Today's professionals in the maritime sectors of industry, government, and non-governmental organizations are expected to develop policy and planning options, while managing both living and non-living marine resources based upon the best available science and technology. Similarly, technologists, engineers, and scientists are faced with managing personnel, funds, and businesses in increasingly challenging fiscal and policy environments.

Program Overview

UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST) offers the COAST (Coastal and Ocean Administration, Science and Technology) Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program. This unique program is designed to enable students to enter the workforce immediately as advanced marine science, engineering, and technology professionals. For students currently employed, the COAST PSM is an excellent way to broaden their knowledge of the marine sciences and technology along with the business practices in their field, while advancing their own careers.

The COAST PSM degree is conferred through the University of Massachusetts’ system-wide Intercampus Marine Science program. This connection gives PSM students access to the resources and faculty of four campuses, and allows them to take courses elsewhere in the UMass system at UMass Dartmouth tuition rates.

Students are taught by some of the most distinguished faculty in the fields of marine science. SMAST faculty pursue cutting-edge research in biogeochemical cycling, coastal ecosystem dynamics and restoration, marine computational modeling, fisheries science and management, marine renewable energy, ocean observing/remote sensing, and ocean physics. Download COAST Fact Sheet.