Exploring Ocean Engineering at the Naval Academy

I'm considering a career in ocean engineering, and I learned that the Naval Academy offers this program. Does anyone know what the curriculum looks like and if there are hands-on opportunities?

The Naval Academy's Ocean Engineering program, like all service academy engineering programs, is highly robust and recognized by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology).

The curriculum involves a balance of fundamental engineering courses, more specialized ocean engineering classes, and naval architecture concepts. You'd be taking courses ranging from fluid dynamics, acoustics and wave mechanics, to naval ship design and oceanographic engineering. They also incorporate thorough mathematics, natural science, and basic engineering principles courses like physics, calculus, statistics, circuits, and mechanics.

One of the great things about the Naval Academy is the emphasis on hands-on experiences. You can indeed expect a lot of practical learning. For example, in the hydrodynamics lab, you might be designing and testing hull shapes. Or in the naval construction and engineering lab, you'd be working on complex systems like submarine design.

Besides, opportunities extend beyond the classroom. The Naval Academy encourages "professional training" that could have you serving on board a variety of Navy and Coast Guard ships, conducting coastal and hydrographic surveys, or even doing salvage diving operations. This gives you a first-hand experience of the naval operations, which is priceless moving into a career with the Navy.

Remember, attending the Naval Academy means you're committing to serve in the Navy post-graduation. So, make sure this path aligns with your long-term career goals.