Coastal and Marine Management

In a nutshell

The program consists of 120 ECTS at the master’s level; this includes 75 ECTS in the form of courses and 45 ECTS in the form of a thesis. All courses are taught in intensive modules from August through June of the next year. Courses range from 1 ECTS to 6 ECTS and one to three weeks in length. Each ECTS is expected to involve approximately 25-30 hours of student work. The language of teaching and general communication is English. Teaching takes place in Ísafjörður.

Description

The first year is made up of mandatory and elective courses from the teaching schedule. After the courses finish in June, the students’ attention moves to the 45 ECTS thesis. Students are free to choose their thesis topic and location. Theses are submitted for marking and defense in the spring semester the next year.

The program covers a wide range of marine and coastal environmental and resource management areas and students can specialise within on their interests using elective courses and with their choice of thesis topic. Students are welcome to take elective courses at other universities, with approval of the Master’s program committee.

Students at the University Centre of the Westfjords are formally enrolled at the University of Akureyri and graduate with a MRM (Master of Resource Management) degree from the University of Akureyri. Studies however are entirely conducted at the University Centre of the Westfjords in Ísafjörður and are supervised by the University Centre of the Westfjords.

Academic Director

Dr. Brack Hale is director of the masters' program in Coastal and Marine Management. He holds a Ph.D. from the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison, an M.E.M. from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, and a bachelor's degree in Comparative Area Studies from Duke University. He worked previously as a full professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Franklin University Switzerland, where he also served as Division Chair and Interim Dean for Academic Affairs.

Dr. Hale has extensive experience in academic administration, curriculum development, teaching and quality assessment, and program management. He has been engaged in various collaborations with UW since 2010, has brought student groups to the Westfjords, and spent a semester on sabbatical at the University Centre in 2017.

The Program Director in Coastal and Marine Management has the following roles:

• Professional oversight over the master’s program, administration and co-ordination of the curriculum
• Contact between the Master's program committee, University Centre staff, teachers, and students in Coastal and Marine Management
• Recommend new teachers, instructors, and thesis advisors to the master’s committee
• Facilitate cooperation, foster a network around the program, and be of assistance to teachers as needed
• Answer or correctly forward all questions relating to professional aspects of the master’s program
• Track of students’ academic progress, both in courses and when working on their theses
• Take responsibility for thesis assessments, including presentations (lectures) and defences.

Master´s Thesis

Students are required to do independent research and write a 45 ECTS credits master thesis. This takes place in the second year.

Finding a topic
Developing the thesis, as well as finding an advisor, is done in close cooperation with the program directors. Students do not need to have their thesis topic ready before they start the program. Most of the core courses are taught during the autumn semester, this is a perfect time to get an inspiration for a thesis topic. Students have access to instructors, both in class and during office hours, to discuss ideas.

Developing a thesis
The development of the thesis begins formally in the beginning of the spring semester with the Proposal Writing workshop which is mandatory for all students. This is a two credit course taught throughout the semester where students learn about research design and academic writing. During the (mandatory) course Applied Methodology students explore suitable methods for the thesis topic and future research activities.

Finding an advisor
Students at UW have great freedom to pick topics and advisors for their thesis project or in cooperation with the program director. The advisor can be an instructor from the program, but can also come from other universities or research institutions or the working world across the globe. Please note that the thesis advisor needs to be approved by the master's program committee.

Writing the thesis: You can choose, Ísafjörður, Iceland or anywhere in the world!
Students have the freedom to choose a topic anywhere in the world. A growing number of second year students, up to 50%, decide to stay here in the Westfjords while writing their thesis. For those who want to write about the Westfjords, UW assists connecting students to institutions and companies in the region.

Entry Requirements

In order to be eligible for admission to UW, you must:

• have been awarded a Bachelor's degree with first grade from an internationally recognised university.
• be able to demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English by means of an internationally recognised test, e.g. TOEFL, IELTS or the equivalent. It is anticipated that applicants from Iceland, Scandinavia and the English-speaking countries possess adequate skills in the language

If you do not (yet) meet the admission requirements, you can still apply. Small deficiencies in meeting our requirements or the lack of documents will not prevent your application from being reviewed. If graduation is pending please provide a progress transcript and the intended date of graduation. UW may offer a place on a conditional basis. The conditions will be specified in the letter offering you a place. You will have to meet those conditions before you can be admitted.

Applying for a single course
We also invite you to take single masters' courses as a guest student. Please find further information about  gust studies at UW under admission.

Career Potential 

Graduates of the Coastal and Marine Management (CMM) program are equipped with the skills and expertise to excel in a wide range of exciting and meaningful careers. Over half of our alumni go on to positions in coastal and marine management with local, regional, and national governments, non-profit organizations, research centers, or to related careers in industry and consulting. Some alumni have taken entrepreneurial paths, launching their own businesses in coastal or marine-related areas. Others have pursued advanced academic opportunities, enrolling in PhD programs in Iceland and globally, including countries such as Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. As a CMM student, you will have access to our alumni network that can connect you around the world.

Whether you aim to influence policy and management, conduct innovative research, or help protect the world’s natural resources, the CMM program provides a strong foundation for your future career.

Life in Ísafjörður

Ísafjörður is the capital of the Westfjords situated in the remote north western part of Iceland. It is a vibrant and beautiful town with a strong cultural life, including a well known music scene, art and sports. Ísafjörður is the largest community of the Westfjords with some 2500 inhabitants. The Westfjords' total population is around 7000 people. Unique countryside surrounds the town and it is a stone's throw from the untouched natural beauty of places like Hornstrandir and Jökulfirðir.

There are good communications and transport between Ísafjörður and the capital region of Reykjavík: it is a 6-7 hour drive to the capital along totally paved roads and flying takes just 40 minutes, with generally two flights to and from Ísafjörður each day.

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