A business degree for the sea, this program offers students the chance to learn the skills needed for the maritime industry.
The Maritime Business Administration undergraduate curriculum, offered through the College of Marine Sciences and Maritime Studies, provides a solid background in the key areas of accounting, finance, marketing, law, economics and international trade that are critical for today’s business professionals. These courses lay the foundation for more advanced courses in international trade, inland waterways management, brokerage and chartering, organizational behavior, transportation economics, port and terminal management and other areas related to the maritime industry.
International trade is expanding as a result of the general increase in world-wide economic and political stability and this trend is expected to increase, as major economies participate more fully in world-wide economic growth. The great majority of this expanded trade will be carried by ship. As a result, activity in American ports is expected to more than double in the next 20 years, and some ports in the Gulf of America are expected to see a tripling of port activity. Taken together, these forces are currently and will continue to positively affect demand for trained maritime professionals ashore. Maritime Business Administration graduates are ideally poised to meet the increasing demand for well educated maritime professionals.
Additionally, qualified undergraduate students have the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Maritime Business Administration and Logistics in five years time through the Department of Maritime Business Administration's combination program.
The Maritime Business Administration program is also offered at the Texas A&M Higher Education Center in McAllen, Texas.
Plan of Study Grid First Year |
Fall |
ECON 202 | Principles of Economics 1 | 3 |
MARA 205 | Introduction to Ships and Shipping 1,2 | 3 |
MATH 140 | Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences 1,3 | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Spring |
ECON 203 | Principles of Economics 1 | 3 |
ISTM 210 | Fundamentals of Information Systems 1 | 3 |
MARA 212 | Business Law 1 | 3 |
MATH 142 | Business Calculus 4 | 3 |
5 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Second Year |
Fall |
ACCT 229 | Introductory Accounting 1 | 3 |
BUSN 203 | Statistical Methods for Business 1 | 3 |
POLS 206 | American National Government | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Spring |
ACCT 230 | Introductory Accounting 1 | 3 |
POLS 207 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Third Year |
Fall |
MARA 301 | Ocean Transportation 1 | 3 |
MARA 363 | Project Management 1 | 3 |
MGMT 311 | Legal and Social Environment of Business 1 | 3 |
1,6 | 3 |
1,6 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Spring |
FINC 341 | Business Finance 1 | 3 |
MARA 304 | Marine Insurance 1 | 3 |
MKTG 321 | Marketing | 3 |
5 | 3 |
1,6 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Fourth Year |
Fall |
MARA 373 | Principles of Management 1,7 | 3 |
MARA 440 | Global Economy and Enterprise Management 1,8,9 | 3 |
SCMT 364 | Operations Management 1 | 3 |
5 | 3 |
1,6 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Spring |
MARA 421 | Admiralty Law 1 | 3 |
MARA 466 | Strategic Management 1,9 | 3 |
1,8 | 3 |
1,8 | 3 |
| 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 |
TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS 120
All electives must be chosen in consultation with, and approved by, the student's academic advisor. Unless courses are specifically listed, see University Core Curriculum for a listing of course options for Communication; Mathematics; Life and Physical Sciences; Language, Philosophy and Culture; Creative Arts; American History; Government and Political Sciences; and Social and Behavioral Sciences.
The total hours may be increased if the student is required to take remedial math, remedial English or foreign language courses.
To earn the economics minor, the student's elective hours must include ECON 311, ECON 323, and ECON 452. For additional requirements of the economics minor, please see the Economics - Minor.