The Marine Systems Engineering – License Track program combines many of the technical courses of the Engineering Operations and the Engineering Technology programs with a 10-course calculus-based design and analysis sequence. In addition to the 180 days of industrial practice at sea offered by the other programs, “Systems” also includes a three-to-four month co-op term in a shoreside industrial or government engineering facility.

The complete program takes five years, with the opportunity to sit for the U.S. Coast Guard Third Assistant Engineer’s License in the fourth year and for the Fundamentals of Engineering examination at the completion of the first semester of the fifth year. Students in this program may apply for a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Engineering Operations after four years of study, with automatic eligibility to return to commence the fifth year within a three-year period after graduation. (With this four-year track, Probability and Statistics for Engineering and Science (MS251) is not required.)

Successful completion of the 5-year program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Marine Systems Engineering – License Track, and prepares the graduate for a career as a sea-going merchant marine engineering officer, or in applied or design engineering, engineering consulting, or for a management position in maritime, industrial power, or general engineering fields. Graduates of Marine Systems Engineering – License Track are also well prepared to pursue advanced study at graduate school in numerous engineering disciplines.

The program in Marine Systems Engineering – License Track is designed for students with a strong mathematical and analytical ability as well as interest in practical engineering. It is the most academically rigorous course of study at Maine Maritime Academy. Only a few engineering programs in the United States offer a comparable curriculum. The synergy of the 10-course design/analysis sequence with a strong hands-on marine component is the hallmark of the MSE license track.

Additional requirements for graduation:

• Complete practical training and regimental requirements as published.
• Pass both practical and written portions of USCG lifeboatman examination and the USCG Third Assistant Engineer’s examination.
• Complete sea time requirements as required for the USCG license.
• Core classes within the MSE Program have STCW competencies within the course, and students are required to achieve a minimum of 70% grade to obtain credit for these competencies.

The following table outlines the normal sequence of courses taken by students majoring in Marine Systems Engineering – License Track: