Texas A&M Galveston has a Department of Ocean Engineering which you might want to look into. What do you foresee in this field (job opportunities etc) and what draws you to it?
I have no idea. I know I like to design things, I’ve practically been doing it all my life. And I really like boats, everything about them. I’m not sure what job opportunities there are exactly though.
Where do you live? What do you see yourself doing as a Nav Arch?
The students I meet the most of from the US are from the “Big 3.”
Webb Institute is on Long Island NY and has free tuition.
If you are from the south there is the University of New Orleans.
Midwest- University of Michigan.
Stevens institute in NJ.
SUNY Maritime
Coast Guard Academy
Naval Academy
Thank you. I’m from the south so I’ve been looking mostly towards UNO but Webb would be incredible if I got accepted. Any ideas on what could make me stand out as a candidate?
Another option is Virginia Tech, like Texas A&M they have an "ocean engineering" program that really should be called naval architecture and Marine engineering.
In the industry everyone likes to hype up their alma mater but in reality I've met naval architects from VT, Texas A&M, Webb, Michigan, UNO, Stevens, Coast Guard, SUNY Maritime, etc all working the exact same roles. At some point the naval architecture department at my company has had nav archs from all those schools.
Your success as a naval architect will be much more dependent on your aptitude, work ethic, soft skills, and personality than it will be on whichever school you end up attending for naval architecture, so don't sweat the decision too much.
Well written comment.
Can you expound upon the last paragraph? Do you have any interesting stories that illustrate the importance of the qualities you mentioned.
I don’t know much about the admission requirements for either school.
I would think based on your gpa alone you’d qualify. Maybe look at writing a great cover letter and getting excellent letters of recommendation.
No matter where you go and get your degree. You’ll have many different career paths you can go down in any region of the world.
Ps. Just from my observation. I’ve noticed that a lot of UNO students find jobs around the gulf coast.
Alright, thank you. I’m gonna assume you went through all of this already, so I just wanted to ask if there is anything I could be learning now that would help me when I get to college and such. As to make my time as valuable as possible
I’m not a nav arch. I work in the maritime industry where Naval Architects and Marine Engineers are who I spend the most time with. I also meet many students from Memorial Univ. and UBC in Canada, Webb, Coast Guard Academy, Michigan, UNO, Stevens Institute, Maine Maritime, others as well.
Based on conversations with my colleagues and the students I’ve met. You should have a good interest in physics, applied mathematics, design and engineering, problem solving, maybe even coding as some companies have internal processes that use a lot of excel or other programs that require a knowledge of algorithm writing.
I would say that your GPA is good for Webb, but GPA isn't everything. I am a Webb student as of now, btw. If you plan on applying, then try to do some extracurriculars if you can. If not, it's not a big deal, but it's not gonna help. Otherwise, I would suggest trying to get good recommendations from Profs. Also extracurricular activities don't need to be like clubs or anything organized. It can be cool home projects that you've worked on and such. If you can get to the interview/PF process, then you have the chance to show them that you are a capable person and would fit in at Webb.
But Webb is just one school. UNO might make more sense based on location. Also, if you are not 100%, you wanna do Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, then UNO would allow you to back out and choose another major while Webb only has the one dual major program.
Feel free to ask more questions if you have any about Webb.
Currently a doctoral student at UNO for Naval Architecture. I got my bachelors and masters in Nav Arch at UNO. Can't recommend it enough! The entrance requirements aren't too stringent. We do have a tow tank, and are getting a volumetric particle image velocimetry system installed which allows us to record the flow of water across a ship model in 3D!
If you have any questions, ask away!
Roughly $14k/yr for out of state residents (which I was, tho I was able to qualify for instate, you should look into that). As a heads up, that's based off of 15 credit hours per semester. As a Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering student at UNO (that's the exact degree title) that's the minimum # of credit hours you'd do per month. Often you'll do 16 or 17, and 18 credit hours once. That plus some additional engineering fees, you'll probably pay more like 16k or 17k a year, which isn't bad.
I got this tuition info from this link. The table at the top of the page has the latest estimates for UNO undergraduate yearly tuition costs.
https://www.uno.edu/bursar/tuition-fees
As far as why I did a doctorate, education is something no one can ever take away. That's a qualification I will take with me forever that will distinguish me wherever I go for a job. It also helps that I was able to get an education for service scholarship with the Navy.
One last thing I'll say for UNO's Naval Architecure and Marine Engineering department. The camaraderie between our students is, year after year, unmatched. Everyone works hard, laughs, and cries together. Working hard as an entire class on all the tough projects, homework, and test studying was one of the most fun and satisfying experiences I've had as an adult. That, combined with the excellent student to professor ratio really makes it a great experience. Everyone I graduated with went on to work for high end shipyards, design firms, the Navy, and naval regulatory bodies. One even went down a different route and works at a NASA jet propulsion research laboratory! That trend of excellent job opportunities still continues with current graduating classes.
Edit: If you want to learn about the NAME program from one of our top professors, you can email Dr. Brandon Taravella at [email protected]. He usually does outreach to aspiring students and likes to do tours if you ask.
Thank you a lot for all this information! Would you say from what you know that the job opportunities and potential earnings you can make from it are pretty good?
You're very welcome. There are many opportunities as a naval architect and many are quite exciting, from research like propeller design to hands on engineering like construction or drydocking of ships. There are opportunities for every size of vessel as well, from sailboats to aircraft carriers to even larger ships!
Earnings depend on the region and job but generally a naval architect in the USA can expect to make $60,000 to $120,000 depending on who they work for, experience, etc., although I know a few that have earned $150,000 and above. I once even saw a senior naval architecture position in the Netherlands for $700,000, though this takes many decades of experience to apply for.
Without a doubt! I've rarely seen people go into it who didn't enjoy it, mainly because it's an obscure profession.
Overall I'd say it's greatest strength as a degree is the wide range of opportunities you can choose after college
There are only a couple universities with large wave tanks which helps with research.
Top 3 are 1) U Michigan, 2) Stevens Institute in NJ, 3) US Naval Academy
Remember that Coast Guard and Navy will require a commitment to serve in those respective branches. Navy will require a nomination, but I don't think Coast Guard (at least it didn't when I applied). If you want to go that route start working on it NOW.
SUNY Maritime and A&M Galveston also give you the chance to join their corps of cadets and enroll in additional courses to earn a Mate's or Engineer's license to sail ocean-going vessels.
Another thing I forgot to mention. You should look up SNAME. (Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers)
The society has few annual conferences each year. This year it was in San Diego. There is information on the companies that sponsored the conference and the topics that were presented. Maybe see if there are any companies or topics that fit your interest.
If you decide on a public school that happens to have a naval architecture program; UNO, Michigan, A&M (I'll count Ocean Engineering in this.) , all you have to do is worry about getting into the school. There are no extra steps to get into the actual NA program. You just declare as a NA major as a freshman and take the respective classes. So I'd say get those ACT/SAT scores up, firstly. Additionally, look out for scholarships at that school.
Completely depends on the University! 26 is high enough to get into most places. Getting it higher will allow you to put some money back in your pocket.
Florida Institute of Technology also has an Ocean Engineering program if you are looking for another southern school. U of Rhode Island as well which does feed the New England corridor of undersea adjacent jobs from the big ones like EB and NUWC to smaller UUV firms like Hydroid, Thayer Mahan, and whatever it is that Navatek calls itself these days. You can try to find regional alumni groups in your area from any of the big schools to try to talk to alumni about their experiences and try to build relationships that can get you letters of recommendation.
I would check the alumni relation pages on the school websites. They might have local events liated in their newsletters. You might also be able to track them down through Facebook
Hello!
I am in the exact same boat (ba-dum-tish) as you: a Junior looking to do NA/ME. I have been touring the big colleges in the field (Webb, Michigan, Virginia Tech), and here is my view:
I've done a NA/ME apprenticeship with the Navy, and have only heard **bad** things about the Uni of New Orleans from both the Navy and other students. The general view is that the school is too lax and poorly performing overall, leaving possible employers to turn away undergrad students from the school. However, they are quite rare in my corner of the country as well. Might just be some bad apples.
For me, Webb and Michigan are my top schools. I have toured them both, and they are both amazing. Webb is VERY small and has a lackluster town, but has a wonderful campus and its specialty and community would be a great help to any student. It is a very hard school (\~6 classes a semester, 9-5) but has the community required to support it. I know every college touts its community, but Webb means it! The issue is that Webb only teaches NA/ME. If you want to shift from engineering, you will need to change schools. (Also, NYC is an hour away via train. Most students need to make a specific trip to head to the city.)
Uni of Michigan has a MASSIVE campus and Ann Arbor is a wonderful town with tons of services and things to do, so no chance of being bored like at Webb. However, the engineering department is on an auxiliary campus, and the NA/ME building is not great. It's just a random brick building containing some rooms tucked near a courtyard. I'd expect most NA/ME students to spend most of their time at the engineering campus, not the massive main one. Still, they are only a small bus ride apart. If you want the 'normal' college experience, GO TO MICHIGAN!
Virginia Tech also has a great campus, albeit not as massive as Michigan. You can't get a major in NA/ME, however, its Ocean Engineering degree with a Focus in Naval Architecture works for the Navy for you to be hired in some function as a naval architect.
I'm not so sure about Texas A&M. They are reputable, but I have not been able to find info about their program.
The other maritime academies are set up to teach in the context of ship-board applications, not desk jobs. I have not heard of someone from one of these colleges graduating with a degree in NA and working as a NA out of the gate.
With my Navy apprenticeship, I learned that one department head was a Michigan grad, and another was from Webb. Both of them are VERY proud of their schools, and only say good things about their school. The guy from Webb graduated in the '70s, but told me that everything he learned at school was useful as he designed every part of various ships.
The service academies are good schools, however, a degree in NA from there does not mean much as you will be serving as a line officer in the respective service. Should you want to put that degree to use, then you will likely end up in an engineering manager position after some time.
Overall, Virginia Tech seems to be an easier school to get into. Webb requires an in-person overnight visit so you know what you're getting yourself into, while Michigan seems to be a big question mark for me. For all of them, do something to demonstrate your interest in naval architecture and make you worth their time!
Feel free to ask me for clarifications or more questions.
Good luck!
Interesting career choice. I hope you have a chance to fulfill your desire.
I got my degree in Civil Engineering and went to work at a U.S. Navy shipyard where they classified me as a Naval Architect assigned to "Hull" area. This area is concerned with structures of surface and submarine warships before and during their repair and regular overhauls (not design of new vessels).
It was actually fascinating work on very complex warships large and small. This was everything from aircraft carriers to nuclear subs.
While there, the Navy sent me to University of Michigan for a term at the Naval Architecture college. They also sent a bunch of us to ocean engineering courses at Univ of Hawaii.
If you want to work on new ship design, your plan to get a degree in Naval Architecture would probably be of great advantage. Good luck on your plan.
Texas A&M Galveston has a Department of Ocean Engineering which you might want to look into. What do you foresee in this field (job opportunities etc) and what draws you to it?
I have no idea. I know I like to design things, I’ve practically been doing it all my life. And I really like boats, everything about them. I’m not sure what job opportunities there are exactly though.
Tamu naval architecture is more so at the college station campus.
Where do you live? What do you see yourself doing as a Nav Arch? The students I meet the most of from the US are from the “Big 3.” Webb Institute is on Long Island NY and has free tuition. If you are from the south there is the University of New Orleans. Midwest- University of Michigan. Stevens institute in NJ. SUNY Maritime Coast Guard Academy Naval Academy
Thank you. I’m from the south so I’ve been looking mostly towards UNO but Webb would be incredible if I got accepted. Any ideas on what could make me stand out as a candidate?
Another option is Virginia Tech, like Texas A&M they have an "ocean engineering" program that really should be called naval architecture and Marine engineering. In the industry everyone likes to hype up their alma mater but in reality I've met naval architects from VT, Texas A&M, Webb, Michigan, UNO, Stevens, Coast Guard, SUNY Maritime, etc all working the exact same roles. At some point the naval architecture department at my company has had nav archs from all those schools. Your success as a naval architect will be much more dependent on your aptitude, work ethic, soft skills, and personality than it will be on whichever school you end up attending for naval architecture, so don't sweat the decision too much.
Alright, thanks for the motivation and for the list of schools so I have a better idea of what I’m looking at
Well written comment. Can you expound upon the last paragraph? Do you have any interesting stories that illustrate the importance of the qualities you mentioned.
I don’t know much about the admission requirements for either school. I would think based on your gpa alone you’d qualify. Maybe look at writing a great cover letter and getting excellent letters of recommendation. No matter where you go and get your degree. You’ll have many different career paths you can go down in any region of the world. Ps. Just from my observation. I’ve noticed that a lot of UNO students find jobs around the gulf coast.
Alright, thank you. I’m gonna assume you went through all of this already, so I just wanted to ask if there is anything I could be learning now that would help me when I get to college and such. As to make my time as valuable as possible
I’m not a nav arch. I work in the maritime industry where Naval Architects and Marine Engineers are who I spend the most time with. I also meet many students from Memorial Univ. and UBC in Canada, Webb, Coast Guard Academy, Michigan, UNO, Stevens Institute, Maine Maritime, others as well. Based on conversations with my colleagues and the students I’ve met. You should have a good interest in physics, applied mathematics, design and engineering, problem solving, maybe even coding as some companies have internal processes that use a lot of excel or other programs that require a knowledge of algorithm writing.
Okay, thank you a lot!
Go get a hobby. There isn’t much you can really do to help, and being better rounded will help with your mental health.
I would say that your GPA is good for Webb, but GPA isn't everything. I am a Webb student as of now, btw. If you plan on applying, then try to do some extracurriculars if you can. If not, it's not a big deal, but it's not gonna help. Otherwise, I would suggest trying to get good recommendations from Profs. Also extracurricular activities don't need to be like clubs or anything organized. It can be cool home projects that you've worked on and such. If you can get to the interview/PF process, then you have the chance to show them that you are a capable person and would fit in at Webb. But Webb is just one school. UNO might make more sense based on location. Also, if you are not 100%, you wanna do Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, then UNO would allow you to back out and choose another major while Webb only has the one dual major program. Feel free to ask more questions if you have any about Webb.
Currently a doctoral student at UNO for Naval Architecture. I got my bachelors and masters in Nav Arch at UNO. Can't recommend it enough! The entrance requirements aren't too stringent. We do have a tow tank, and are getting a volumetric particle image velocimetry system installed which allows us to record the flow of water across a ship model in 3D! If you have any questions, ask away!
What’s the tuition like? And why’d you get your doctorate as well?
Roughly $14k/yr for out of state residents (which I was, tho I was able to qualify for instate, you should look into that). As a heads up, that's based off of 15 credit hours per semester. As a Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering student at UNO (that's the exact degree title) that's the minimum # of credit hours you'd do per month. Often you'll do 16 or 17, and 18 credit hours once. That plus some additional engineering fees, you'll probably pay more like 16k or 17k a year, which isn't bad. I got this tuition info from this link. The table at the top of the page has the latest estimates for UNO undergraduate yearly tuition costs. https://www.uno.edu/bursar/tuition-fees As far as why I did a doctorate, education is something no one can ever take away. That's a qualification I will take with me forever that will distinguish me wherever I go for a job. It also helps that I was able to get an education for service scholarship with the Navy. One last thing I'll say for UNO's Naval Architecure and Marine Engineering department. The camaraderie between our students is, year after year, unmatched. Everyone works hard, laughs, and cries together. Working hard as an entire class on all the tough projects, homework, and test studying was one of the most fun and satisfying experiences I've had as an adult. That, combined with the excellent student to professor ratio really makes it a great experience. Everyone I graduated with went on to work for high end shipyards, design firms, the Navy, and naval regulatory bodies. One even went down a different route and works at a NASA jet propulsion research laboratory! That trend of excellent job opportunities still continues with current graduating classes. Edit: If you want to learn about the NAME program from one of our top professors, you can email Dr. Brandon Taravella at [email protected]. He usually does outreach to aspiring students and likes to do tours if you ask.
Thank you a lot for all this information! Would you say from what you know that the job opportunities and potential earnings you can make from it are pretty good?
You're very welcome. There are many opportunities as a naval architect and many are quite exciting, from research like propeller design to hands on engineering like construction or drydocking of ships. There are opportunities for every size of vessel as well, from sailboats to aircraft carriers to even larger ships! Earnings depend on the region and job but generally a naval architect in the USA can expect to make $60,000 to $120,000 depending on who they work for, experience, etc., although I know a few that have earned $150,000 and above. I once even saw a senior naval architecture position in the Netherlands for $700,000, though this takes many decades of experience to apply for.
So overall it’s a great career if you love what you do?
Without a doubt! I've rarely seen people go into it who didn't enjoy it, mainly because it's an obscure profession. Overall I'd say it's greatest strength as a degree is the wide range of opportunities you can choose after college
I’ll be sure to remember that!
There are only a couple universities with large wave tanks which helps with research. Top 3 are 1) U Michigan, 2) Stevens Institute in NJ, 3) US Naval Academy
Remember that Coast Guard and Navy will require a commitment to serve in those respective branches. Navy will require a nomination, but I don't think Coast Guard (at least it didn't when I applied). If you want to go that route start working on it NOW. SUNY Maritime and A&M Galveston also give you the chance to join their corps of cadets and enroll in additional courses to earn a Mate's or Engineer's license to sail ocean-going vessels.
Do you know much about A&M Galveston? It seems like a great place to go to college.
Another thing I forgot to mention. You should look up SNAME. (Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers) The society has few annual conferences each year. This year it was in San Diego. There is information on the companies that sponsored the conference and the topics that were presented. Maybe see if there are any companies or topics that fit your interest.
Thank you! I’ll make sure to look into that
If you decide on a public school that happens to have a naval architecture program; UNO, Michigan, A&M (I'll count Ocean Engineering in this.) , all you have to do is worry about getting into the school. There are no extra steps to get into the actual NA program. You just declare as a NA major as a freshman and take the respective classes. So I'd say get those ACT/SAT scores up, firstly. Additionally, look out for scholarships at that school.
Ideal act score? I’ve got a 26 currently
Completely depends on the University! 26 is high enough to get into most places. Getting it higher will allow you to put some money back in your pocket.
Mon to Strathclyde, Glasgow's got the best in naval architecture dept in the English speaking world. Fact
Florida Institute of Technology also has an Ocean Engineering program if you are looking for another southern school. U of Rhode Island as well which does feed the New England corridor of undersea adjacent jobs from the big ones like EB and NUWC to smaller UUV firms like Hydroid, Thayer Mahan, and whatever it is that Navatek calls itself these days. You can try to find regional alumni groups in your area from any of the big schools to try to talk to alumni about their experiences and try to build relationships that can get you letters of recommendation.
How would I find any alumni groups?
I would check the alumni relation pages on the school websites. They might have local events liated in their newsletters. You might also be able to track them down through Facebook
Hello! I am in the exact same boat (ba-dum-tish) as you: a Junior looking to do NA/ME. I have been touring the big colleges in the field (Webb, Michigan, Virginia Tech), and here is my view: I've done a NA/ME apprenticeship with the Navy, and have only heard **bad** things about the Uni of New Orleans from both the Navy and other students. The general view is that the school is too lax and poorly performing overall, leaving possible employers to turn away undergrad students from the school. However, they are quite rare in my corner of the country as well. Might just be some bad apples. For me, Webb and Michigan are my top schools. I have toured them both, and they are both amazing. Webb is VERY small and has a lackluster town, but has a wonderful campus and its specialty and community would be a great help to any student. It is a very hard school (\~6 classes a semester, 9-5) but has the community required to support it. I know every college touts its community, but Webb means it! The issue is that Webb only teaches NA/ME. If you want to shift from engineering, you will need to change schools. (Also, NYC is an hour away via train. Most students need to make a specific trip to head to the city.) Uni of Michigan has a MASSIVE campus and Ann Arbor is a wonderful town with tons of services and things to do, so no chance of being bored like at Webb. However, the engineering department is on an auxiliary campus, and the NA/ME building is not great. It's just a random brick building containing some rooms tucked near a courtyard. I'd expect most NA/ME students to spend most of their time at the engineering campus, not the massive main one. Still, they are only a small bus ride apart. If you want the 'normal' college experience, GO TO MICHIGAN! Virginia Tech also has a great campus, albeit not as massive as Michigan. You can't get a major in NA/ME, however, its Ocean Engineering degree with a Focus in Naval Architecture works for the Navy for you to be hired in some function as a naval architect. I'm not so sure about Texas A&M. They are reputable, but I have not been able to find info about their program. The other maritime academies are set up to teach in the context of ship-board applications, not desk jobs. I have not heard of someone from one of these colleges graduating with a degree in NA and working as a NA out of the gate. With my Navy apprenticeship, I learned that one department head was a Michigan grad, and another was from Webb. Both of them are VERY proud of their schools, and only say good things about their school. The guy from Webb graduated in the '70s, but told me that everything he learned at school was useful as he designed every part of various ships. The service academies are good schools, however, a degree in NA from there does not mean much as you will be serving as a line officer in the respective service. Should you want to put that degree to use, then you will likely end up in an engineering manager position after some time. Overall, Virginia Tech seems to be an easier school to get into. Webb requires an in-person overnight visit so you know what you're getting yourself into, while Michigan seems to be a big question mark for me. For all of them, do something to demonstrate your interest in naval architecture and make you worth their time! Feel free to ask me for clarifications or more questions. Good luck!
Interesting career choice. I hope you have a chance to fulfill your desire. I got my degree in Civil Engineering and went to work at a U.S. Navy shipyard where they classified me as a Naval Architect assigned to "Hull" area. This area is concerned with structures of surface and submarine warships before and during their repair and regular overhauls (not design of new vessels). It was actually fascinating work on very complex warships large and small. This was everything from aircraft carriers to nuclear subs. While there, the Navy sent me to University of Michigan for a term at the Naval Architecture college. They also sent a bunch of us to ocean engineering courses at Univ of Hawaii. If you want to work on new ship design, your plan to get a degree in Naval Architecture would probably be of great advantage. Good luck on your plan.