The major in Global Studies & Maritime Affairs provides students with the following:  A solid theoretical in the social sciences, applied to the needs of the greater maritime and transportation industries; applied knowledge relevant to government agencies, non-profit organizations, international organizations and businesses dealing with maritime issues: specifically, a solid foundation in economic and political globalization theories and the theories of the policy processes; an understanding of global maritime history and the importance of maritime power to the power of the state; and an awareness of, and facility with, current global maritime issues as they relate to security, trade and the environment.  The major emphasizes four maritime policy areas:

International Marine Trade & Policy

This policy area focuses on maritime issues from the perspective of international political economy.  Economic globalization is one of the most profound and far-reaching events of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century; its implications reach well into the trade and economic relations of all nations, the United States included.  Here, the specific focus is on changing patterns of international trade and transportation, the "globalization" of the shipping industry, and the global political and economic forces behind these phenomena.

This policy area focuses on maritime issues from a security perspective: specifically, the different threats in the coastal and near coastal zones, in international waters, and on the high seas. Topics covered include (but are not limited to) the following: sea-lane security, maritime piracy and terrorism, illegal immigration, innocent passage, force majure, and changing naval policies (both in the United States and in key countries around the world). A specific focus is on the identification of emerging maritime threats and the policies needed to counter these threats effectively.

International Maritime Environmental Policy

This policy area focuses on maritime environmental issues pertaining to global shipping.  Here the course offerings extend to marine policy in general, rather than just policies with a focus on shipping and trade. Whaling, fisheries management, and the environmental standards of shipbuilding are examples of issues covered.  Policy ramifications of each are examined in depth.

Maritime Law and Organizations

This focus is on international maritime law and international maritime organizations, such as the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), and the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). Policy impacts of these and other organizations are examined in detail.

The objective in each of these core areas is to give students a theoretical foundation drawn from the social science fields of international relations, political science, public policy, history, and economics. The theoretical tools employed will allow students to understand and analyze shipping and maritime policies in a global economic, political, and environmental context.

GSMA students will be prepared for policy careers in maritime trade and economics, maritime security (port security, piracy, and maritime terrorism), and maritime law. They may enter the following fields:

Governmental organizations: U.S. federal, state, and local; MARAD, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Commerce, and allied areas;

Agencies specializing in maritime security, including the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Department of Transportation, and the United States Coast Guard;

International organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Maritime Bureau (IMB); Graduate study in maritime law at institutions such as Tulane, Roger Williams, and the University of Virginia – each of which has program specializations in maritime law; Insurance and underwriting firms specializing in shipping and maritime issues.  Additionally, the curriculum focus will provide rigorous preparation for further study at the graduate level in International Relations, Public Policy, Maritime Affairs, and Business Administration (especially International Business and Trade).