UNCW has been a recognized leader in marine science education and research for more than 30 years.

The university’s coastal and marine science programs offer undergraduate degrees in biology, oceanography, environmental science, geography and geoscience, among other disciplines. UNCW also offers a Ph.D. in marine biology and Master of Science degrees in marine biology, marine science, and coastal and ocean policy.

Next year, UNCW will further enhance its already robust marine science curricula by adding another program that will expand employment prospects for graduates and strengthen the local economy.

Beginning in fall 2019, UNCW will launch a new Coastal Engineering program, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The program will be UNCW’s first engineering program.

Students will learn to address the very complex environmental issues facing coastal communities around the world.
The program will focus on concerns, such as beach renourishment, dredging, sediment management, coastal structure analysis and design, wetlands stabilization and restoration, hydrology, ports, jetties and inland waterways.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady growth in marine- and environmental-related civil engineering fields.

As the state’s coastal university, UNCW can offer students unparalleled opportunities for hands-on learning, field research and the chance to work alongside expert faculty in state-of-the-art facilities and labs, such as the Center for Marine Science.

The program reflects UNCW’s commitment to ensuring students’ post-graduate success and to the economic development of our region.

North Carolina’s ‘blue economy’ is largely dependent on the responsible management and stewardship of its marine resources. Graduates of the Coastal Engineering program will have the specialized skillset to help improve coastal resilience and ensure the economic sustainability of our community and other coastal communities around the world.

UNCW is excited to expand its program offerings for students and help strengthen the economic vitality of the region through education.

Aswani Volety, Ph.D., is dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina Wilmington,  Executive Director of the UNCW Center for Marine Science, and a professor in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology. Volety earned a Ph.D. in marine science from the College of William & Mary, and a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Andhra University. The College of Arts and Sciences is UNCW’s largest academic unit, employing over 450 full-time and 150 part-time faculty members and awarding approximately three quarters of the university’s academic credits. Volety serves as the chief academic, fiscal and administrative officer of the college, which is responsible for educating students across the arts, sciences, humanities and social sciences. Volety is also past president of the Southern Association of Marine Labs.To learn more about the UNCW College of Arts and Sciences, visit www.uncw.edu/cas. Questions and comments can be sent to [email protected].