Program History

The Program in Maritime Studies, established in 1981, has a distinguished international reputation for teaching and research. The program integrates hands-on experience with interdisciplinary studies in history, anthropology, geography, geology and related marine sciences. Faculty and students have pursued many premier projects around the world, including investigations of the USS Monitor, CSS Alabama , USS Tecumseh , USS Arizona , Maple Leaf, the Beaufort Inlet Wreck, sixteenth-century sites in Bermuda and Florida, and the Yorktown Shipwreck Archaeological Project.

MA in Maritime Studies

The MA in Maritime Studies is a 36-semester hour degree program in the Department of History. Students generally finish their degree requirements in two years. First year students take many of their required courses and are advised on the selection of a thesis topic. For those interested, a field school in nautical archaeology is held the following summer. Beginning the second year, many students continue their applied training, participating in field projects during the fall semester. The remainder of the year is devoted to class work and the thesis.

Ph.D. in Coastal Resources Management with a concentration in Maritime Studies

A Maritime Studies track is now offered through the new Ph.D. Program in Coastal Resources Management. The doctoral program shares faculty and students in the complementary tracks of Ecology, Geoscience, and Social Sciences. The CRM doctoral degree is focused on the understanding and management of coastal resources--human, animal, environmental, natural and cultural. The new track in Maritime Studies concentrates on nautical archaeology and cultural resource management. Building upon the MA program, the PhD program in CRM provides a broad-based educational experience drawing upon the strengths of many programs at East Carolina University.

Internships and Research Opportunities

Over the last two decades the Maritime Program has developed relationships with many organizations to create opportunities to benefit students.  One advantage has been the establishment of internship programs that lead to a high job placement for our graduates.  Through internships students gain working experience in their career field and make contact with future employers Our faculty members have developed joint research programs with several organizations that also support individual student research.  Students who take advantage of these relationships for archaeological or historical research can often expect assistance in the form of funding, housing, or material support.  

Some organizations we currently work with include:
Bermuda Maritime Museum
Mariner's Museum, Newport News, Virginia
Maryland Historical Trust
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA Monitor Marine Sanctuary
Nauticos
Naval Historical Center
Naval Memorial Foundation
North Carolina Maritime Museum
North Carolina Underwater Archaeology Branch
State Historical Society of Wisconsin
U.S. Coast Guard, Historian's Office

Research Resources

The J. Y. Joyner Library contains one of the best maritime history research collections in the country. With over one million volumes, the library's holdings in monographs, periodicals, and microfilms are sufficient in quantity and quality to support graduate level research. The East Carolina University Manuscript Collection is one of the nation's leading repositories of naval and maritime materials. Other research collections available within driving distance are the U.S. National Archives, Library of Congress, and Naval Historical Center in Washington, D.C.; Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia; North Carolina Division of Archives and History in Raleigh; North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort; Underwater Archaeological Unit of the North Carolina Division of Archives and History at Kure Beach; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Duke University; North Carolina State University.

Publications

The Maritime Studies Program publishes the annual newsletter Stem to Stern .  Produced and edited by students, the newsletter describes the Program’s past year’s activities and is available on-line.

Graduate Employment Opportunities

Our graduates have a record of distinction as administrators, archaeologists, historians, authors, archivists, teachers, and researchers. Many are employed by state and federal agencies, including the National Park Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Naval Historical Center, and the US Coast Guard. Others work for museums and cultural resource management firms. The success of our graduates reflects the careful and thorough preparation of the graduate program. Graduates can expect to find interesting and challenging jobs at the state, national, and international level. Take a look at our graduate page for a listing of jobs held by our graduates.

Applications for Admission

Details on how to apply for admission to the Maritime Studies Program can be found on the admission page. 

Financial Aid and Awards