Course Number

Course Title

Class/Lab Hours

Credit

MARS 604

Marine Natural Resource Economics

3/0

3

Critical evaluation of policies and procedures in the development and use of natural resources relevant to marine and maritime markets; identification of problems in resource exploration, development, and transportation; the political/economic decision-making processes; analytical tools used to make economic decisions in resource markets.

MARA 610

International Strategic Planning and Implementation

3/0

3

An introduction to the strategic planning process, with an emphasis on the maritime industry in the domestic and international context.  The formulation of strategy in the context of environmental opportunities and threats, how to analyze industry competition, and how to implement strategies and build competitive advantage.  Students will select a company engaged in domestic or international waterborne commerce and analyze the strategic planning processes of the firm using the standard techniques such as SWOT analysis, the Five Forces Model and Value Chain Analysis.

MARS 620

International Environment Business Transactions

3/0

3

This course is design to provide an overview of the laws, regulation and regimes involved in international environmental business transactions; and to identify those environmental regimes which are triggered when business is conducted internationally.  The course includes international, regional, and U.S. federal law.

MARA 623

Economic Issues in Shipping

3/0

3

The role of domestic and international shipping in the American economy.  The economic characteristics of waterborne transportation, including the nature of transport demand and cost functions; economic dimension of transport service; transport market structures; and transport pricing theory and practice. Emphasis on managerial implications of transport economic principles for domestic and international shipping.

MARA 616

Management of Port Facilities and Infrastructure

3/0

3

Problems associated with the management of buildings, piers, bulkheads and associated structures and connecting waterways focusing on corrosion, adverse affects of climate, tide and current affects, dredging cycles and related facilities access issues associated with structures in the coastal zone.  Particular attention is paid to the requirements of state and federal agencies regarding equipment and facilities used in the safe loading, discharge and storage of cargoes, including hazardous materials.

MARA 624

Intermodal Transportation Operations

3/0

3

The course provides a survey of the economic and operational characteristics of intermodal transportation; including rail, trucking, air, shipping, and pipelines.  Emphasis is given to the interface of surface transportation with the maritime industry.  Pricing strategies, costs structures, and regulatory issues are discussed.

MARA 627

Marketing of Transportation Services

3/0

3

Design, evaluation, management and marketing of distribution channels.  Topics include channel member roles and behavior; transportation, inventory, materials handling, and information management; channel performance evaluation; and distribution channel modeling.

MARS 635

Environmental Impact Statements and NRDA

3/0

3

This course presents an overview of a) environmental impact statements under NEPA; and b) natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) under OPA 90 and CERCLA.  It is designed to cover requirements for a wide variety of EISs.  NRDA hypothetical cases will be presented in which students are asked to calculate assessments.

MARA 636

Managerial Decision Making

3/0

3

A survey of mathematical, probabilistic, and statistical tools available for assisting in the operation and management of industrial organizations.  Fundamental management science modeling techniques  emphasizing problem formulation, computer solution and economic analysis in an operations context; concepts include queuing analysis, computer simulation and mathematical programming approaches including linear, goal and integer programming; application areas encompass production, capacity and project planning, scheduling, location, layout and logistics.

MARA 640

Global Logistics

3/0

3

Transportation and logistics activities of multinational firms with emphasis on transportation, customer service, inventory control, facility location, global sourcing, customs documentation, and the role of government in importing and exporting.  Differences between domestic, national, and transnational will be discussed.  Attention is given to current events and their effects on the marketing and logistics activities of U.S. based organizations and any correlated global effects.

MARS 640

Environmental Administrative Law

3/0

3

Environmental law is governed, in large part, by administrative law.  This course covers the processes involved in administrative environmental law.  The primary focus will be on the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Corps of Engineers, and NOAA.  A review of international administrative bodies will be included.

MARA 641

Financial Management in Marine Transportation

3/0

3

Balance sheets and income statements, asset and liability management sources and costs of debt and equity financing.  Financial performance measures in domestic and international shipping.  Federal subsidy programs in ship construction.

MARA 650

Distribution Logistics

3/0

3

The course discusses contemporary distribution logistics and integrated supply chain management.  Emphasis is given to customer service, transportation modes, inventory policies, warehousing, order processing, and optimizing the logistics gross margin.

MARA 652

Marine Transportation System Design and Policy

3/0

3

Interaction between shipping policy and design of marine transportation and port systems; Effects of market structure on economics and finance; Port performance and performance measures.

MARA 658

Port Design, Planning and Security

3/0

3

Functional design of the water and landslides facilities for general cargo, liquid, dry bulk, and container operations.  Yard and storage systems.  Port capacity in an intermodal network.  Economic, regulatory, and environmental issues.  Contemporary topics in terrorism and Homeland Security.

MARA 660

Risk Assessment and Marine Insurance

3/0

3

The course provides an introduction into the theory, techniques, participants and background of risk assessment and management with emphasis given to contemporary issues in marine insurance.  Topics include marine liability  coverage, cause of loss, additional perils, exclusions, warranties, warranties, duration of risk, adjustment clauses, operating clauses, civil commotions, war insurance, etc.

MARS 660

Environmental Alternative Dispute Resolution

3/0

3

An overview of alternative dispute resolution as used in addressing environmental issues, including a discussion of the fundamentals of the court system, highlights of all international and U.S. federal environmental laws, description of the different alternatives for conflict resolution, and an optional opportunity for medication certification.

MARA 664

Production, Operations and Logistics Management

3/0

3

This course will provide knowledge of the production/operations function within an organization.  Focus will be placed on types of decisions to be made at varying levels and where appropriate on quantitative models and techniques that can be used in decision making areas of the firm.  It will analyze how the operations function fits in with other functional areas of the firm.  Emphasis will be placed on how decisions will interrelate with firms’ strategies.

MARA 670

Coastal and Inland Waterways Transportation – Policy, Strategy and Management

3/0

3

The roles of carrier and shipper organizations, government agencies, and other interest groups in policy development affecting inland and coastal shipping.  Evaluation of the impact of programs, policies, and legislation on competition between transportation modes; including basic contract and administrative law.

MARA 672

The Maritime Global Trading System

3/0

3

Introduction to the theory of international waterborne trade; provides a basis for examining American foreign trade policy, and regional and world trade institutions such as the WTO, ASEAN, the EU,  GATT, and NAFTA.  Topics include: tariffs, non-tariff barriers and enhancements, countervailing and anti-dumping action, multinational enterprises and international joint ventures.

MARA 691

Research in Maritime Administration

3/0

3

For students electing the Master of Maritime Administration and Logistics thesis option. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor, graduate status or special approval.