Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering, Ocean Engineering Systems Management & Ocean Engineering Education at MIT Center for Ocean Engineering (COE)
For nearly a century, Massachusetts Institute Technology (MIT) has been a leading center of ship research and design, and is widely recognized for its contributions in such areas as hydrodynamics, ship structural mechanics and dynamics, propeller design, and overall ship design.
The Pratt School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, which was established through a bequest to MIT in 1912, is an integral part of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Today, MIT is at the forefront of ocean science and engineering, with significant efforts in fluid mechanics and hydrodynamics, acoustics, offshore mechanics, marine robotics and sensors, and ocean sensing and forecasting. In addition, the Naval Construction program provides advanced graduate education on the design of naval ships and vehicles.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers an undergraduate degree in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering, graduate degrees in Ocean Engineering, in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, in Naval Engineering, and in Oceanographic Engineering as part of the MIT/WHOI Joint Program. Currently, approximately 110 students pursue Ocean Engineering degrees.
Academic Programs
Undergraduate Programs
- BS in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering (2-OE):: The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering is designed for students who are interested in mechanical engineering with a specialization in ocean engineering. The program incorporates aspects of ocean exploration and utilization of the oceans for transportation, defense, and resources. Courses and research covers the disciplines of fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, acoustics, dynamics, materials, and ocean systems and design. The degree prepares students for work in the industry and government in areas including offshore oil recovery, transportation and defense, ocean environment protection, underwater vehicles, global climate monitoring, and computer-aided design.
Graduate Programs - COE
- MS in Ocean Engineering (MSOE): The Master's of Science in Ocean Engineering could take from 12 to 18 months, depending on the relative strength of undergraduate preparation in engineering or the physical sciences.
- MS in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (SMNAME): The curriculum leading to a is based on a broad working knowledge of all the basic engineering skills. As a part of the more general field of ocean engineering, naval architecture and marine engineering are concerned with all aspects of waterborne vehicles operating on, below, and just above the sea surface. The program is intended to develop an individual who plans to concentrate in areas related to waterborne vehicles and/or their subsystems.
- Naval Engineer (2-3 year program): The program leading to the Naval Engineer's degree requires a higher level and significantly broader range of professional competence in engineering than that required for the S.M. degree. The program for an engineer's degree ordinarily includes subjects in the areas of economics, industrial management, and public policy or law, and at least 12 units of comprehensive design.
- MS in Oceanographic Engineering (offered in conjunction with Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institute): The Joint Program in Applied Ocean Science & Engineering offers graduate students the opportunity to plan an exciting career in research the ocean and ocean technologies. Students are given the opportunity to select individual paths combining mathematical and engineering skills with oceanography. Through the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Applied Ocean Science and Engineering.
- Ocean Engineering Systems Management (MBA or SM in Management: SM in Mechanical Engineering): Graduates of this track will earn a dual degree from the MIT department of Mechanical Engineering and the MIT Sloan School of Management while also completing a six-month internship at an industry partner site. The Ocean Engineering Systems Management track provides students with the opportunity to focus their engineering program and to develop knowledge and skills valued by companies and required in today’s global environment.
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Science (ScD), which differs in name only (this includes the joint MIT/WHOI degrees)
MIT COE Features
MIT is a world-class educational institution. Teaching and research - with relevance to the practical world as a guiding principle - continue to be its primary purpose. MIT is independent, coeducational, and privately endowed. Its five schools and one college encompass numerous academic departments, divisions, and degree-granting programs, as well as interdisciplinary centers, laboratories, and programs whose work cuts across traditional departmental boundaries.
- Campus & Profile: The 168 acre MIT campus is located a block away from the Charles River and right on the Atlantic Ocean in the city of Cambridge. MIT is a large, residential, research university with a majority of enrollments in graduate and professional programs. MIT has a strong entrepreneurial culture and founded many large corporations in the United States.
- Accreditation: MIT is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Engineering programs are accredited by Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
- School of Engineering: The School of Engineering has been ranked first among graduate and undergraduate programs by US News & World Report since 1994.
- COE Academics: Mechanical and Ocean Engineering, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Naval Engineering, Oceanographic Engineering, and Transportation.
- Career Opportunities: You may find yourself in the offshore oil industry, environmental protection, ocean monitoring, developing renewable energy, underwater vehicles, ocean mapping, designing structures, marine transportation, or designing ships.
- Other Opportunities: There are numerous student groups, work opportunities, and courses that give students first hand experience working in the Atlantic.
- Housing: Undergraduates are guaranteed four-year housing in one of the 12 dormitories. 82% students live on-campus. On-campus housing provides live-in graduate student tutors and faculty housemasters. There are seven separate dorms for graduate students.