The College of Engineering has begun offering a minor in naval engineering, administered by the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NAME).
The marine industry, which includes shipbuilding, shipping and offshore industries, and government agencies such as the Navy and Coast Guard need engineers from a wide range of disciplines including mechanical, electrical, computer, industrial operations, civil and material science engineering.
NAME draws from many engineering and scientific disciplines in the research, development, design, construction, operation, maintenance and logistic support of surface and subsurface ships, small craft, offshore platforms, and small vehicles.
As it is inherently multidisciplinary, the new minor seeks involvement from all departments of CoE and from other colleges as well. The minor provides a coherent career path to employment for engineering, LSA or NROTC students interested in the marine industry but not majoring in it.
“Because we introduced this minor after fall 2014 registration had ended, interest is still building. This minor will create an expanded awareness of naval engineering within the university,” says Undergraduate Program Advisor Warren Noone. “We need people from many different disciplines to build ships.”
Simplyhired.com recently listed NAME as “The College Major That Does The Best In The Real World.” Furthermore, a study by the National Shipbuilding Research Program determined there was a clear need for naval engineers.
Given that this engineering field is both profitable and in need of new recruits, the new minor looks to provide students of many different majors the background needed to seriously consider entering the marine industry.
Although the 17-credit minor is structured to provide a basic understanding of marine design, systems and operations, it does not require a student to take all naval architecture and marine engineering courses. It is specifically designed to have students integrate specialized knowledge from their own disciplines to help meet marine engineering challenges.
“The scale and harshness of the marine environment poses particular challenges not found in the usual course of engineering practice, and graduates with knowledge of these marine challenges will be better prepared to meet them,” says retired Navy Capt. Rick Vanden Heuvel, associate director of the Naval Engineering Education Center.
