Bachelor of Arts In Marine Affairs

"I had opportunities to present my work to individuals who have been researching and advancing in the field for decades," says Kristin Jones ’19, who is pursuing an LLM degree in environmental law at Pace University. “I received valuable feedback on my research and made connections with influential researchers in my field."

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Working toward more sustainable marine resources

Marine Affairs is an interdisciplinary field that studies the relationships between humans and the marine environment with the goal of achieving sustainability of marine resources, as well as social and environmental justice.

Marine Affairs professionals work to develop better policies and management strategies to address the many complex issues related to human uses of the world’s coasts and oceans. Examples of some of the major issues we are currently facing include natural resource decline, pollution, climate change, impacts of coastal development, among others.

When you pursue a career in Marine Affairs, you will play an integral role in finding better ways to educate and inform the public about these issues and potential solutions.

A field with unlimited possibilities

With a B.A. in Marine Affairs you will gain the scientific knowledge and specific technical skills necessary to work in this very exciting and important area.

Marine Affairs graduates find employment and careers in a wide range of areas such as:

  • Marine Social Scientist
  • Aquaculture/Marine Economist
  • Coastal Manager
  • Coastal Planning Specialist
  • Ocean & Coastal Policy Maker
  • Fisheries & Aquaculture Developer
  • Fisheries Manager
  • Conservation Manager
  • Environmental Marine Educator
  • Environmental Journalist/Communicator
  • Environmental Lobbyist
  • Marine/Environmental Academic Jobs
  • Research Positions

You'll be prepared to pursue a career with a variety of entities, including government agencies that oversee the management of marine resources (e.g. NOAA and EPA or state and local agencies), as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) interested in creating solutions for the sustainable use of the marine and coastal resources and educating the public about these issues.

You'll also have opportunities with international organizations dedicated to preserving the environment or academic institutions, where you can teach and do research to inform better policies.

In addition, students who major in Marine Affairs go on to pursue advanced degrees in areas such as:

  • Marine affairs, environmental policy and management, natural resource conservation
  • Law – particularly environmental law and ocean law – and marine environmental advocacy and lobbying
  • Science education and communication

Since Marine Affairs is an interdisciplinary field, the possibilities truly are vast and limitless

Learn from professors who are dedicated to your success.

Our faculty are leaders and innovators in their fields, bringing both deep professional experience and academic rigor to the classroom.

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Spotlights

This field gives students a wide variety of career choices so everyone can find it their own!

I didn’t imagine I’d get to go to one of the coolest places in North America!

Envision Your Future

The information below is designed to show the many possible careers you could pursue with your major. The research is provided by Encoura, the leading research and advisory firm focused exclusively on higher education. It includes median national salaries and industry growth projections over the next decade. Click here to view the full report.

$61K

Conservation Scientist

9% Growth 2017-2027

$119K

Natural Sciences Manager

8% Growth 2017-2027

$89K

Marine Manager

9% Growth 2017-2027

Selected Courses and Programs

  • In this course students will learn and practice data collection techniques that are common in the field of marine affairs such as ethnographic approaches, interviews, and oral histories. This course will give students the opportunity to apply their knowledge of marine affairs research in practical situations and it will also explore different methods of data presentation and communication to a broader audience.

  • This course will provide students with an understanding of the relationship between society and the marine environment through an anthropologic and historic account of the human-marine environment connection. From Polynesian explorers to European settlers, from Mare Liberum to UNCLOS, students will become familiar with cultural, social, and historic factors shaping the human-ocean link as well as aspects that contribute to significant transformations in this relationship and affect notions of marine sustainability.

  • This course explores the Earth’s climate history through the evolution of the four major systems of the Earth and how they change in response to each other. The course also examines the ways by which human activities have and may affect these systems and pays particular attention to the world’s oceans and their resources.

  • A classification of the different forms of pollution in the marine environment. The fate and transport of different pollutants will be discussed as will the effects of pollutants on coastal and open marine ecosystems.

  • The University of New Haven offers a wide variety of in-depth courses that create a transformational educational experience for our students. To view the complete list of courses you'll take while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Affairs, check out the Academic Catalog:

    Marine Affairs, B.A.

    Marine Affairs Minor

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Get an inside look at what differentiates the University of New Haven and how your experiences as a student will prepare you for success.

Nationally Recognized Center for Career Development

All University of New Haven students have access to the many resources available through the University’s Career Development Center, which has been named one of the best in the nation by The Princeton Review.

From career assessments, networking, and job shadowing to on-campus interviews and salary negotiation, the Career Development Center provides the skills and connections to identify a meaningful career and an opportunity to pursue your passion.

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  • Whether you're still in high school or are transferring from another college, we offer full- and part-time opportunities for undergraduates from inside the U.S. and abroad. The admission process can begin as early as the end of your high school junior year.

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  • We offer a comprehensive financial aid program, with students receiving assistance in the form of grants, scholarships, student loans, and part-time employment. Funds are available from federal and state governments, private sponsors, and from university resources. More than 85 percent of the University's full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial assistance.

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