Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Gives Final Approval for new Bachelor’s Degree in Maritime Operations at Texas A&M University Galveston Campus
The degree, which starts in the Fall 2026 semester, addresses a much-needed opportunity to fill shore-based jobs in ports from coast to coast.
On March 19, Texas A&M University at Galveston received word that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) approved the establishment of a new degree program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Maritime Operations (B.S. MARO). The move by THECB follows the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approving the degree in February.
With a green light from both the TAMUS BOR and THECB, classes will begin in the Fall 2026 semester, Students enrolled in the B.S. MARO will cast off on a journey to address the growing role that maritime operations play in fueling the global economy where nearly 99 percent of all goods used in the United States arrive on board ships.
The Maritime Operations degree program will prepare students for shore-based jobs that are needed to allow for safe transit in and out of ports located along the United States coastline from sea to shining sea. Texas alone has 13 ports. For every job on board the ships bringing in those goods, it is estimated that three to four jobs are located on the shore to safely provide for the operation of those vessels and to support those vessels.
“This is such an innovative degree that fills a critical workforce development need with the surge of growth both regionally and nationally. In addition, the new Maritime Operations degree expands our ability to partner with community colleges to grow the pipeline into these amazing career opportunities,” said Dr. Debbie Thomas, founding Dean, College of Marine Sciences & Maritime Studies Texas A&M University and Executive Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Texas A&M University at Galveston. “We are thrilled to support the Maritime Industries and Blue Economy through our cutting-edge degree offerings.”
The B.S. MARO will be housed in the Department of Maritime Transportation within the College of Marine Sciences & Maritime Studies at Texas A&M University Galveston Campus and will be a 120-semester credit hour degree program. The degree will provide a solid background in near coastal and inland vessel operations, cargo handling between vessel to shore, port security (including cybersecurity), and port infrastructure operations.
The first-year curriculum will mirror the first-year curriculum for the B.S. in Maritime Transportation (MART), including a summer sea term with shipboard and practical experience of life at sea or an applied internship (for students who either choose or are not qualified for a sea-going experience). The overlapping first year will allow students to explore
the options in maritime education and then choose either the shoreside (B.S. MARO) or sea-going (B.S. MART) program without losing credit hours or delaying graduation.
Following the first year, the remainder of the B.S. MARO program will include maritime business, inland waterways, ports, logistics, and safety courses, as well as flexibility to pursue coursework in cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, or a breadth of transportation offerings.
