Environmental Management (with concentration in Coastal Environmental Management)

Overview

The objectives of this Master in Environmental Management (with concentration in Coastal Environmental Management) program at Duke University are:

• A scientifically rigorous understanding of coastal environments and processes at the global, national and local scales
• A deep understanding of the human behaviors and policies that affect, and are affected by, coastal environments and processes.
• Opportunities to understand and participate in the policymaking process
• The knowledge and skills to apply quantitative and analytical methods of resource analysis
• The communication and teamwork skills needed to thrive in professional work environments

Vision

With a dual emphasis on science and policy, the Coastal Environmental Management master program equips students to become scientifically informed professionals in fields such as coastal policy and management, research, and advocacy. The Duke Marine Laboratory  provides an ideal setting for the study of natural and social scientific phenomena in the coastal and marine environment. It also afford students ample opportunities to interact with coastal and marine constituencies and policymakers.  Students enjoy a small class size, a low faculty-student ratio and access to world-class marine research facilities.

Curriculum

Our broad curriculum allows students to pursue concentrations in many focal areas, including:

• Marine Ecology
• Marine Social Science and Policy
• Management of Protected Species and Critical Habitats
• Marine Spatial Planning & Coastal Zone Management
• Marine Geospatial Analysis & Remote Sensing (also certificate)
• Community Based Management (also certificate)
• Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Ocean Health

Most Coastal Environmental Management master students spend their first year on our Durham campus taking courses in ecology, natural resource economics, environmental policy and methodological skills. The second year is typically spent at the Duke Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, N.C., where students prepare their master’s project and take courses specific to the coastal and marine environment.

Transferable Skills

Coastal Environmental Management students receive in-depth training in:

• Community-based environmental management
• Geographic information systems/geospatial analysis
• Marine policy analysis
• Interdisciplinary problem assessment and analysis
• Applied data analysis

Your Future

The Nicholas School’s dedicated Career Center has helped hundreds of Coastal Environmental Management graduates find fulfilling positions in federal and state agencies, intergovernmental organizations, industry, consulting firms and nonprofit organizations. Among the high-profile places you’ll find our alums are: The Nature Conservancy, the National Estuarine Research Reserves, NOAA, the National Marine Fisheries Service, Oceana, and the Environmental Defense Fund.