Maine Maritime Academy > Graduate Catalog > Program Structure and Standards

Academic Policies

The Graduate School operates on an accelerated academic calendar consisting of five nine-week sessions each academic year. A minimum of two graduate courses are offered during each session, providing students with multiple entry points and the flexibility to progress through their programs continuously. Academic policies outlined in this section are designed to support student success while maintaining the Graduate School’s academic standards.

Student Academic Responsibility
Students are responsible for fulfilling all requirements necessary to complete their selected program of study. Faculty and staff provide academic advising and support to assist students in achieving their educational goals; however, the ultimate responsibility for understanding and completing all degree requirements remains with the student.

The Graduate School reserves the right to amend academic policies as necessary.

Graduate Academic Calendar

2026–2027 Sessions (Sample)

Session Dates Courses
1 Aug 10 – Oct 9 BA505 Strategic Marketing for Managers;
BA517 Logistics Information Systems
2 Oct 13 – Dec 18 BA507 Economics for Management Decision Making;
BA511 Fundamentals of Logistics
3 Jan 4 – Mar 5 BA503 Organization Development and Managing Change;
BA513 Integrated International Logistics
4 Mar 15 – May 14 BA500 Accounting for Managers;
BA509 Strategic Management
5 May 24 – Jul 23 BA501 Finance for Global Managers;
BA515 Port & Transport Terminal Operations

 

Breaks, registration openings, and deadlines for adding, dropping, or withdrawing from courses are posted in the official academic calendar.

Enrollment Policies

Full-Time Status

To maintain full-time status, graduate students must enroll in one course in each of the two primary sessions within a semester.

  • Fall semester: Sessions 1 and 2
  • Spring semester: Sessions 3 and 4

Enrollment in Session 5 (summer term) does not count toward athletic eligibility.

Part-Time Status

Graduate students enrolled in fewer courses than required for full-time status are considered part-time. Part-time students may enroll in one course per session, but do not meet the enrollment requirements for full-time or athletic eligibility.

Part-time status may affect eligibility for financial aid, athletics, veteran benefits, and other student services. Students are responsible for understanding how part-time enrollment may impact their individual circumstances.

Enrollment Flexibility and Continuity

There is no continuous enrollment requirement for the Maritime Management graduate program. Students may take one or more academic sessions off without penalty, provided all degree requirements are completed within the maximum time allowed for the degree.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

All requirements for the Master of Science in Maritime Management degree must be completed within four (4) years from the date of initial enrollment. This time limit applies to both concentration pathways.

Graduate Credit and Transfer Credit

Graduate Credit Hours

All graduate-level courses carry three (3) graduate credit hours. Credit hours reflect the total amount of instructional time and academic work required to achieve course learning outcomes and are assigned in accordance with federal guidelines and institutional standards.

Credit hours are applied toward degree requirements only upon successful completion of the course, as defined by the institution’s grading policy.

Transfer Credit

Candidates for the Master of Science degree in Maritime Management may request that up to six (6) credit hours of graduate coursework be transferred and applied toward program requirements. Students seeking to transfer credits earned prior to matriculation in the Loeb-Sullivan School should obtain approval from the Registrar before enrollment.

After enrolling in the Loeb-Sullivan School, students must consult with and receive approval from the Chair of the Loeb-Sullivan School and Registrar before enrolling in any external graduate course for which they wish to request transfer credit. Maine Maritime Academy reserves the right to determine what constitutes acceptable transfer credit. A grade of B or better is required for transfer credit.

Course Exemption Policy

Students may be granted exemptions from specific graduate courses based on prior academic or professional credentials. Exempted courses fulfill degree requirements in place of the waived courses, and students are not required to take additional courses to replace them.

Approved exemptions include:

  • B.S. in International Business & Logistics from Maine Maritime Academy: two course exemptions (BA511, BA513) for students with a minimum 3.2 average in “LO” prefix courses.
  • IAMPE Maritime Port Executive (MPE) or Inland Port Executive (IPE) graduates: one course exemption (BA515).

Registration Policies

Registration

Graduate students must register for courses during the published registration period for each academic session. Registration opens approximately four weeks before the start of a session and closes on Friday at the end of the first week of classes.

Students register online through the institution’s registration system. Late registration is not permitted except with approval from the Registrar and the Graduate Office. Students with academic, financial, or administrative holds will be prevented from registering until holds are resolved.

Holds must be resolved with Student Accounts or the office that placed the hold before registration can be completed. The responsibility for clearing holds rests with the student.

Class Attendance and Participation

Regular attendance and active participation are essential to academic success. Students enrolled in online courses are expected to regularly access course materials, participate in course activities, complete assignments, and meet the requirements established by the instructor.

Individual instructors may establish attendance and participation expectations as part of their course requirements, which will be outlined in the course syllabus. Excessive absence or lack of participation may negatively impact a student’s grade.

Failure to log in or participate in an online course does not result in automatic withdrawal from the course. Students are responsible for following established add, drop, and withdrawal procedures.

Add/Drop and Withdrawal Policies

Add / Drop Period

 The last day to add a class is Friday of the first week of classes. The last day to drop is Monday of the second week of classes.

This no-penalty period is an opportunity for students to add or drop courses. Courses dropped after the add/drop period of any session are subject to withdrawal procedures. Add/drop arrangements are initiated by completing a form provided by the Registrar and obtaining approvals as indicated on the form.

Withdrawal from a Course

Students may withdraw from a course after the add/drop period and before the published withdrawal deadline. Withdrawals during this period result in a grade of W (Withdrawal), which does not affect the GPA and does not earn credit.

Students must submit a Course Withdrawal Form to the Registrar’s Office and the Graduate Office to officially withdraw from a course. Students should also notify the course instructor and Chair of Graduate Studies when submitting a withdrawal request.

Failure to log in or participate in an online course does not constitute an official drop or withdrawal. Students are responsible for following established registration and withdrawal procedures. Non-attendance does not relieve students of financial responsibility for tuition and fees in accordance with the refund schedule.

Students who fail to follow established add, drop, or withdrawal procedures remain enrolled in the course and will receive a grade based on completed coursework.

Withdrawal Due to Extenuating Circumstances

Withdrawal after the published deadline is permitted only in cases of serious extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. Requests must be submitted to the Chair of Graduate Studies and the Registrar with supporting documentation.

If approved, a grade of WI (Withdrawal – Instructor Approved) will be recorded. WI grades do not affect GPA and do not earn credit. Full tuition and fees remain the student’s responsibility.

Faculty-Initiated Withdrawal

Faculty may assign withdrawal grades in a course after the add/drop period, but before the seventh calendar day following the midpoint of the academic session.

The faculty member will contact the student in question seven calendar days in advance of taking this action and inform the student that they are in jeopardy of being withdrawn. At this time, alternatives to withdrawal will be discussed.

If a faculty member decides that it is in the best interest of the student and/or the Academy to withdraw a student from a course, the faculty member will send the withdrawal grade in writing to the Registrar via the Dean of Faculty, with a copy to the student. An appropriate short statement about why the student is being withdrawn from the course will be included in this written notification.

Grading System

Grading Scale

The system of evaluating a student’s performance is by letter grade, with grade point values as follows:

Grade Grade Point Grade Grade Point
A 4.0 C 2.0
A- 3.7 C- 1.7
B+ 3.3 D+ 1.3
B 3.0 D 1.0
B- 2.7 D- .07
C+ 2.3 F 0.0

Other Grade Designations

  • W (Withdrawal) – Assigned when a student officially withdraws from a course after the add/drop period and before the published withdrawal deadline. A W does not affect the GPA and does not earn credit.
  • WI (Withdrawal – Instructor Approved) – Assigned when a withdrawal is approved after the published withdrawal deadline due to documented extenuating circumstances. A WI does not affect the GPA and does not earn credit.
  • I (Incomplete) – Assigned under the Incomplete Grade Policy.
  • S (Satisfactory) – GLVO only; earns credit but is not included in GPA calculations.
  • U (Unsatisfactory) – GLVO only; does not earn credit and is not included in GPA calculations.
  • Audit – No credit is awarded and the grade is not included in GPA calculations

Grade Point Average (GPA) Calculation

The cumulative GPA is calculated by dividing the total quality points earned by the total credit hours attempted.

Grades of W, I, S, U, and Audit are excluded from GPA calculations. Transfer credits are not included in GPA computation.

Academic Standards and Progress

Academic Standards

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B average) is required for graduation.

Students must earn a grade of B– or better in BA509 Strategic Management, the program capstone course. Students may earn no more than two grades of C during the graduate program.

Graduate credit toward degree requirements is not awarded for grades below C. Grades of D or F do not satisfy degree requirements.

The Graduate Review Committee reserves the right to dismiss any student for failure to meet academic standards or other Maine Maritime Academy requirements.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a Master of Science in Maritime Management, students must:

  • Complete all required coursework for their concentration
  • Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
  • Complete the capstone course (BA509) with a grade of B– or better

Program-specific concentration requirements are outlined in the Degree Programs section of the catalog.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity in all academic pursuits. Ethical conduct is an essential responsibility of every graduate student, and violations of academic integrity are considered serious offenses.

All work submitted by graduate students must represent their own efforts. Any work, ideas, or materials that are not original must be properly acknowledged and cited in accordance with academic standards.

Students found to be in violation of academic integrity standards may be referred to the Graduate Review Committee and may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the program.

Students are encouraged to review Maine Maritime Academy’s Student Honor Code of Conduct and Responsibilities for additional information regarding academic integrity expectations.

Academic Warning, Probation, and Disenrollment

Academic Warning

Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 but who do not meet probation criteria will be placed on Academic Warning and encouraged to meet with their academic advisor.

Academic Probation

Students will be placed on Academic Probation if they:

  • Earn a cumulative GPA below 3.0
  • Earn a grade of D or F
  • Earn two or more grades of C

An academic improvement plan may be required.

Disenrollment / Dismissal

The Graduate Review Committee reserves the right to disenroll or dismiss any student who:

  • Fails to meet the requirements of academic probation
  • Fails to achieve the minimum cumulative GPA required for graduation
  • Fails to meet program-specific course requirements, including minimum grades in critical courses
  • Fails to comply with other Maine Maritime Academy academic or institutional standards

Notification and Appeal Rights

Students will be notified in writing of an academic disenrollment decision within 5 business days of the Graduate Review Committee review. The notification will include information about the student’s right to appeal the decision to the Graduate Review Committee, chaired by the Dean of Faculty. In the event of a tie, the Dean of Graduate, Continuing, and Online Education (GCOE) casts the deciding vote.

Disenrolled students may petition for reinstatement at the discretion of the Graduate Review Committee, which may impose conditions for readmission.

Incomplete (I) Grade Policy

An Incomplete (I) grade may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor when a student is unable to complete coursework due to documented extenuating circumstances. Students must complete the work within the timeframe specified by the instructor. Failure to complete the work within the agreed period may result in a final grade of F.

Appeals Process

Students wishing to appeal an academic disenrollment decision must submit a written appeal that addresses:

  • Any extenuating circumstances that contributed to their academic performance;
  • Steps taken or planned to address academic deficiencies; and
  • A plan for meeting academic requirements moving forward, including participation in required advising programs, if applicable.

The Graduate Review Committee will review all appeals and provide a written decision within 10 business days of receipt. The decision of the Committee is final.

Course Cancellation

The Department of Graduate Studies reserves the right to cancel graduate courses that do not meet minimum enrollment requirements. Students will be notified at least two weeks in advance and may receive a full tuition adjustment or enroll in an alternative course, if available.

A notice of course cancellation will be sent via the official student email.