About

Are you searching for an academic program that combines a love of oceanic exploration, ships and sea faring history, and the archaeology of shipwrecks? Would you enjoy being trained in hands-on underwater data collection, the management of submerged or recovered artifacts, deep sea diving, and the study of naval history?

From very humble beginnings in 1981, the maritime studies program at East Carolina University has blossomed into one of the world's leading academic underwater archaeology programs. It is characterized by hands-on underwater training, primary document historical research, and other practical skills such as remote sensing and grant writing. These skills provide the type of training eagerly sought by employers. Since its inception, the program has graduated 201 MA students in this field, with an overall graduation rate of 71 percent. A very large percentage of our graduates go on to get jobs in the field as archaeologists, contract archaeologists, government cultural resource managers, museum archeologists, curators, museum directors, national and state park staff, conservators, and teachers at all levels.

Qualified students enjoy extensive university support in the form of graduate assistantships and scholarships. These positions supply both teaching and research experience. Yet we don't just rely on the classroom. The program in Maritime Studies takes pride in the fact that we take theory into the real world and practice it in the field. In the program, exciting careers are not an accident, they are the result of planning, introspection, training, and last but not least, field experience.

ECU Advantage

There are only six programs in the world that offer graduate degrees in underwater archaeology, and ECU has become preeminent in this field. Program staff includes professors with both national and international reputations in research excellence, including eight full-time PhD archaeologists and historians, backed by three technicians, as well as a fully staffed Diving and Boating Safety Office, which boasts a well-maintained fleet of research vessels.

Our expertise includes cutting edge remote sensing, remotely operated vehicle training, and courses in archaeological survey techniques, all skills that attract employers. Our professors have written more than 35 academic press books concerning their various research interests, plus innumerable articles and site reports concentrating primarily on North American underwater archaeology, and projects ranging geographically from Europe and Bermuda to the Middle of the Pacific Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea to Lake Superior.

We can offer you the opportunity to pursue a career in underwater archaeology while also letting you benefit from a very large network of working alumni. Education is our forte, yet our job placement after graduation is also a source of pride. It is an element of solid academics and a growing web of working professionals who remember their family here at ECU's program in maritime studies.

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Graduate Program Director /Coordinator for Maritime History: Nathan Richards (100 Eller House; 252-328-1968; richardsn@ecu.edu)

The Maritime Studies, MA was established in 1981 with a unique combination of disciplines. Students can study both maritime history and nautical archaeology while concentrating on a single historical period, regional area, or thematic interest. Students can study a combination of courses in maritime history, nautical archaeology, or conservation under the aegis of a single program.

The Maritime Studies, MA requires a total of 36 s.h. of course work. The student must take 12 s.h. of core HIST courses and between 12-15 hours of electives in history and maritime archaeology that support the student's thesis research. Research skills requirements account for 3-6 semester hours, based on a list of approved courses maintained by the graduate director.  Examples include courses in quantitative history (HIST 5950, HIST 5951), geographical information systems (GEOG 6401), scientific diving (COAS 6000), or an approved graduate-level language course.

Students must complete a written thesis. A public thesis defense is held to establish how their manuscript contributes to their area of study, and includes an oral comprehensive examination where the student must demonstrate their knowledge of their field of concentration. Thesis hours account for a minimum of 6 semester hours.

The degree requires a minimum of 36 s.h. as follows:

I. Core courses - 12 s.h.
  • HIST 5530 - Field School in Maritime History and Underwater Research
  • HIST 6805 - History and Theory of Maritime Archaeology
  • HIST 6820 - Maritime Archaeological Field Methods
  • HIST 6900 - Historiography: Introduction to Research
II. Electives - 12-15 s.h.

The program coordinator and student select history (HIST) electives that support the student's thesis research.

    III. Research skills requirement - 3-6 s.h.

    Courses are selected based on advising. These courses could include geography (GEOG) or quantitative history (HIST). A language course for credit may be taken if approved by the program coordinator. A selection of approved research skills is maintained by the graduate director.

      IV. Thesis - 6 s.h.

      An oral comprehensive examination will be a component of the thesis defense. Candidates will be required to demonstrate knowledge of their field of study as well as establish how their thesis contributes to that field of study.

      • HIST 7000 - Thesis
      Comprehensive Assessment Requirement
        For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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