Marine & Environmental Policy

The School of Marine Science recognizes the critical need to improve communication between marine scientists and resource managers, policy makers, and the public. This requires literacy in the language of policy. Students enrolled in the M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Marine Science who wish exposure to Marine and Environmental Policy can elect one of the following options:

A combined marine science and public policy program is available in which students may obtain both the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Marine Science and Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) in three years, instead of the four years that would be required if each degree were pursued separately. Candidates interested in this concurrent degree program must apply to and gain acceptance by both the School of Marine Science and the Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy (TJPPP) at the main campus.

A joint program between the SMS and the TJPPP enables students to complete additional course work for a sub-concentration in marine policy. Students exercising this option will receive a notation of “Sub-concentration in Marine Policy” on their transcript. In addition to the course work required for the M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in Marine Science, students pursuing this option must meet the following criteria:
1. Completion of 10 credits of course work to include the following courses:
  1. MSCI 689 - Public Policy for Science & Professions . 3 credits. (main campus)
  2. MSCI 687 - Environmental Policy . 3 credits. (main campus)
  3. MSCI 698, Sea Grant Policy Seminar Series. 1 credit.
  4. Elective course (3 credits) from the following menu:
    - MSCI 684 - Coastal and Marine Policy Implementation: The Art & Science of Governance
    - MSCI 693 (Law 424), Environmental Law (main campus)
    - MSCI 694 (Law 425), Land Use Control (main campus)
2. All grades for coursework in the Marine Policy sub-concentration must be B- or above.
3. A student must receive the approval of his/her advisor prior to pursuing the sub-concentration.
4. Once the student has advisor approval for the sub-concentration, the SMS Graduate Registrar must be notified.
Within the SMS, students may access a wide range of cross-departmental policy and resource management-oriented courses that are designed to provide a more complete understanding of marine and environmental policy and its application to marine problems. In addition, courses related to environmental law are available through the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the Williamsburg campus.