Marine Transportation, BS

Program Learning Outcomes

The Marine Transportation program will support the Academy’s Institutional Learning Outcomes by providing education and training that will enable midshipmen to demonstrate the knowledge, understanding, and proficiency needed to effectively and professionally:

1. Serve as an Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch and Able Seafarer with the requisite National credential and International endorsements (any gross tons upon oceans)
2. Employ sound and safe seamanship practices and cargo handling skills
3. Apply Terrestrial, Celestial, and Electronic Navigation skills and Navigation Law
4. Use Information Technology skills needed by a ship’s officer and a maritime related shoreside professional
5. Utilize problem solving and critical thinking skills required by a ship’s officer and as a maritime related shoreside professional
6. Apply business, transportation, and logistics concepts needed to serve as a ship’s officer and to work as a maritime related shoreside professional with the foundation to rise to senior levels
7. Employ leadership and teamwork skills needed to serve as a ship’s officer and as a maritime related shoreside professional
8. Use communication skills, both oral and written, needed to serve as a ship’s officer and as a maritime related shoreside professional
9. Preserve and enhance security aboard vessels and in maritime related shoreside facilities

Marine Transportation Program

The primary goal of the core Marine Transportation program is to provide Midshipmen with the knowledge and skills required to prepare students to serve as a deck officer aboard a merchant ship. Courses in the core curriculum provide Midshipmen with nautical science and management skills, as well as knowledge of the transportation processes necessary for successful careers in the maritime industry. The core includes courses in navigation, seamanship, marine safety, dry and liquid cargo operations, integrated navigation systems, meteorology, management, law, economics, and transportation.

Graduates of the Marine Transportation program, with their broad educational background, complemented by specific management and business skills, have a wide variety of career opportunities. Job opportunities include serving aboard merchant ships as a deck officer, in terminal operations management, ship operations, ship and cargo surveying, port administration, stevedoring, and related positions. All branches of the Armed Forces offer possibilities for active duty. The U.S. Coast Guard commissions graduates to serve in marine inspection, maritime security, and environmental regulation. Graduates can also serve in state and federal government agencies that regulate transport and commerce; in the Foreign Service; and in research and policy analysis positions. The sample curriculum for both A and B splits follows.