington reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam Era veteran in accordance with University policy and applicable federal and state statutes and regulations. The University of Washington is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process contact the department at 206-543-7004 or the Disability Services Office at least ten days in advance at: 206.543.6450/V, 206.543.6452/TTY, 206.685.7264 (FAX), or e-mail at dso@u.washington.edu.

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