| Preliminary
Conference
Upon entering the ocean engineering program, students
are assigned a faculty adviser generally according to the option or area
of interest selected by the student. Initial conference participants
review the academic background of the student and advise the student on
which courses are required and what, if any, deficiencies must be made
up.
Graduate Study
The graduate program in ocean engineering is intended
to channel the student’s previous engineering or scientific experience
to ocean-related work. Students may pursue their studies in coastal
engineering, offshore engineering, or ocean-resources engineering.
Departmental interests in the coastal area include
design of coastal and harbor structures, beach and surf parameters,
near-shore and estuary hydrodynamics, hydraulic and numerical modeling,
and tsunami wave studies.
In the offshore engineering area, analysis and design
of fixed and floating structures, submersible and semi-submersible
platforms, offshore ports, mooring systems, ship and platform motions in
waves, and stability in waves are addressed.
In the ocean-resources engineering area, ocean thermal
energy conversion (OTEC), ocean mining, wave energy extraction, ocean
living resources, waste disposal in the ocean, and environmental
response are addressed.
Master’s Degree
The MS program in ocean engineering is aimed at
training professional engineers.
Admission Requirements
An intended candidate for the master’s program is
expected to have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, applied
mathematics, physics, or applied sciences.
In order to satisfy ABET requirements, candidates with
degrees other than in engineering will be required to make up
deficiencies in engineering. All students must satisfy minimum
undergraduate engineering requirements, consisting of 16 credit hours in
natural sciences, 16 credit hours in mathematics, 32 credit hours in
engineering science, and 16 credit hours in engineering design. Official
scores in the GRE General Test must be submitted.
Generally the student’s first semester is devoted to
basic courses in the field of ocean engineering; then, the student
specializes in coastal, offshore, or ocean-resources engineering.
Degree Requirements
The MS degree in ocean engineering may be earned under
either Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis).
Both degree plans require a balance between
engineering science and advanced design. At least 24 credit hours must
be earned in advanced courses numbered 600 and above. No more than 5
credit hours of 400-level courses can be counted toward the MS degree
requirements.
Ten credits of core courses are required of all
students in ocean engineering, and a minimum of 12 credit hours must
come from the list of courses identified as basic courses for the option
area chosen by the student. As part of the course work requirements, the
students must be competent in at least one scientific programming
language.
One credit of seminar is required. Students may attend
15 seminars of their choice in ocean-engineering-related areas. They
register before the semester in which they plan to fulfill this
requirement. The remaining credits are to be chosen so as to form a
coherent plan of study.
During the first semester of full-time enrollment, the
student must take an examination (general exam) to qualify for admission
to candidacy. During the last semester of residence, an oral examination
(final exam) is given. This consists of a presentation of the thesis or
Plan B paper and provides the faculty with an opportunity to test the
student’s understanding of the chosen field and ability to integrate
theory and design at the master’s level. The general and final
examinations may be repeated once. The general exam must be taken
earlier than the semester in which the final exam is taken.
Plan A (Thesis) Requirements
The thesis option requires a minimum of 30 credit
hours, including 6 credit hours of thesis and a minimum of 24 credit
hours of course work, including at least 3 credit hours of advanced
design or engineering science. No more than 2 credit hours of directed
reading (699) may be used to fulfill the minimum requirements. The
thesis can be scientifically and/or technologically oriented and
requires independent work by the student. A verbal presentation and
defense of the thesis are part of the final exam. The subject of the
thesis must receive prior faculty approval.
Plan B (Non-thesis) Requirements
The non-thesis option requires a minimum of 30 credit
hours, including at least 12 credit hours of engineering science and 12
credit hours of advanced design. Students are required to write and
submit a paper on a technical subject prepared under faculty guidance.
An oral presentation of the paper is part of the final exam. The subject
of the paper must receive prior faculty approval.
Doctoral Degree
A student pursuing the doctoral program is required to
achieve a broad understanding of the principal areas of ocean
engineering, as well as a thorough understanding of a specific area. The
student may give proof of mastering the subject matter in a selected
area by passing a number of related courses offered in the department,
as specified by the graduate faculty, or by examination of the material
contained in these various courses.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the doctoral program
should normally have an MS degree in engineering, applied mathematics,
physics, or applied sciences. Exceptionally well-qualified students with
a BS degree in these disciplines may petition to be admitted to the PhD
program directly. Applicants must submit the GRE General Test score.
Submission of the relevant subject test score is recommended.
All students must satisfy minimum undergraduate
engineering requirements, consisting of 16 credit hours in natural
sciences, 16 credit hours in mathematics, 32 credit hours in engineering
science, and 16 credit hours in engineering design. The student must
also satisfy the minimum course work requirements or equivalence of an
MS degree in ocean engineering, which consists of 10 credits of core
courses and 12 credits of basic courses in the major area chosen by the
student. As part of the course work requirements, the student must be
competent in at least one scientific programming language.
All intended candidates for the PhD degree must take a
qualifying examination. This examination is given during the student’s
first semester. |