Coastal Carolina University
AC-4: Graduate Program

The Master of Science degree program in Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies is taught and administered by College of Science faculty with expertise in the issues and problems facing coastal areas and wetlands both locally and globally. It was selected and developed to take educational advantage of the unique natural resources of the region and thus faculty and students become important intellectual resources for the region. The purpose of this degree program is to provide students with the tools and abilities to assess, comprehend, and synthesize a broad range of scientific information. This will, in turn, allow them to assume employment as professionals in the environmental field, to become stewards of the environment, and to also pursue further graduate study. The goals of the program are satisfied through coursework, teaching opportunities, and either the completion of a thesis or additional skill-building coursework.

The Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies graduate program consists of two options (1) 24 credit hours of coursework and 6 credit hours of thesis research or (2) 36 credit hours of coursework, 6 of which can be an internship or special topics. Courses are taught primarily by faculty members from the departments of biology and the School of Coastal Environment. The coursework involves core courses stressing coastal physical processes, ecology, scientific communication, quantitative methods, and environmental policy. Various electives provide students with skills in conservation biology, geographic information systems, statistics, wetland delineation, geophysical surveying as well as the theoretical background in specific areas of organism biology and ecology.

Located near coastal marshes, swamps, a large unregulated river, barrier islands, and the ocean, the program offers exceptional opportunities for basic and applied research. Students pursue projects that contribute to the characterization and preservation or management of the coastal ecosystem and the organisms that thrive in this ecosystem. Research conducted by graduate students and their faculty mentors is typically presented to the public via seminars, conferences or publications. Teaching assistantships, research assistantships and fellowships are available on a competitive basis.

https://www.coastal.edu/marine/ms/

Due to the ever-increasing demands on our climate and ecosystem, the new Coastal Marine Wetland Studies MBA concentration is intended to prepare students to understand the impact of environmental strategy as a fundamental component of business strategy and daily business operations.

Along with the business foundation of the MBA program, students will develop an understanding of the scientific and socio-economic value of coastal and coastal ocean systems; understand the relationships between economics, environmental policy, environmental ethics, and environmental law; learn scientific concepts, mechanisms, and processes that apply to coastal and coastal ocean systems; and
understand the impacts of climate change in the context of human included pressure and value creation opportunities for businesses to participate in reducing this impact.

Career paths associated with this degree include but are not limited to: maritime business operations, environmental compliance/policy/consulting, sustainability programs, strategic sourcing/global supply chain and logistics, and more.

An undergraduate degree in a science field is not required for admission to this program.

The MBA program is a 10 course, 30 credit-hour degree program. The CMWS concentration offers 4 possible elective courses, 3 of which must be taken as part of the 30 credit hours to graduate (nine hours out of the 30 hours required for the degree).