BS in Ocean Engineering

Gain Practical Experience

Studying for an ocean engineering degree at Florida Tech gives students a unique opportunity to study in a marine environment—the university is just over the causeway from the Atlantic Ocean. Ocean engineering is field-intensive and seagoing; students often participate in research projects on board-chartered vessels in the open sea.

As a senior, you’ll complete an exciting design project in collaboration with a team of your peers. Together, you’ll conceptualize, design, construct, and present a machine or structure that fulfills a real-world need. You’ll present your project to industry leaders and employers, and may compete in international competitions. As a result, you get practical experience, an expanded professional network, and perhaps even a pre-graduation job offer.

Curriculum

Freshman Year

Fall (15 credit hours)

• CHM 1101 General Chemistry 1
• COM 1101 Composition and Rhetoric
• FYE 1000 University Experience
• MTH 1001 Calculus 1 or MTH 1010 Honors Calculus 1
• OCN 1010 Oceanography

Spring (18 credit hours)

• BUS 1301 Basic Economics or Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 3
• COM 1102 Writing About Literature
• MTH 1002 Calculus 2 or MTH 1020 Honors Calculus 2
• OCE 1001 Introduction to Ocean Engineering
• PHY 1001 Physics 1
• PHY 2091 Physics Laboratory 1

Sophomore Year

Fall (18 credit hours)

• MEE 2081 Applied Mechanics: Statics
• MTH 2001 Calculus 3 or MTH 2010 Honors Calculus 3
• OCE 2002 Computer Applications in Ocean Engineering 1 or Restricted Elective (CSE) Credit Hours: 3
• PHY 2002 Physics 2
• PHY 2092 Physics Laboratory 2

Select the first HUM Core Course:

• HUM 2051 Civilization 1: Ancient Through Medieval
• HUM 2141 World Art History 1: Pre-History to Early Global Awareness
• HUM 2211 British Literature and Culture
• HUM 2212 British and American Literature 1
• HUM 2331 American History: Pre-Columbian to Civil War Era
• HUM 2551 Survey of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy

Spring (17 credit hours)

• MEE 2082 Applied Mechanics: Dynamics
• MTH 2201 Differential Equations/Linear Algebra or MTH 3200 Honors Differential Equations
• OCE 3011 Engineering Materials
• OCE 3012 Engineering Materials Lab
• Restricted Elective (OCE, OCN, CVE) Credit Hours: 3

Select the second HUM Core Course:

• HUM 2052 Civilization 2: Renaissance Through Modern
• HUM 2142 World Art History 2: Early Modern to Post-Colonial
• HUM 2212 British and American Literature 1 (may not be repeated for credit)
• HUM 2213 British and American Literature 2
• HUM 2332 American History: From Reconstruction to the Present
• HUM 2552 Survey of Modern and Contemporary Philosophy

Junior Year

Fall (15 credit hours)

• AEE 3083 Mechanics of Materials
• COM 2223 Scientific and Technical Communication
• OCE 3030 Fluid Mechanics
• OCE 3033 Fluid Mechanics Lab
• OCN 3401 Physical Oceanography
• Free Elective Credit Hours: 2

Spring (16 credit hours)

• ECE 4991 Electric and Electronic Circuits
• MEE 3191 Engineering Thermodynamics 1
• OCE 3521 Hydromechanics and Wave Theory
• OCE 3522 Water Wave Lab
• OCE 4541 Ocean Engineering Design (Q)
• OCE 4571 Fundamentals of Naval Architecture 1

Summer (6 credit hours)

• OCE 4911 Marine Field Projects (Q)
• OCE 4912 Marine Field Projects (Q)
• OCE 4913 Marine Field Projects (Q)

Senior Year

Fall (15 credit hours)

• CVE 3015 Structural Analysis and Design
• OCE 4518 Protection of Marine Materials
• OCE 4525 Coastal Engineering Structures
• OCE 4545 Hydroacoustics
• Restricted Elective (OCE) Credit Hours: 3*

Spring (15 credit hours)

• CVE 4000 Engineering Economy and Planning
• OCE 4561 Fundamentals of Offshore Engineering
• Humanities Elective (HU) 3000-level or higher recommended Credit Hours: 3
• Restricted Elective (OCE) Credit Hours: 3*
• Technical Elective Credit Hours: 3

Total Credits Required: 135

*At least two OCE-restricted electives must be chosen from the following:

• OCE 4522 Coastal Engineering Processes and Shoreline Design
• OCE 4531 Instrumentation Design and Measurement Analysis
• OCE 4542 Ocean Engineering Systems Design
• OCE 4563 Port and Harbor Design
• OCE 4572 Structural Design of Marine Vehicles
• OCE 4575 Design of High-Speed Small Craft
• OCE 4576 Hydrodynamics in Ship Design

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

Why Pursue an Ocean Engineering Degree at Florida Tech?

There are many reasons why Florida Tech is the perfect ocean engineering university for you. For one thing, Florida Tech is listed among the Fiske Guide’s “Engineering/Top Technical Institutes” and Parade Magazine’s “College A-List in Engineering.”

Career Outlook

Ocean engineering jobs are organized among five areas of concentration:

• Coastal engineering
• Hydrographic engineering
• Marine vehicles (naval architecture)
• Marine materials and corrosion
• Underwater technology

Information about ocean engineering jobs can be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The handbook provides information about specific jobs including median annual pay, working conditions, and job outlook, among other things.

According to the Department of Labor, the employment of ocean engineers and naval architects is expected to grow by 17% through 2020. The need to design ships that can transport goods and energy across the globe will help spur employment growth for ocean engineering jobs.

Additionally, marine engineers are in demand for such occupations as maintaining offshore oil rigs, updating fleets to meet new federal requirements in transporting oil and gas, and designing cargo ships that better protect the environment through less pollution.