Students who are currently enrolled at Texas A&M University Galveston campus may submit proposals to enroll as University Studies majors. The University Studies degree format was created to provide students the flexibility to combine areas of study within either or both campuses that are of special interest. This flexibility may be attractive to students who have particular career paths or post-baccalaureate degree paths in mind.

All University Studies degree plans require at least 120 hours for completion. A University Studies Degree consists of a concentration of 21-24 hours and two minors of 15-18 hours each. Specific courses may be required for the completion of the hours in the concentrations and minors. Some concentrations and minors contain required courses that have additional prerequisites. One of the two minors must be completed in a college outside of the college that provides the concentration for the student’s degree.

Students must submit a Proposed Course Form that lists the courses for the individual degree plan the student hopes to complete to the University Studies admissions committee. The application includes a required 2-3 page essay in which the student can explain how the degree will help the student meet the desired educational and personal goals. Once it is determined that the Proposed Course Form has been completed with appropriate information, it will be reviewed by the department that offers the concentration. Students must be in good academic standing, and they must have good academic standing in previous courses that count toward the area of concentration or minors.

A University Studies major will be considered a student in the department that offers the concentration; the Marine Environmental Law and Policy concentration is housed in the Liberal Studies department. The student’s diploma will list Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in the same place it is currently listed, and University Studies will be listed in the place the major is currently listed. The student’s area of concentration and the two minors will be indicated on the student’s transcript.

The concentration in Marine Environmental Law and Policy requires coursework in business law, admiralty law, environmental law, environmental ethics and politics of energy and the environment. Students can choose from a wide variety of combinations to position themselves for graduate studies in environmental law, employment in environmental regulatory areas and/or industry interested in environmental protection especially in a near shore environment.

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Hours must be in 100-499 courses not used elsewhere. Students are required to take 21 to 24 hours of general electives.

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Must make a grade of C or better.

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Select from COMM 307/JOUR 301, HIST 232, MARA 304, MARA 363, MARA 435, MARS 491, MAST 411, MGMT 311, PHIL 240, POLS 232, POLS 347. A total of 9 semester hours required.

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Two university approved minors are required for this degree program. Students are required to take 15 to 18 semester hours for Minor 1 and 15 to 18 semester hours for Minor 2.