The curriculum in ocean engineering offers a firm foundation in engineering fundamentals and prepares students for professional careers or for graduate school. The required ocean engineering courses begin at the freshman level and include engineering science laboratory, analysis, and design courses. The design component of the curriculum includes 17 credits of course work. There is a strong emphasis on the practical application of scientific principles in the ocean environment. Experiments in several basic areas provide an integrated approach to investigations into ocean phenomena and processes.
Students plan and execute experiments, collect and analyze data, and report results.
Through this hands-on experience they gain an understanding of the role of ocean engineering in scientific and industrial fields. Professional elective courses in ocean engineering are also required and introduce students to such topics as ocean instrumentation and seafloor mapping, underwater acoustics and data analysis, marine hydrodynamics and water wave mechanics, coastal and nearshore modeling, marine geomechanics, coastal and offshore structures, and corrosion. An ocean systems design course in the senior year integrates previously obtained knowledge in a comprehensive design project. The internship allows students to take advantage of the many opportunities available in the region.