What's the mechanical engineering program like at the Coast Guard Academy?

I'm thinking about pursuing mechanical engineering and considering the Coast Guard Academy. Does anybody have insights on their engineering curriculum or any unique opportunities they offer?

The Mechanical Engineering program at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy is a very well-rounded one, known for training engineers to be leaders in their field.

When studying mechanical engineering here, you should expect a combination of classical theoretical instruction with practical application. Your academic journey will be rooted in traditional disciplines such as dynamics, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics. Over your academic career, you'll also gain a breadth of hands-on experiences with laboratory work and capstone design projects. This will give you an understanding of how to apply these theories to real-world scenarios.

One of the unique opportunities that the Coast Guard Academy offers is Sea Term, a summer at-sea experience that everyone goes through after their freshman year. During this time, you’ll learn about the machinery and engineering aspects of Cutter operations, which can be a great firsthand learning experience for a future mechanical engineer.

Another notable aspect of the Coast Guard Academy's mechanical engineering program is its capstone projects. Typically team-based and sometimes sponsored by outside companies or organizations, these projects provide opportunities for you to apply your learning to tangible engineering problems and work on creating solutions.

Ultimately, graduating from this program not only equips you with a top-tier engineering education but also leadership skills that are highly sought after in the engineering industry. It's also worth noting that post-graduation, you will be commissioned as an officer in the Coast Guard, ready to put your training to work in service.