International Maritime Business

1. Business Foundations

• Accounting, finance, economics, and negotiations form the backbone of the program, equipping students with essential analytical and decision-making skills.
• Applied courses like Business Data Analysis introduce tools such as Excel-based statistics, regression, forecasting, and data interpretation .

2. Maritime Industry Specialization

Classes cover critical industry-specific topics: admiralty law, port & terminal operations, shipping fundamentals (chartering, brokerage, liner trades), marine insurance, global logistics, and more.

Elective seminars, like the ICS seminar, prepare students to take Institute for Chartered Shipbrokers exams and explore liner trade operations.

3. Experiential “Learn‑Do‑Learn” Components

Students complete at least one hands-on experiential learning module—this can be abroad, domestic, maritime-based, or virtual—as well as two cooperative (co‑op) placements to gain real-world experience.

Co‑ops are immersive, semester-long industry roles (e.g., Co‑op II IMB) that allow students to directly apply their skills in professional maritime settings.

4. Skills & Outcomes Development

The program rigorously trains cadets in business and maritime domain knowledge, problem-solving, critical thinking, communication (speaking, writing, listening), teamwork and leadership, professionalism, and analytical methods.

5. Global and Cultural Perspective

IMB majors gain international exposure through travel-embedded field studies—e.g., trips to Singapore and the United Arab Emirates—with structured pre-departure prep and reflective post-trip assessments .

6. Professional Certification Prep

The curriculum supports certification in areas such as business analysis, project management, managerial accounting, and particularly maritime credentials from the Institute for Chartered Shipbrokers, including the renowned Professional Qualifying Examination.
IMB cadets emerge with:

A solid grounding in business analysis, finance, and maritime operations

Practical skills from co-ops and international experiential learning

Specialized maritime knowledge—law, logistics, insurance, chartering, more

Industry-standard certifications to enhance employability

This comprehensive blend ensures graduates are well-prepared for global maritime careers—such as in shipping, port operations, brokerage, supply chain management, and maritime law.

VIEW CURRICULUM

Academic Requirements

To be considered for admission to Massachusetts Maritime Academy, candidates must be capable of college-level study and meet the minimum requirements below:

• 4 years of English
• 4 years of Mathematics: Including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Precalc/Trigonometry (strongly encouraged). At least one course must be completed during senior year. *
• 3 years of Science: At least three of these courses must include labs. Technology/Engineering courses must be designated as science courses (taken for science credit) by the high school. Courses in Chemistry and Physics are strongly recommended.
• 2 years of Social Science: Including one course in United States History
• 2 years of Foreign Language: Two sequential, one-year courses in either a classical or modern language 
  • A foreign language waiver may be given to students attending a vocational technical high school or those who have received a waiver from their high school.
• 2 Elective Courses

Test Requirements

The submission of SAT or ACT scores is optional. For more information, please review our Test Optional Policy.

If you choose to submit your standardized test scores, you must submit official test scores from either The College Board (SAT) or The ACT (ACT). When taking the exam, have your scores sent directly to Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Please note, score requests can take between 2-4 weeks to be delivered and added to a student's application. 

• Average SAT Score: 1050-1100* (SAT Code: 3515)
• Average ACT Score: 22-23 (ACT Code: 1856)
• *We will superscore your SAT scores.

How to prepare for this major:

- Four years of college prep math. Pre-calculus is strongly encouraged.
- 3-4 years of lab science, including Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
- An overall GPA of 3.0 or above.
- Final grade of B or better in all math, science, engineering related courses.

This program prepares graduates in the foundation of general business, with a focus on the maritime sector, and prepares them for careers in the fields of management, logistics, transportation, operations, shipping, chartering, and maritime business. These unique skills provide cadets with an edge in the increasingly global marketplace. Many of our graduates go on to work in the following fields:

• General Business
• Shipping & Operations
• Vessel Chartering & Brokerage
• Port & Terminal Operations
• Maritime Law & Insurance
• Supply Chain Management

- IMB students will demonstrate knowledge of key concepts, principles, and practices in business and maritime domains. [Competence]

- IMB students will apply appropriate analytic techniques to solve problems and support decision making. [Analytics]

- IMB students will comprehensively explore issues, ideas, evidence, and perspectives in order to accept or formulate an opinion or conclusion. [Critical Thinking]

- IMB students will effectively listen and read to gain information. IMB students will effectively speak and write to share information. [Communication]

- IMB students will perform effectively as a team member and leader. [Leadership]

- IMB students will demonstrate ability to perform in professional settings. [Professionalism]

The IMB program embodies the Learn-Do-Learn philosophy. We have a trio of 6-credit “Do” courses where students apply what they have learned in the classroom out in the field through hands-on experiences - including working for employers, visiting maritime centers around the world, etc. Similarly, there are many courses with hands-on practical components (e.g., portfolio analysis using the resources in the Riccardi investment center, live case studies consulting to real-world clients, and obtaining professional certifications).

The International Maritime Business Unit has various programs for International Experiential Learning and Cultural Awareness. This specialized education, training and learning is an important part of the success of any person involved in the shipping industry because of its global nature. 

LEARN MORE

The International Maritime Business Department at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy has received specialized accreditation for its business program through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11960 Quivira Road in Overland Park, Kansas, USA. For a list of accredited programs please refer to the IACBE member status page. 

Membership Status
IACBE Certificate of Specialized Accreditation
Public Disclosure of Student Achievement 2023-2024