U.S. Coast Guard Licensing

Students at Maritime College have the option of studying for a Merchant Marine license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). All students pursuing a license must be part of the Regiment of Cadets and participate in the Summer Sea Terms and authorized sea service onboard commercial vessels. Maritime College offers the following licenses:

Deck

  • Unlimited Third Mate Oceans; Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch
  • Mate (500 or 1,600 Gross Registered Tons); Near Coastal or Oceans; Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on ships of 500 gross tons or more.

Engine

  • Unlimited; Third Assistant Engineer Steam, Motor, or Gas Turbine; Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch.
  • Assistant Engineer (Limited) motor propelled vessels, on vessels of any horsepower. Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch in a Manned Engine Room or Designated Duty Engineer in a Periodically Unmanned Engine Room on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 750KW/1,000HP or more, limited to motor vessels.

The unlimited licenses lead to a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering degree. Students must pass the USCG license exam to graduate. The limited licenses are administered through the Maritime Technology and Operations Department and leads to an AAS degree.

These programs must also comply with both federal guidelines and international standards related to maritime education. The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended (to which the United States is a signatory) sets qualification standards for seafarers on seagoing merchant ships. USCG is responsible for implementing STCW training in the United States.

Programs Offering an Unlimited Third Mate or Third Assistant Engine License

Bachelor of Engineering

  • Electrical Engineering (Deck or Engine)
  • Facilities Engineering (Engine)
  • Marine Engineering (Engine)
  • Mechanical Engineering (Engine)
  • Naval Architecture (Deck or Engine)

Bachelor of Science

  • Marine Environmental Science (Deck)
  • Marine Operations (Deck or Engine)
  • Marine Transportation (Deck)
  • Maritime Studies (Deck)
  • Data Science (Deck)

Master of Science

  • Shipping and Logistics (Deck)
  • Maritime and Naval Studies (Deck)
Learning Outcomes Unlimited Deck

Upon successful completion of the Unlimited Deck License Program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate competency needed to serve as a third mate by passing all STCW competencies and the USCG License prior to commencement.
  2. Understand and safely demonstrate traditional and modern seamanship and cargo handling skills.
  3. Understand and correctly demonstrate the use of Terrestrial, Celestial, Electronic Navigation Skills and Navigation Law
  4. Understand the application of Information Technology needed as a ship’s deck officer or as a maritime related shore side professional.
  5. Understand and demonstrate effective and appropriate problem solving and critical thinking required by a ship’s deck officer or as a maritime related shore side professional.
  6. Understand the application of business, transportation or logistics concepts needed to serve as a ship’s deck officer.
  7. Understand and demonstrate effective leadership and teamwork skills needed to serve as a ship’s deck officer or as a maritime related shore side professional.
  8. Understand and demonstrate effective oral or written communication skills needed to serve as a ship’s deck officer or as a maritime related shore side professional.
Learning Outcomes Unlimited Engine

Upon successful completion of the Unlimited Engine License Program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate competency needed to serve as a third assistant engineer by passing all STCW competencies and the USCG License prior to commencement.
  2. Understand and safely demonstrate particular skills in the analysis and design of marine propulsion, auxiliary and cargo systems and equipment
  3. Apply these engineering skills to a variety of marine applications.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
  5. Understand and demonstrate effective and appropriate problem solving and critical thinking required by a ship’s engineering officer.
  6. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of engineering mechanics and thermodynamics in the context of marine vehicles.
  7. Understand and demonstrate effective leadership and teamwork skills needed to serve as a ship’s engineering officer.
  8. Understand and demonstrate effective oral or written communication skills needed to serve as a ship’s engineering officer.

Programs Offering a 500/1600 ton Deck or Engine License

A.A.S. in Marine Technology: Small Vessel Operations with Deck Limited License

  • Mate (500 or 1,600 Gross Registered Tons) Near Coastal or Oceans; Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on ships of 500 gross tons or more.

A.A.S. in Marine Technology: Small Vessel Operations with Engine Limited License

  • Assistant Engineer (Limited) motor-propelled vessels of any horsepower. Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch in a Manned Engine Room or Designated Duty Engineer in a Periodically Unmanned Engine Room on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 750KW/1,000HP or more, limited to motor vessels.
Learning Outcomes Limited Deck

Upon successful completion of the Limited Deck License Program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate competency needed to serve as a Mate 500 or 1600 GRT on Oceans or Near Coastal Waters by passing all STCW competencies and the USCG License examination.
  2. Understand and safely demonstrate traditional and modern seamanship and cargo handling skills.
  3. Understand and correctly demonstrate the use of Terrestrial, Celestial, Electronic Navigation Skills and Navigation Law.
  4. Understand the application of Information Technology needed as a ship’s deck officer or as a maritime related shore side professional.
  5. Understand and demonstrate effective and appropriate problem solving and critical thinking required by a ship’s deck officer or as a maritime related shore-side professional.
  6. Understand the application of business, transportation or logistics concepts needed to serve as a ship’s deck officer.
  7. Understand and demonstrate effective leadership and teamwork skills needed to serve as a ship’s deck officer or as a maritime related shore side professional.
  8. Understand and demonstrate effective oral or written communication skills needed to serve as a ship’s deck officer or as a maritime related shore side professional.
Learning Outcomes Limited Engine

Upon successful completion of the Limited Engine License Program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate competency needed to serve as an Assistant Engineer Limited by passing all STCW competencies and the USCG License examination.
  2. Understand and safely demonstrate particular skills in the analysis and design of marine propulsion, auxiliary and cargo systems and equipment
  3. Apply these engineering skills to a variety of marine applications.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
  5. Understand and demonstrate effective and appropriate problem solving and critical thinking required by a ship’s engineering officer.
  6. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of engineering mechanics and thermodynamics in the context of marine vehicles.
  7. Understand and demonstrate effective leadership and teamwork skills needed to serve as a ship’s engineering officer.
  8. Understand and demonstrate effective oral or written communication skills needed to serve as a ship’s engineering officer.