Degrees and Certificates

The Center for Advances in Port Management has updated our Master of Science degree in Port and Terminal Management from a 36-hour program to a 30-hour program. The change were implemented on January 1, 2024 for new incoming students but will be visible on the 2024-25 Academic Catalogue.

In addition to the master's degree, CAPM offers three graduate-level certificate programs. See details on all programs below.

Master of Science in Port and Terminal Management

Workers with backs turned - Port Management

Preparing the next generation of port and marine terminal managers.

  • Fully online asynchronous courses allow student access to curriculum anywhere in the world
  • 10 courses taught in 8-week semesters
  • Courses are populated with additional lectures by experts in their field
  • Taught by Lamar University College of Business and College Engineering instructors and industry professionals
  • Pre-recorded as well as live collaboration sessions

Master's Degree Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
    • Waived if the student has more than one year of relevant industry experience. Please email your resume to portmanagement@lamar.edu for consideration.
    • Waived if undergraduate GPA is 3.0 or greater.
  • AAPA PPM Certification: Prospective Lamar University students with an AAPA PPM certification may qualify and apply for up to nine semester credits. View the AAPA PPM Credit Policy (PDF) for a detailed description of the policy.

Courses and Requirements

To earn this degree, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and complete 10 3-credit-hour courses and defend a final paper or project*. Of the 10 courses, Students are required to select at least 1 course from the Leadership category and at least 6 Maritime courses. 1 of the 6 maritime courses must come from the Maritime Finance category.

*More information on the project defense and exit interview are available when speaking with your academic advisor.

Course Examples:

  • BULW 5320 - Leadership and Negotiation
  • MGMT 5313 - Team Leadership
  • ECON 5333 - Economics of Ports and Trade
  • INEN 5306 - Freight Transportation Logistics
  • INEN 5310 - Marine Terminal Operations

Master's Degree Application Instructions

  • Complete an ApplyTexas application at applytexas.org.
  • Choose the M.S. in Port and Terminal Management option
  • Take GRE if required.
  • Have all transcripts sent to graduate admissions electronically (luadmtran@lamar.edu) or by mail.

See Admission FAQs

Graduate Certificates

CAPM offers three distinctive online certificates that are perfect for those looking to increase their knowledge without completing the full master's degree. Each certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the four required courses with a minimum GPA of a 3.0. Courses from the three certificates may be combined towards the 30 hr. M.S. in port and terminal management degree

Certificate Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities

Certificate Application Instructions

  • Complete an ApplyTexas application at applytexas.org.
  • Choose the Certificate option.
  • Have all transcripts sent to graduate admissions either electronically (luadmtran@lamar.edu) or by mail.

Port and Terminal Management Course Descriptions

  • BULW 5320 Leadership and Negotiation

    This course focuses on the development on negotiation and versatile leadership skills important in the effective management of change. Through role playing exercises, tapes, diagnostic tools, seminar discussion, selected readings, and cases students will learn theory and build skills necessary for meeting objectives and providing leadership in diverse groups and organizations.

  • BULW 5333 Legal Framework of Ports and Trade

    North American and global legal framework for trade and the development and operations of the wide array of ports and marine terminals, including trade policy, incoterms, customs rules, and environmental regulation. (Regulations concerning safety and security will be addressed in the course focused on those topics).

  • ECON 5333 Economics of Ports and Trade

    Macroeconomic overview of international trade followed by a microeconomic study of ports and marine terminals. Through seminar discussion, selected readings, and cases students will learn the theory and practical aspects of international commerce as related to ports and marine terminals.

  • INEN 5302 Introduction to Port Management

    The course will provide an overview of all aspects and considerations involved in the management of port authorities and marine terminals across the wide array of publicly and privately owned and operated facilities. The course will also address governance and organizational structure options and implications.

  • INEN 5304 Risk Analysis and Decision Making

    This course is designed to analyze principles and applications of risk analysis. Special risk analysis will be given to port operations, port security and management under extreme events.

    Managing critical infrastructures especially in terms of port operations and management will be discussed in terms of risk, venerability and resilience perspectives. Interdependencies between ports and other critical infrastructures will be examined in this class.

  • INEN 5306 Freight Transportation Logistics

    Course provides an overview of US and global freight transportation systems, infrastructure requirements and cargo routing criteria from the perspectives of the various transportation modes, as well as from port authorities and marine terminal operators.

  • INEN 5307 Capital Projects

    Individual project planning, financing and construction. Implementation of the master facility plan. Application of decision modeling. Approaches to capital project planning, design, finance, construction, operation and maintenance.

  • INEN 5308 Port Security and Resiliency Planning

    Principles and applications of security and resiliency planning in the context of port management is examined along with the vulnerabilities of ports to disruption and asymmetric attack, critical port security incidents, and defensive measures.

    The management of critical port infrastructure in terms of risk, vulnerability and resilience perspectives, and interdependency of port operations with other critical transportation infrastructure is also explored.

  • INEN 5309 Strategic and Master Facility Planning

    Course covering strategic, business and facility planning, steps required in each planning effort, including organizational involvement, implementation and measures of success. Case studies will be used to illustrate processes and outcomes.

  • INEN 5310 Marine Terminal Operations

    Facilities, equipment, technology, processes and procedures across the wide array of terminal operations and cargoes, including cruise passengers. Students will be exposed to a variety of simulation exercises to demonstrate how modern marine terminals operate.

  • MGMT 5313 Team Leadership

    This course teaches Franklin/Covey’s Leadership:

    • Great Leaders
    • Great Teams
    • Great Results
    Unleash the talent and capability of your teams by carrying out the 4 imperatives of Great Leaders. This course will help students learn how to build credibility and trust others, define their team’s purpose and align it with the organization’s goals, and encourage growth and responsibility of the unique talents of their team.
  • MGMT 5333 Port Property and Asset Management

    Ports are an asset intensive industry that are increasingly capital constrained and large investments needed to increase port capacity, productivity, and maximize cargo throughput. This course develops the tools needed to understand and manage the port’s true infrastructure investment value.

    With the significant increase in global shipping, new forms of ownership and financing port investment as well as reliable “fair market” asset valuations of port resources will be covered in this course.

View the Comprehensive Catalog for required courses and descriptions.

Port and Terminal Management M.S.


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