News & Updates
USF Launches Blue Economy MBA
Beginning this fall, students seeking an MBA at the University of South Florida will have a new blue economy offering to consider. The new options allow MBA students to build expertise in a specific domain, in addition to the fundamental leadership skills earning an MBA degree brings.
“These innovative concentrations allow early-career professionals to skill up and later professionals the chance to pivot into a new field,” said Eric Douthirt, director of the MBA programs at the USF Muma College of Business. “The demand for business leadership in these fields is growing exponentially.”
This year, Fortune ranked USF’s online MBA program among the nation’s top 10, and U.S. News and World Report survey placed USF’s online MBA program among the country’s top 25.
Developed in partnership with the USF College of Marine Science, the blue economy concentration is tailored for professionals who want to lead in maritime trade, coastal tourism and fisheries management.
Available through the online MBA program, this customized area of study addresses the sustainable use of ocean resources to support economic growth, and improved livelihoods and jobs, while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems.
“At USF, we are poised to train the best leaders in blue economy sectors. Our coastal location and world-renowned oceanographers are an asset to professionals looking to skill up in this space,” said David Naar, associate dean for academic programs at the USF College of Marine Science.
“Sectors in the blue economy are growing faster than the national economy at large, and we are excited to be a part of it,” he said.
The marine economy contributed a total of $476 billion in economic impact in 2022, making up nearly 2% of the nation’s gross domestic product, according to statistics released in June by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The marine sector generated $777 billion in sales, and supported 2.4 million jobs in 2022.