What it’s about:
Ocean engineers apply a variety of engineering disciplines to develop systems that operate in ocean and coastal waters. The profession includes such project areas as the construction and maintenance of facilities such as ports, harbours, and dikes; ocean drilling, dredging and salvage operations; underwater construction; and management of the ocean environment. This field should not be confused with marine engineering, which focuses primarily on the mechanics and operation of seagoing vessels.
What the study of this major is like:
During your first two years as an ocean engineering major, you focus primarily on mathematics, chemistry,physics, and engineering fundamentals. You will probably take courses in calculus and analytic geometry; differential equations; statics/mechanics; electrical engineering; and engineering economics. Other general education requirements may be distributed throughout the curriculum. Electives, which will fill most of your third and fourth years, may include these:
Ocean acoustic. Sound is often the only way to sense the underwater environment or to transmit information underwater. You study the influence of water properties on sound speed and refraction; sonar systems; and sounds generated by ships and marine life.
Hydrodynamics. This field covers the behaviour of water; floating and submerged objects; lift and drag forces; wave forces on beaches, vessels, and offshore platforms; and basic seakeeping.
Ocean measurements. You explore the principles of sensors, measurement, and electronics as applied to the ocean environment. You may also study seafloor mapping and underwater acoustics.
Ocean resources engineering. Here you examine systems to develop the energy, mineral, and living resources of the sea; the use of the ocean for waste disposal; and related environmental and economic issues.
Marine geomechanics. This focuses on the behaviour of the seabed and sediments, dredging, cables and pipelines, and foundations for offshore and coastal structures.
Coastal engineering. Topics include ports and harbours, inlets, and barrier islands; near shore environmental engineering; beach dynamics; flood hazards; and coastal structures such as piers.
Your fourth year will be dominated by a capstone projects, in which you apply the knowledge and skills you’ve learned to a real-world design problem. It is usually a group project involving analysis, data collection, design, and a final presentation and report, and may also include scale-modelling, construction, and testing.
Programs are generally rigorous and comprehensive, requiring hardworking and dedicated students. Courses are typically taught as lectures, some with associated lab work and experimental projects. There is usually a great deal of fieldwork required, which most students enjoy. You may also take hands-on courses that focus on designing and building a system or structure, such as an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Ocean engineering courses are sometimes supplemented by classes offered by other departments of engineering (chemical, civil, environmental, electrical, and/or mechanical), math, computer science, and grad schools of oceanography. Programs may be approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Career options and trends:
Coastal engineer*; civil engineer; underwater acoustician*; geotechnical engineer*; offshore engineer; marine engineer.
Job opportunities remain strong in the fields of coastal engineering; environmental engineering and pollution control; ocean instrumentation; dredging engineering; acoustics; ocean systems; and consulting. As nations increasingly rely on the oceans to meet the growing demand for resources, ocean engineers will be needed to meet these demands effectively and wisely.
Source: CollegeBoard 2012 Book of Majors
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