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BS - Ocean Engineering

What is an Ocean Engineering degree?

Ocean engineering is about making waves through the study of the relationship among ocean phenomena, the marine environment, and human society and technology. Students dive into a diverse ocean engineering degree curriculum that combines essential courses in modern engineering and naval architecture with in-depth experimentation and hands-on design.

So whether you want to develop a new way of preventing coastal erosion, design jetties and seawalls, or become a naval architect, you can get there with a ocean engineering degree from Florida Tech. Here, you'll develop a strong background in engineering and get hands-on experience in environmental science and instrumentation.

Our ocean engineering degree program is dynamic and focused. You'll get started right away, taking core courses like Oceanography and Introduction to Ocean Engineering as a freshman. Guided by highly qualified faculty who care about your success, you'll hone your strengths and begin specializing as early as sophomore year.

Ocean engineering is based in five areas of concentration: coastal engineering, hydrographic engineering, marine vehicles (naval architecture), marine materials and corrosion, and underwater technology. Hands-on experience in these fields prepares our ocean engineering degree graduates for professional careers.

Advantages

Why Florida Tech: The ocean engineering degree at Florida Tech includes

• Program places emphasis on the solution of engineering problems through the application of advanced knowledge that spans various disciplines
• Close proximity to Atlantic Ocean and other marine environments enables real world application of knowledge
• Excellent faculty involve undergraduate students in research initiatives and projects
• Hands-on experience with high-tech instruments
• Interdisciplinary approach gives students the diversity of experience employers look for
• ProTrack Co-op program, which incorporates 3 professional work experiences into your four-year degree curriculum

Facilities: Florida Tech has marine laboratories and field research sites both on the Indian River Lagoon and at the Vero Beach oceanfront marine research facility. The Ralph S. Evinrude Marine Operations Center houses a fleet of small craft. Small boats are available for class work and research, and scuba diving can be incorporated in research and course work. Other teaching facilities include a computer-aided design center, and numberical modeling and computer facilities for data analysis. The Marine Geology and Geophysics Laboratory provides facilities for core boring and sediment analysis, beach and hydrographic surveying, and oceanographic instrumentation for coastal research activities. The Underwater Technologies Laboratory has a 500-square-foot electronic workship with all of the systems necessary to design and maintain autonomous underwater vehicles. In the Surf Mechanics Laboratory, students have access to two wave tanks for theoretical and experimental measuring of water waves.

Learning

Clubs and Organizations: Marine Technology Society

Research: Every ocean engineering degree undergraduate has the opportunity to work with professors on funded research projects. Recent science and engineering projects include:

• the design and construction of a 30-foot high-speed research boat, a 30-by-20 twin hull
• research platform and a boat-mounted underwater camera
• testing of antifouling coatings
• instrumentation system design for waves and weather
• artificial reef designs and monitoring
• ocean instrumentation development
• Numerical models of hydrodynamics and sediment transport
• Ship motions in shallow water harbors
• High-speed small craft hydrodynamics
• Maintenance of the living seas structure
• Ship corrosion and biofouling
• Artificial reefs of the Mexican Caribbean
• Design and construction of a remotely operated surf rover
• Design and construction of an autonomous underwater vehicle
• Seakeeping testing in open waters

Internships and Cooperative Learning: Students majoring in oceanography, ocean engineering, meteorology and environmental science at Florida Tech are able to choose from a variety of hands-on internships. Undergraduates have recently completed internships at:

• American Airlines
• Brevard County Natural Resource Management
• Caribbean Marine Research Center
• Disney World's The Living Seas
• Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection
• Mote Marine Laboratory
• National Park Service
• National Weather Service, Melbourne Forecast Office
• NASA's Kennedy Space Center
• NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and meteorological Laboratory
• Sea World
• Sierra Club
• Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
• St. John's River Water Management District
• Army Corps of Engineers

Future Outcomes

Outcomes - Grad School: 20% of ocean engineering degree and DMES graduates go directly onto graduate school, many of them continuing their studies at Florida Tech. Recent graduates have also been enrolled at: MIT Stockton University of Alaska University of Rhode Island University of North Carolina Cambridge University (UK)

Outcomes - Career and Salary: Ocean engineering degree DMES graduates are employed all over the world, in a variety of exciting positions. Most are employed as research scientists and coastal and oceanographic engineers for government and private companies. Employers of DMES alumni include: Rockwell Aviation Northrop Grumman Dynamac Boeing Epcot Center U.S. Environmental Protection Avency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) NASA National Science Foundation Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Curriculum

Curriculum program plans shown reflect current degree requirements. Previous academic year requirements can be accessed from the catalog page by choosing the appropriate academic year.

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Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering

The Department of Marine and Environmental Systems combines the expertise of both scientists and engineers. The ocean engineering faculty includes highly qualified researchers engaged in the study of port and harbor facilities, the modeling of estuarine environments, the design and construction of marine vehicles, the impact of waste disposal in the sea, the effects and prevention of coastal erosion and sediment transport, offshore engineering, hydrographic surveying and corrosion in the marine environment. In addition to these studies, various scientific investigations in the bioenvironmental, chemical, physical and geological oceanographic fields incorporate ocean engineering expertise.

Educational Objectives

The ocean engineering program offers education that is unique among engineering disciplines in providing an intimate and practical knowledge of the environment in which the graduate will operate. The result is a diverse curriculum with a strong foundation in all relevant engineering fields as well as in oceanography. The educational objectives of the program are:

Academic fundamentals: Graduates will have sufficient mastery of the academic fundamentals that underpin a successful career related to ocean engineering. These fundamentals include knowledge of chemistry, calculus-based physics, advanced mathematics, engineering sciences, humanities, social sciences, information technology and experimental methodologies.

Engineering practice: Graduates will have sufficient competence in the application of engineering skills for the practical solution of problems related to the ocean engineering profession. These skills include systematic problem formulations, techniques for their solutions, and methodologies for designing systems in the main stems of Florida Tech ocean engineering: coastal processes, hydrographic engineering, materials and structures, instrumentation, and naval architecture and ocean systems/underwater technologies.

Teamwork and communication: Graduates will possess confidence and ability to work both independently and as productive members of a team. Graduates are to attain a mastery of technical communication, and practice the interpersonal and organizational skills required to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

Professional development: Graduates will be instilled with the desire to contribute to the profession and to society on a continuing basis. They are encouraged to pursue various options consistent with lifelong learning, maintain ethical professional conduct, have knowledge of contemporary issues, participate in professional organizations and contribute to diversity in the community.

The first two years of study are devoted to developing a foundation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, mechanics, computer programming and humanities. During the junior year, the student acquires knowledge of ocean science and the basics of engineering analysis. The fourth year is oriented toward the application of these basic techniques to ocean engineering problems. All students are required to obtain firsthand field and sea experience during the marine field projects held during the summer between the junior and senior years. These projects encourage the student to learn to analyze, design, construct, install and operate equipment in the marine environment for a particular designated task. The university operates several small boats and charters a well-equipped vessel for offshore, estuarine and river work.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering must complete the minimum course requirements outlined in the following curriculum.

For definition of electives for engineering programs, see the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 135

Not all humanities core courses are offered online or every term; check the current schedule of classes for humanities core options.

Note: Lists of recommended elective courses are available from the department office.