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SUNY Maritime College - Merchant Marine, Engineering, and Naval Architecture Education


Merchant Marine & Engineering Programs, Naval Architecture, Transportation & Operations Education and Training in NY

suny maritime college ny

SUNY Maritime College is a four-year college located at historich Fort Schuyler in Throgs Neck, New York which offers a solid academic program coupled with a structured cadet life in the regiment for both men and women. SUNY Maritime prepares students for careers through a content-centered curriculum and a hands-on, team building approach to learning. Maritime offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, summer training cruises to Europe, five ROTC options, and US Coast Guard license and intern programs.

Student life in the Regiment of Cadets enhances the College's unique learning experience which is nationally recognized for its academic and tactile approach to education by integrating the maritime curriculum with the regiment component.

This structured community emphasizes responsible citizenship and self-discipline, and maximizes opportunities for exercising leadership. Participation in the Regiment is optional for some programs.

The first maritime school in the country, SUNY Maritime College prepares students for careers in the maritime industry, government, military, and private industry.

Recent graduates of SUNY Maritime have benefited from nearly 100% job placement. Equipped with hands-on experience, students are prepared for positions of major responsibility regardless of the career path they choose.

suny maritime campus

Picture: SUNY Maritime Throgs Neck NY Campus Courtesy: SUNY

SUNY Maritime Majors

Bachelor of Engineering Programs

  • BE in Electrical Engineering (Deck, Engine, Internship): As an Electrical Engineering major, you will gain in-depth classroom and practical knowledge about power generation, control and use. When you graduate, you will be prepared to design service and operate electrical systems and electrical power systems.
  • BE in Facilities Engineering (Engine, Internship): Maritime’s Facilities Engineering program equips young professionals to operate, service and manage the heating, air conditioning, ventilation and other systems for large facilities, like hospitals, schools, corporate buildings and ships. This program is a good option for students who enjoy math, science and engineering disciplines combined with economics and management principles.
  • BE in Marine Engineering (Engine): In this program, you will learn to design, operate and maintain marine and industrial power plants. As a Marine Engineering major, you will also earn your U.S. Coast Guard Third Assistant Engineer, or engine, license. Earning an engine license requires you to belong to the regiment of cadets and sail aboard the Empire State VI during summer sea term.
  • BE in Mechanical Engineering (Engine, Internship): Students in the Mechanical Engineering program focus on designing and building innovative mechanical components and systems. At SUNY Maritime, you will complete two professional internships or work toward a U.S. Coast Guard third assistant engineer, or engine, license by sailing and working onboard the college's Training Ship Empire State VI.
  • BE in Naval Architecture (Deck, Engine, Internship): If you want to design marine vessels, including research boats, yachts, large ships or offshore platforms, SUNY Maritime is one of the few places in the country you can learn how. Before you graduate, you will spend your last year and a half working on a special capstone project in which you and a team of other students design your own unique vessel.

Bachelor of Science Programs

  • BS in International Transportation and Trade (Deck License or Internship): International Transportation and Trade at Maritime is a business program that gives you special insight into finance, logistics, economics and law through the lens of the global economy, and shipping and transportation industries.
  • BS in Marine Environmental Science (Deck License or Internship): The Bachelor of Science in Marine Environmental Science (MES) program is an interdisciplinary exploration of the marine environment, with the option to minor in Marine Biology, or Oceanography and Meteorology.
  • BS in Marine Transportation (Deck): This is a program that can lead to an exciting and rewarding career in the U.S. merchant marine and related industries.
  • BS in Marine Operations (Deck, Engine License): As a Marine Operations major, you will learn about the business of shipping from the fleet operations perspective - how to manage and maintain a company’s fleet of ships – as well as how to sail, power and navigate a commercial vessel.
  • BS in Maritime Studies (Deck, Internship): Students learn about literature, business, economics and the sciences through the lens of the maritime world. You can take classes about piracy, the literature and art of the sea, and conservation of marine environments, while gaining hands-on experience through professional internships or by obtaining a commercial shipping license.

Associate of Applied Science Program

  • AAS in Marine Technology: Small Vessel Operations (Limited Engine, Limited Deck): If you decide this program is the one for you, you will take courses focused on business, communication, brokering and port and terminal operations. You will also choose to pursue a U.S. Coast Guard deck or engine license. In the deck program, you will focus on learning navigation, Cargo handling and a variety of ship systems. The engine program focuses on powering and controlling a ship’s engine and energy systems.

Graduate Programs

  • MS in Maritime and Naval Studies: With online and on-campus courses, the Master of Science degree program focuses on maritime and naval history, literature, transportation and environmental policy. A 31-credit degree, it can be completed in three semesters. The Maritime and Naval Studies program is flexible enough to allow a student to tailor the program to their interests, and designed for professionals looking to advance their careers.
  • MS in Shipping and Logistics: The Shipping and Logistics graduate program provides a solid foundation in international business, economics and law, in transportation management and in systems analysis. As a student in our program, you can use our vast array of elective courses - covering liner and tramp shipping, port operations, International Trade, economics, insurance, law and other topics - to design a program tailored to your needs and interests.
  • U.S. Coast Guard License: In addition to the standard curriculum, a student may pursue a U.S. Coast Guard deck license. Licensure creates the opportunity for a graduate to work on a marine vessel as a third mate. To earn a license, you must be an on-campus student and belong to the regiment of cadets. This program is a 96-credit program, including the 62-credit undergraduate license program.

Other Programs

  • Chartering Certificate: The chartering certificate may be completed as part of the regular 34-credit master's program or on its own. To earn the certification, you must successfully complete two courses in charter parties: TMGT 8450 Advanced Charter Parties I and TMGT 8460 Advanced Charter Parties II. These courses are offered in cooperation with the Association of Ship Brokers and Agents (ASBA), the U.S. representative to the Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents.
  • Advanced Certificate in Supply Chain Management: This 21-credit certificate allows for graduate studies in specialized supply-chain management courses. Demand for supply-chain management professionals has been growing for more than a decade; earning this stand-along certificate can fast-track your career in a growing profession.

SUNY Maritime Features

suny maritime training ship

Picture: SUNY Maritime Training Ship - TS Empire State VI - Credits: SUNY Maritime

  • Campus Location: Maritime College is located on a 55-acre scenic waterfront property on the outskirts of New York City on the Throgs Neck peninsula.
  • Accreditation & Memberships: Middle States Commission on Higher Education, ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineers and Technology), Approved by the US Coast Guard for the issuance of a Third Mate or Third Assistant Engineer's license
  • ROTC Programs: Maritime College has the only Navy and Marine Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program in the New York metropolitan area. The College also hosts a US Coast Guard commissioning program and Maritime students may enroll in a US Air Force ROTC program and ARMY ROTC through cross-enrollment with neighboring colleges
  • Co-ops/Internships: The curricula generally involve internships rather than three required summer semesters at sea, although one requires a semester at sea plus two internships
  • Regimentship: Any student, regardless of major, may apply to be part of the Regiment and take advantage of the leadership training and opportunities it provides.
  • Training: Travel on the College's 565-foot Training Ship Empire State VI is an essential component of the Maritime experience. Each summer, cadets travel across the world, learning about the maritime industry and the operations of the ship, while gaining exposure to international cultures. The Summer Sea Term provides students with opportunities for hands-on experience and practical training to complement classroom learning.
  • Student Residence: 1st (A and B Companies) and 2nd (C and D Companies) Battalions: 1st and 2nd Battalions are located off the main quad, and these buildings mirror each other holding approximately 300 student residents each. All rooms are double or triple occupancy, and share common restrooms located in the middle hallway. 3rd Battalion (E and F Companies): This 7 story building houses more than 300 residents. New Hall: This four story building houses approximately 300 residents, with 50% of those students not in the Regiment of Cadets.