The Curriculum
The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy provides you with a four-year
academic program leading to a bachelor of science degree,
a license as a merchant marine officer (issued by the U.S.
Coast Guard), and an appointment as a commissioned officer
in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces (including
the Merchant Marine Reserve of the U.S. Navy). The curriculum
is demanding, comprehensive and stimulating. It has been
carefully designed to ensure that you graduate professionally
competent, trained for leadership and responsibility, and
well-rounded intellectually.
As a midshipman, you will be required to complete a series
of required courses which comprise the core curriculum.
These courses provide a nucleus of knowledge in key academic
and professional subjects. In the second trimester of the
fourth class year, you begin your major course of study,
which will determine the type of merchant marine license
you receive. You will also spend approximately one year
at sea regardless of which major you select.
The academic year at the Academy is divided into three academic
terms or trimesters which span 13 weeks each, for an 11-month
academic year running from late July to late June. Credit
for courses is given in semester credit hours.
Core
Curriculum
This core curriculum has several components (specific courses
meeting these requirements are identified later in the course
description section):
- Mathematics
- Science
- English
- Leadership and Ethics
- Comparative Literature and History
- Naval Science
- Physical Education and Ship’s Medicine
- Internship
- Sea Year
Major Programs
Midshipmen select their major course of study from among
seven programs:
- Marine
Transportation - A program combining nautical science
and maritime business management.
- Maritime
Operations and Technology - A marine transportation
program enhanced with marine engineering studies.
- Logistics
and Intermodal Transportation - A program combining
nautical science and logistics and intermodal management.
- Marine
Engineering - An engineering program focused on shipboard
engineering operations.
- Marine
Engineering Systems - An engineering program emphasizing
marine engineering design. Accredited by the Engineering
Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board
for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
- Marine
Engineering and Shipyard Management - A program based
on a marine engineering core and emphasizing the management
of shipyards and other large engineering endeavors. ABET
accredited.
- Dual License
- A program combining marine engineering and marine transportation
studies for licensing in both specialties. Available only
to students with substantial prior college coursework.
License Programs
In the last trimester of first class year, midshipmen take
a comprehensive written examination, administered by the
U.S. Coast Guard, for their licenses as merchant marine
officers. Those who have selected the Marine Transportation
major or the Logistics and Intermodal Transportation major
receive training in nautical science to prepare for the
third mate (deck officer) license examination. Maritime
Operations and Technology majors receive training in nautical
science and selected marine engineering areas and take the
third mate license examination as well as the QMED (Qualified
Member of the Engine Department) engineering examination.
Marine Engineering, Marine Engineering Systems, and Marine
Engineering and Shipyard Management majors receive marine
engineering training to prepare for the third assistant
engineer (engineering officer) license examination. Dual
License majors receive both nautical science and engineering
instruction and take both the third mate and third assistant
engineer license examinations.
Sea-Year Training
At the end of the fourth class year in late June, half of
the students will go to sea for one term, return for residential
courses for the second term of their third class year, then
return to sea for the third term plus the first term of
their second class year. They will return to campus for
the second trimester of the second class year and remain
on campus through graduation.
The other half of the class will remain in residence for
the first trimester of the third class year, will go to
sea for the second trimester and return to campus for the
third trimester. Then they will go to sea for the second
and third trimesters of their second class year, return
for the first trimester of their first class year and remain
on campus until graduation.
Elective Courses
Elective courses are a means by which midshipmen may enhance
their professional training and satisfy their intellectual
curiosity. The number of elective courses varies by major.
Dual License majors, because of their demanding academic
schedule, are not required to take electives. However, all
midshipmen are encouraged to take additional elective courses
when academically possible. Some programs offer sufficient
electives to allow for a formal concentration of study,
or minors.
Ethics and Leadership Program (ELP)
On 28 January 2008, the Academy Superintendent
signed a directive establishing the Ethics and
Leadership Program (ELP). The ELP is offered to
qualified upperclassmen who desire to take on additional
scholarship and service in the fields of ethics and
leadership as part of their Academy education.
Graduates who complete the academic and practicum
requirements of the program have this accomplishment
noted on their transcripts, and they receive a
certificate upon graduation.
Graduation Requirements
The minimum requirements for graduation are:
- Pass the required resident and sea project courses.
(A four-year course of study is required by 46USC310.52.)
A maximum of 5- 1/2 years in attendance is permitted
to complete degree requirements.
- Earn the number of semester credit hours required
by the curriculum in which you are enrolled. Exemptions
from courses completed at other accredited institutions
or waived due to physical disability may lower the number
of credits required for some students.
- Earn a Cumulative Quality Point Average (CQPA) of
at least 2.000 for all courses taken.
- Earn a Cumulative Grade Point Average of at least
2.000 for all courses specifically required in your
major.
- Pass all required license competencies.
- Pass the examination and receive a USCG third mate
or third assistant engineer license. Those not eligible
to receive the license, e.g., foreign national, medical
disqualification for a duty-related injury, etc., must,
nevertheless, pass the examination. Midshipmen enrolled
in the Maritime Operations and Technology curriculum
are also required to pass all designated portions of
the QMED examination administered by the USCG.
- Satisfy all necessary certifications as required
by the USCG as specified for your program.
- Pass all required Naval Science courses prescribed
by the Department of the Navy.
- Apply for and accept, if offered, an appointment
as a commissioned officer in a Reserve Component of
the U.S. Armed Forces (including the Merchant Marine
Reserve of the U.S.Navy).
- Pass the Academy Physical Fitness Test.
The Program
of Study
When applying to the Academy, you will be asked to list
a tentative major. In the second trimester, you will be
required to affirm your selection or choose another major.
An extensive orientation program and introductory professional
course-work in the first trimester will assist you in making
that decision. All major programs are described in this
section. The courses you take at the Academy following fourth
class year will vary greatly depending on the major you
select. The following is a detailed description of the major
curricula and the course of study each entails. The exact
sequence of the course offerings in some cases may be modified
by the sea year split.
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