Texas A&M University at Galveston

General Statement

Texas A&M University at Galveston, a branch campus of Texas A&M University, offers ocean-oriented academic degrees, research, continuing education, and public service in marine science, engineering, business, transportation and liberal arts. Degrees are awarded from Texas A&M University. Ocean voyages, sailing in Galveston Bay, beachfront experiments and independent study complement the rigorous classroom experience at Texas A&M University at Galveston. In addition to its academic programs, the campus houses the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, which offers training programs leading to officer licensing in the U.S. Merchant Marine.

Texas A&M University at Galveston is located near the mouth of Galveston Bay with close access to the Gulf of Mexico. Most instructional programs are taught at the 130-acre Mitchell Campus on Pelican Island (with housing for 1,400+ students). The training ship serves as a floating classroom, laboratory and dormitory for  annual sea term training of the U.S. Maritime Service cadets. During the regular school year, the ship is berthed at Pelican Island and provides valuable dockside laboratory facilities for instruction in the practical aspects of the maritime curricula. 

Courses of Study

Texas A&M University at Galveston provides undergraduate degree programs in Marine Biology (MARB), Marine Sciences (MARS), Marine Engineering Technology (MARR), Marine Transportation (MART), Marine Fisheries (MARF), Maritime Business Administration (MARA), Maritime Studies (MAST), Coastal Environmental Science and Society, and University Studies (USGA) (with concentrations in Oceans and One Health, Marine Environmental Law and Policy, and Tourism and Coastal Community Development). A 5-year program is offered to allow Coastal Environmental Science and Society majors to complete the Master of Marine Resources Management (MARM) degree, combining their senior year of the undergraduate program with the first year of MARM. A similar 5-year program is offered to allow Maritime Business Administration majors to complete the Master of Maritime Business Administration and Logistics (MMAL) in addition to the bachelor's degree program in a total of 5 years. All students complete the University Core Curriculum requirements set by Texas A&M University to ensure a broad-based education. 

Texas A&M University at Galveston offers a MS (thesis or non-thesis) and PhD in Marine Biology, a thesis and non-thesis Master of Marine Resource Management degree, a thesis and non-thesis Master of Maritime Business Administration and Logistics degree and a PhD in Marine and Coastal Management and Science. The Texas A&M Maritime Academy is headquartered on the Galveston campus.

Texas A&M University at Galveston is fully accredited as a branch campus of Texas A&M University by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Marine Engineering Technology is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET and the license option programs of the Texas A&M Maritime Academy including are certified by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Texas A&M University Maritime Academy Corps of Cadets

Texas A&M University at Galveston houses the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, one of six state maritime academies in the U.S., preparing graduates for licensing as officers in the United States Merchant Marine. This program provides an opportunity for students to learn how to operate and maintain an ocean-going vessel. In addition to classroom and field training during the regular school year, students will sail aboard a training vessel or appropriate commercial placement during three sea terms to gain practical experience in seamanship, navigation and operations. At the conclusion of the program, cadets test to become licensed as officers in the U.S. Merchant Marine and may seek employment in the field of marine transportation as a licensed Third Mate or Third Assistant Engineer. Please see the tab title Texas A&M Maritime Academy.

The NROTC Program offers men and women an opportunity to qualify for a commission in the Navy while attending Texas A&M University at Galveston. All NROTC students are required to participate in the Texas A&M Maritime Academy Corps of Cadets. Any student may join the NROTC Program either as a National Scholarship winner or as a non-subsidized college program student. Applications for National Scholarships can be obtained through a Navy recruiting office before the submission deadline of January 30 of the year for which the student is applying.

Mission Statement

Texas A&M University at Galveston is a special-purpose institution of higher education for undergraduate and graduate instruction in marine and maritime studies in science, engineering and business and for research and public service related to the general field of marine resources. The institution is under the management and control of the Board of Regents of The Texas A&M University System, with degrees offered under the name and authority of Texas A&M University at College Station.

Research Programs

Faculty, post-doctoral fellows, research staff, and students are actively involved in research throughout the world. Research is conducted under the direction of more than 50 faculty members with funding from federal, state, private and university sources including the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of the Interior, National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, Texas General Land Office, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, CONACYT, Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Texas Institute of Oceanography and Research Development Fund. Externally funded research expenditures were over $4.1 million. Total research expenditures were over $5.6 million. Research encompasses both the basic and applied aspects of fields such as marine biology, oceanography, coastal/ocean engineering, marine geology, marine policy and management, environmental studies, conservation, business, admiralty law and coastal zone management. Research is focused largely in the areas of coastal and beach processes (e.g., physical profiling of coastal regions and erosion processes and control), marine life studies (e.g., marine mammal, fish, shellfish, algae and sea turtle biology and ecology), bay and estuary ecosystems (e.g., wetlands management and toxic contaminant analysis), geochemical cycling in marine/aquatic/atmospheric systems and offshore/deep water environments. Many of the faculty researchers hold dual graduate appointments in Texas A&M University at Galveston and/or Texas A&M University departments. Approximately 40 MS and PhD graduate students from the Texas A&M University departments of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Ocean Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Biology, and Anthropology are conducting their research under a Texas A&M University at Galveston faculty member. Undergraduate students have many opportunities to participate in research, such as the Texas Institute of Oceanography Undergraduate Student Research Program, working as student workers and technicians on funded research programs, taking independent study classes or participating in the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. Undergraduate students may work in the laboratory and at field sites throughout the world, participate in research cruises, present results at local, national and international meetings, and serve as authors on publications

Administrative Officers

Col. Michael E. Fossum, USAFR (Ret.) - Chief Operating Officer, Texas A&M University at Galveston; Vice President, Texas A&M University; Superintendent, Texas A&M Maritime Academy

Dr. Antonietta Quigg - Acting Executive Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer, Texas A&M University at Galveston; Associate Provost, Texas A&M University. Senior Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies

Dr. Donna C. Lang - Associate Vice President for Academic Operations

Ms. Susan Hernandez Lee - Associate Vice President for Finance and Compliance Officer

Mr. Grant W. Shallenberger - Associate Vice President for Administration and Auxiliary Services

Dr. Todd Sutherland - Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Assistant Superintendent of Cadets 

Dr. Carol Bunch Davis, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs

Board of Visitors 

Robert A. Fry, Jr. (Chairman)
Jonathan Whitworth (Vice Chairman)
Greg Binion
Christopher S. Cahill
Michael E. Cokinos
Thomas E. Farmer
William Fraser III
Roger Guenther
Leonard Hale
John Hallmark
Amy Hark
Paul Hill
Randolph W. House
P
eter D. Huddleston
Charlie Jenkins
William E. Jenkins
Chris Johnson
Shrub Kempner

Dale Laine
Mark Lyons
Betty Massey
Keith W. McFatridge, Jr.
John J. Michael
Phyllis Milstein
B. Greg Mitchell
Jerry Mohn
Frank M. Muller, Jr.
L.C. Neely
Brandon H. Neff
Chris Orth
Victor R. Pierson
Wayne H. Prescott
Terry Ray
Brian Roy, Jr.
Robert T. Sakowitz
Todd Sullivan
Kelly Teichman
Andy Tirpak
James A. Watson IV

General Information