The study of marine science and policy is a subject that combines the biophysical and social sciences with a comprehensive overview of marine policies, laws, and planning tools. It requires that we explore the relationships and nexus between science, policy and planning across diverse maritime cultures. The course will first provide a general overview of marine science, with a particular focus on the role of marine science in identifying pressures, threats and stressors to marine systems. The emphasis will be on the various factors that contribute to marine ecosystem disturbance and the role of marine science in policymaking and planning. The introduction to marine science will be followed by a general overview of state and federal marine policy and management. The US marine policy framework will be compared to international examples of ocean governance, including small island countries, New Zealand, England, the European Union, China, and less developed countries.