The History of the Loeb-Sullivan School

For generations, Maine has been known worldwide for the skills of her shipbuilders and sea captains and for leadership in every phase of maritime affairs. It was in Maine that the first English ship built in the colonies, the Virginia, was launched in 1607, and, in the 21st Century, Mainers continue to build and sail vessels ranging from custom yachts to mighty warships. Windjammers, fishing fleets, and defenders of the America’s Cup have all been a part of the state’s seafaring tradition.

Since 1941, this proud heritage has thrived at Maine Maritime Academy, an institution of higher learning providing undergraduate and graduate instruction. The Academy now offers two undergraduate degrees and twenty-two academic courses of study in four maritime-related fields; engineering; international business and logistics; marine sciences; and marine transportation. The Graduate Studies program offers Master of Science degrees in international logistics management and maritime management.

Maine Maritime’s entry into transportation management education began during the late 1970s with an array of short courses and seminars offered through the Center for Advanced Maritime Studies (CAMS). This laid the foundation for creating a unique graduate degree program, emphasizing the development of management skills for transportation leaders. A successful test of the concepts of a modular graduate program led to the establishment of the Department of Graduate Studies; candidates for the Master of Science in Maritime Management degree began classes in the summer of 1985, with the first class graduating in 1987.

As part of the Academy’s strategic diversification plan, an undergraduate program offering a B.S. degree in International Business and Logistics (IBL) began in 1997. Simultaneously, the Loeb-Sullivan School of International Business and Logistics was established with a generous endowment from David Loeb, a distinguished Maine Maritime alumnus. The business school presently houses the undergraduate department as well as the graduate department established in 1985.

The graduate school offerings were expanded with a program in Port Management in May 1996 and Logistics Management in May 1998. Reflecting the current geopolitical environment and market needs, today the Graduate Program offers one online M.S. degree major in International Logistics Management while the Master’s & Commander program couples the online M.S. program with the on campus undergraduate Small Vessels Operations program. Students graduating from the Master’s & Commander program receive a M.S. in Maritime Management.

In January 2024, we introduced a new version of our graduate program featuring shorter terms throughout the year. With the option of taking the maximum course load continuously, students can complete their degree in approximately one year. Our master’s program in Maritime Management begins with core courses that provide students with a solid business foundation. From there, students have the flexibility to customize their program by selecting one of our specialized concentrations: International Logistics Management (ILM) or Global Logistics and Vessel Operations (GLVO).

The International Logistics Management concentration is offered entirely online, while the GLVO program is a hybrid format. This hybrid approach involves taking online courses in addition to participating in the on-campus Small Vessel Operation undergraduate program.
 

Accreditation and Membership

Maine Maritime Academy is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), 3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100, Burlington, MA 01803-4514; telephone 781-425-7785.

Maine Maritime Academy also holds membership in the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the Downeast College Consortium, the International Association of Maritime Universities, and the Maine Higher Education Council. The Academy is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students.

All graduate degree offerings of the Loeb-Sullivan School (LSS) are approved by the International Association of Maritime and Port Executives (IAMPE) for blanket exemption from the requirements for awarding the certification as a Maritime Port Manager (MPM). Students will only receive the MPM certification and rights to use “MPM” in their title upon successful completion of the graduate program. For more information on the IAMPE, please visit www.iampe.org