/School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
Marine Conservation and Policy Program
Marine Conservation and Policy Program

About the Program

The Marine Conservation and Policy (MCP) program consists of advanced coursework in six key areas:

  1. Marine science

  2. Marine conservation biology

  3. Marine management, policy and law

  4. Communications

  5. Quantitative data analysis

  6. Field biology

Under the supervision of a coordinating committee, each degree candidate will choose elective coursework within all of these areas to best suit their specific postgraduate career objectives. In addition, each student will conduct an in-depth capstone study or internship involving analysis of available data and produce an original synthesis paper based on a committee-approved, consequential topic in marine conservation and policy.

This program is designed to be completed in 12 months of full-time study, and requires a minimum of 30 credits of coursework, although due to the elective nature of the curriculum, many students will complete additional credits for their degree. Students wishing to complete a more comprehensive capstone project or internship, or also complete an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Communicating Science or Geospatial Sciences may elect to stay on for a third semester.  The program can also be completed part-time, but is not designed for students who may only be able to enroll in night classes.

 

Anticipated Costs of your Marine Conservation and Policy Masters in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences 

New York State residents can expect to pay around  $21,507 in tuition, fees and health insurance for their 30-credit degree which can be completed in 12 months.  Out-of-state students can expect to pay $36,250.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the GRE is no longer required for students applying to the MCP program.

Students are admitted into the MCP program for the fall semester and the first round of applicants is reviewed in mid-February. Thereafter, students will be reviewed and accepted regularly until the final application deadline of March 15th. Applicants are encouraged to apply prior to January 15th for full consideration and a limited number of Dean’s Fellowships.

The standard program can be completed in 12 months of full-time study.  However, some students wish to stay longer either to complete more comprehensive capstone projects of internships, or to also complete advanced graduate certificates in Communicating Science or Geospatial Sciences.

For information about financial aid, visit Stony Brook University’s Financial Aid website. A limited number of small Scholarships and Fellowships are available on a competitive basis through the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. All students will be considered for these, and notified when applications are being considered. 

No, it is not necessary to contact faculty before applying.  Incoming students will be assigned interim mentors upon arrival who will help guide student progress until each student picks a capstone project or internship and chooses a mentor to advise them.

MCP graduates are prepared for a wide range of careers in marine education, environmental advocacy, ocean planning and management, law and business. Our graduates have found jobs at a wide range of organizations and agencies, including environmental NGO’s, educational institutions, and government agencies. To see a few examples of what some of our past students are up to now, click here.

This program is designed for students who are interested in conservation-based careers, such as those in management, policy, consultancy, or informal education and outreach, rather than in more traditional academic research careers. Students need not have an undergraduate degree in the physical sciences to apply, and we encourage students from all disciplines with interest in marine conservation to join us.  

MCP students do not conduct a research thesis. Instead, students complete either an internship or a capstone project based on a relevant marine conservation topic or issue of choice. With guidance from faculty on the MCP Coordinating Committee, and through participation in the required Case Study and Project Planning Seminar, MCP students are helped to find appropriate projects/internships prior to the end of their first semester of study.  Most students complete these projects during the summer. After completing their internship or capstone project, students present their work at the annual MCP symposium in late August.  See examples of MCP student projects here.

For the most up-to-date tuition information, visit Stony Brook University's Tuition and Funding website. As of 2025, New York State residents can expect to pay ~$25,000 in tuition, fees and health insurance for their 30-credit degree which can be completed in 12 months.  Out-of-state students can expect to pay ~$44,000. All students must either purchase health insurance through Stony Brook University, or provide proof of coverage from another source. Students who are already covered can save ~$6,500 off these totals.

Actual cost of tuition and fees will vary depending on how many credits you take each semester, and whether or not you elect to take an international field course as part of your Stony Brook Education. These courses carry additional fees. Note that tuition and fees are subject to change as approved by the SUNY Board of Trustees – information above is based on rates for 2025 posted on 12/19/24.

Students may apply to Stony Brook University for financial aid.  Additionally, students may apply for applicable fellowships and scholarships to help defray the cost of enrollment.  Some scholarships are competitive and are only available to already matriculated students, others are used to recruit a diverse class of highly qualified students.  Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications by January 15th to maximize their chances of obtaining recruitment scholarships.

As part of their degree all students complete a 6-credit capstone project or internship.  Many opportunities exist for projects with SoMAS faculty, local conservation groups and government agencies, or even working in other locations.  Many of these provide funding for students to participate.

MCP students are typically not eligible for research or teaching assistantships.  They are however eligible for part-time jobs on campus, including working for SoMAS faculty as laboratory or field assistants.  Some capstone projects and internship opportunities offer stipends or are eligible for partial scholarships through SoMAS. For information on financial assistance, visit Stony Brook University’s Financial Aid website.

Students typically complete two semesters of full-time courses (12 credits each) in the fall and spring semesters. In either the winter or summer semester, students must also complete a three-credit field course. The six-credit internship or capstone project is typically completed in the summer semester after all other coursework has been completed, however it can be started prior to the summer in some cases. This is the typical schedule, though there is flexibility in the program based on the student needs and/or availability. If students are also completing Advanced Graduate Certificates, up to 6 credits can be applied towards completed the requirements of both programs, but completing advanced certificates will require students to matriculate for more than 2 semesters of study.