If you come to Maritime to study Maritime Technology/Small Vessel Operations, you will leave with an associate degree and the knowledge and skills to work and sail in the tug and barge industry. In that industry, you will ply the nation’s inland waterways, helping to get people and products around the nation.

Academic Program

Students who pursue this program will take courses focused on business, communication, brokering, and port and terminal operations. Upon graduation, they will be prepared to work in the maritime industry aboard vessels.

Degree Awarded

Associate of Applied Science

Professional Experiences Available

  • U.S. Coast Guard Deck License - Limited
  • U.S. Coast Guard Engine License - Limited

See the Career Options and Educational Pathways tab for more information.

Learning Outcomes

Deck License Program

Upon successful completion of a Bachelor of Science program in Marine Operations – Deck License Program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate the technical competences and knowledge required of a deck officer in navigation, stability, cargo, safety, emergency and vessel management skills and procedures
  2. Pass USCG Deck License exam within 90-days after approval to test
  3. Demonstrate the competencies required for initial employment in maritime industry
  4. Demonstrate discipline, leadership, and organizational skills while in the Regimental of Cadets and aboard commercial vessels

Engine License Program

Upon successful completion of a Bachelor of Science program in Marine Operations – Engine License Program, graduates will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate the technical competences and knowledge required of an Engine officer in the safe operation, management and maintenance of marine propulsion plants and other ship systems
  2. Pass USCG Engine License exam within 90-days after approval to test
  3. Demonstrate the competencies required for initial employment in maritime industry
  4. Demonstrate discipline, leadership, and organizational skills while in the Regimental of Cadets and aboard commercial vessels

Professional Options

Your academic knowledge is tested and supplemented by professional learning experiences. Marine Operations students may choose to pursue a Limited Deck License or a Limited Engine License. The license programs require membership in the college's Regiment of Cadets. Whichever license students choose to pursue, they will gain basic knowledge and skills by taking classes in the other license program. This will allow students to understand both sides of a ship's operations and be better prepared to succeed in their career after graduation.

Deck License - Limited

Students interested in navigation, cargo handling and other ship systems may pursue the Limited Deck License program. Graduates of the Limited Deck License program earn a U.S. Coast Guard 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. In the deck program, you will focus on learning navigation, cargo handling and a variety of ship systems.

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.

Engine License

If students are interested in powering a vessel and operating and maintaining its related systems, they should pursue the Limited Engine License program. Graduates of the Limited Engine License program earn a U.S. Coast Guard 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 engine program focuses on powering, controlling, and maintaining a ship's engine and energy systems.

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.

The Deck License program is housed in the Marine Transportation Department and is taught primarily by those faculty.

The Engine License program is housed in the Engineering Department and is taught primarily by those faculty.

Advising

Students in the Deck License program should contact the Marine Transportation Department for advising.

Students in the Engine License program should visit the Engineering Advising page for information, and contact the Engineering Department for advising.

 

Learning Center Tutoring Schedule

 Fall SemesterFall Semester Spring SemesterSpring SemesterNOTES
 Regimental New Student
(Campus Resident)
Traditional Student
(Campus Resident)
 Regimental Student
(Campus Resident)
Traditional Student
(Campus Resident)
 
In-State$14,155.50$13,195.50 $13,025.50$12.945.50Rates apply to eligible veterans and their dependents.
In-Region$15,925.50$14,965.50 $14,795.50$14,715.50 
Out-of-Region$19,605.50$18,645.50 $18,475.50$18,395.50 
International$20,807.50$19,847.50 $20,135.50$20,055.50 

Hands-On Training

All students in the Deck and Engine license programs must complete one summer of training aboard the Empire State VII, while participating in Summer Sea Term.

After that, all students will complete several Cadet Shipping experiences aboard commercial vessels.