Launch Your Career in Ocean Conservation and Marine Policy With a Marine Affairs Degree

Do you have a desire to help preserve our precious ocean resources? As human activities continue to alter our coastal systems, the need is growing for experts in ocean conservation, management, regulation, and governance. Our Bachelor of Arts degree in Marine Affairs is one of only four undergraduate Marine Affairs programs in the U.S., and our shoreline campus is the perfect place to learn best practices in marine policy, ecology, ocean conservation, and sustainable development. Ride the wave into the “Ocean Century” with Marine Affairs at UNE.

A student describes their research poster to an audience member at an Undergraduate Research Symposium
Two marine science students wearing wetsuits and orange life vests sit on the edge of a boat

Why UNE for Marine Affairs

There is no better place than our scenic coastal campus to acquire an education in marine affairs. Love where you live, and study what you love.

John Reinbott '18

John Reinbott ’18

Marine Science
A constant reminder of how much John Reinbott loved his time in Morocco
In English, the Arabic tattoo reads "The world is a book. Those who don’t travel only read one page in it."

Have you ever loved something or someone so much that you needed a constant reminder of just how much? Well, I loved my experience in Morocco so much I had it permanently inked on my arm. That's the kind of passion a semester abroad in Morocco creates. As if that weren't enough, my new found love of travel helped me discover my career path.

Upon my return from Tangier, Morocco, I focused on continuing my studies in the marine sciences. Unsure of what path within that field I would take, but yearning for more travel experiences, I enrolled in a travel course that would take me to Belize to study coral reef ecology. Each semester Jeri Fox, associate professor of Marine Biology, offers a course that takes students to Belize to expose them to coral reefs.

After spending eight days snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef off the coast of Ambergris Caye in Belize, I knew I was destined to spend my life helping to conserve and protect these beautiful, fragile coral reefs and their surrounding ecosystems. In order to make this a reality, though, I needed more hands-on experience and that's just what I did.

There was no better way to combine a desire to travel and a need to gain more experience in a field I could spend a lifetime devoted to, than to intern in a foreign land. Before I could apply, I had to get my scuba certification. As with all things, when given the opportunity, I went full speed ahead and completed that certification and began working up to becoming a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) certified rescue diver. With certification in hand, it was time to apply.

Both UNE travel experiences and my sense of adventure prepared me well to accept the offer to become a coral reef intern at a remote dive base within the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in Mexico with Global Visions International (GVI). I was incredibly excited to start the two-month journey as I grabbed my mosquito net and GoPro and boarded a plane for destinations little known.

John Reinbott diving for Lion Fish
Surveying Lionfish, an invasive species.

As a coral reef intern, I took part in an in-depth science regiment to learn how to identify sixty coral species by their scientific names. This was achieved by exams conducted on the computer as well as in the field. I and a qualified science officer would dive and as they pointed at a type of coral I would write its name down on a dive slate. After many long days spent repeating these exams, I graduated to reef monitor.

John Reinbott

Soon, I was headed out on our dive boats to a nearby monitoring site where I helped collect vital data (reef and species composition/abundance, coral predation and bleaching, the competition of other benthic organisms). The data collected was organized and sent off to other companies such as CONAP and Amigos de Sian Ka'an to help aid in assessing the overall health of surrounding reef ecosystems. Despite the lack of air conditioning, running water, and cell service the two months I spent working with GVI, to help conserve the surrounding section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, were the best two months of my life.

I returned to my hometown in New Jersey from my internship poised to finish my final year at UNE and land a position at a coral reef conservation organization anywhere in the world. I am grateful for the opportunities I was provided and unbeknownst to it, UNE serendipitously not only gave me a love of travel but a clear direction for where my professional life was headed.

My semester in Tangier, Morocco gave me a love of travel and a travel course — snorkeling among coral reefs in Belize — gave me a career path.

Marine Science

What will you study? Bachelor of Arts Degree in Marine Affairs Curriculum Overview

B.A. in Marine Affairs Courses

There are many ways you can navigate the Marine Affairs program. The following are examples of the exciting courses you can take:

  • Marine Pollution
  • Ocean and Coastal Law
  • Environmental Communication
  • Marine Biology
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Management of Non-Profit Organizations
  • Environmental Economics

Honors Program

Meet Hannah, a Marine Affairs major

Career Paths for Marine Affairs Program Grads

As a Marine Affairs major at UNE, you will combine the discipline of marine biology with the critical study of marine policy issues that affect everything from maritime trade to ocean conservation and sustainability practices. With undergraduate research experiences and internships with local employers, you’ll soon be charting your course to a rewarding career in marine affairs.

With a degree in Marine Affairs, you may pursue many fascinating professions in ocean conservation and marine policy, including:

  • Marine Law Attorney
  • Environmental Educator
  • Conservation Advocate
  • Government Agency Researcher/Analyst
  • Outreach and Communications Specialist
  • Natural Resource Management and Policy Developer

Career Advising for Marine Affairs Majors

Whether you have a specific career goal in mind or a vague idea of the field that interests you, Career Advising is here to help you plan your next step.

Marine Affairs Program Facilities

UNE offers some of the best research, lab, and classroom facilities in the nation for the study of marine science — and you can access all of them right from our main campus in Biddeford, Maine.

Take a Virtual Tour of the Marine Science Center

Experiential Learning in Marine Affairs

Whether it’s interning on a whale watch boat, analyzing ocean conservation strategies, or designing environmental education plans, Marine Affairs at UNE gives you real-world, hands-on experiences.

Marine Affairs Internships

As a student in our Marine Affairs program, you’ll have access to exciting internship opportunities at sites such as:

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
  • New England Aquarium
  • Friends of Casco Bay
  • Atlantic Salmon Federation
  • Cape Ann Whale Watch
  • Maine Lobsterman’s Association
  • Seacoast Science Center
  • Gulf of Maine Research Institute

For more information email the Academic and Career Advising Center at advising@egyptawe.com.

A student takes notes on pieces of sea kelp in the marine science lab

Marine Affairs Research Opportunities

Undergraduate research is an essential part of our bachelor of arts degree programs, no matter which major you choose. You will conduct field research through your regular coursework beginning your first year, with additional opportunities to gain experience through faculty labs and multi-institutional initiatives.

Marine Affairs Research Fellowships

In addition to lab classes and faculty lab positions, UNE provides pathways for you to obtain research experience through fellowships from partners and programs including Pratt & Whitney, Bristol Seafood, SEANET, and the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.

Research Areas for Marine Affairs Majors

The field of Marine Science is as broad and diverse as the vast oceans that cover most of our planet. At UNE we touch upon all facets of marine science with special focuses in the following areas of research.

APPLIED MARINE TECHNOLOGY

Applied marine technology is a crucial Marine Programs research area that cuts across all others. Robotics, research vessels, remote and autonomous underwater vehicles, environmental monitoring, and modeling are all vital tools that enable modern marine research to occur. Researchers in this area are interested in innovations in and novel applications for marine technology.

Biology of Marine Organisms

Our Marine Programs faculty and professional staff conduct a wide range of research in the areas of biology and ecology of marine organisms. This research area is very broad and ranges from marine genetics to the migration patterns of large animals like sharks, seals, and whales. From seaweed to sharks — plankton to pinnipeds (seals!) our team covers it all.

Food from the Ocean

With a global human population headed towards 10 billion by 2050, understanding the interactions between the ocean and what we eat is more important than ever. Our location on the coast of Maine has a deep heritage and connections to the people and communities who have harvested food from the sea, and the ecosystems that provide it. We have robust research and education programs in this focus area including fisheries science and management, ecological aquaculture, marine entrepreneurship, migration of highly migratory species, and food web ecology.

Human Impacts on the Ocean

Evidence of human impact on the ocean is everywhere, not just limited to our coastal oceans. Plastics and chemicals have been documented from the deepest depths of the global seas, while climate change affects all aspects of the ocean. More and more, we cannot separate studying the natural ocean environment apart from human influence. Fisheries, microplastics, policy, pollution, conservation, and restoration all fall into this category. UNE Marine Programs faculty, professional staff, and students are focused on research and solutions across the spectrum of human influence on our seas.

Global Education in Marine Affairs

In addition to opportunities to spend a semester abroad in Tangier, Morocco or Seville, Spain for the same cost as studying at UNE's Maine campuses, you may choose to enroll in one of our marine sciences-related travel courses. To enroll in these courses and learn more, visit the Global Education Program website.

Interested in studying abroad? Make a plan with your advisor.

Bachelor of Arts in Marine Affairs FAQ