Marine Transportation Operations

The Marine Transportation Operations curriculum is organized to develop those skills and abilities that are necessary in pursuing a professional career at sea.  Students majoring in this program also may participate in any minor/concentration programs.  Successful completion of this program leads to a Bachelor of Science degree and the opportunity to sit for a federal examination for the U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate’s unlimited license. In addition to meeting the college requirement for graduation with at least a 2.0 grade point average for the B.S. degree, graduating students are required to have a minimum grade point average of 2.25 in the MTO program core courses. For the MTO program, core courses are defined as courses with the prefix CD, CR, and NS.

Additional requirements for graduation:

  • Complete practical training and regimental requirements as published in the Regimental Manual.
  • Pass both practical and written portions of USCG lifeboatman examination and the USCG Third Mate’s examination.
  • Complete sea time requirements as required for the USCG license.
  • Fulfill one elective with PO230 (Contemporary World Politics I), EC102 (Microeconomics), EC201 (Macroeconomics), GE200 (World Regional Geography I), or GE210 (World Regional Geography II).
  • PS301 (Technical Physics III) can be substituted for PS201 (Technical Physics II).

The following table outlines the normal sequence of courses taken by students majoring in Marine Transportation Operations:

2023/Fall – Undergraduate/Bachelor of Science/Marine Transportation Operations
Major Requirements

Credits : 138.00 Min  |  138.00 Max
2.250 Core GPA Minimum
2.000 Overall GPA Minimum

First Year Semester 1

Courses : 8 Min  |  8 Max Credits : 16.00 Min  |  16.00 Max
Course Name Credits
CS150 Structured Problem Solving with Computer 3.00
EG101 Fundamentals of Engineering Operations 3.00
HC111 Composition 3.00
MS101 Pre-Calculus Mathematics 4.00
NS101 Introduction to Nautical Science 2.00
PD101 Personal Development I 0.50
PE114 Ocean Survival 0.50
USCG1 USCG Fire Fighting 0.00
Total : 16.00

First Year Sem1 Phys Ed

Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 0.50 Min  |  0.50 Max
Course Name Credits
PE% Any PE Course  (Optional)

First Year Semester 2

Courses : 10 Min  |  10 Max Credits : 16.50 Min  |  16.50 Max
Course Name Credits
HC220 Humanities I 3.00
MS110 Technical Calculus I 4.00
MT12 Maintenance – First Year 0.00
NS102 Ship Structure 3.00
NS241 Seamanship 2.00
PD102 Personal Development I 0.50
PS102 Technical Physics I 4.00
USCG2 USCG Fire Fighting Live Burn 0.00
USCG3 Lifeboat Exam 0.00
VPDSD Vessel Person. w/ Desig. Security Duties 0.00
Total : 16.50

First Year Semester 3

Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 4.00 Min  |  4.00 Max
Course Name Credits
CR103 First Year Cruise – Deck 4.00
Total : 4.00

Sophomore Semester 1

Courses : 7 Min  |  7 Max Credits : 14.50 Min  |  14.50 Max
Course Name Credits
MT21D Maintenance Sophomore Deck 0.00
NS122 Cargo I 3.00
NS271 Terrestrial Navigation I 3.00
NS272 Terrestrial Navigation Lab 1.00
OC101 Introduction to Ocean Science 3.00
PD201 Personal Development II 0.50
PS201 Technical Physics II 4.00
Total : 14.50

Soph Sem1 Gened Elec

Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 3.00 Min  |  3.00 Max
Course Name Credits
EC102 Microeconomics 3.00
EC103 Macroeconomics 3.00
GE200 Human Geography I 3.00
GE210 Human Geography II 3.00
PO230 Contemp World Politics I 3.00
Total : 3.00

Sophomore Semester 2

Courses : 7 Min  |  7 Max Credits : 17.50 Min  |  17.50 Max
Course Name Credits
NS131 Introduction to Marine Transportation 3.00
NS210 Tanker Operations 4.00
NS262 Navigation Rules 3.00
NS282 Celestial Navigation I 3.00
NS292 Electronic Navigation 3.00
NS293 Electronic Navigation Lab 1.00
PD202 Personal Development II 0.50
Total : 17.50

Sophomore Semester 3

Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 4.00 Min  |  4.00 Max
Course Name Credits
CD203 Cadet Shipping Deck 4.00
Total : 4.00

Junior Semester 1

Courses : 5 Min  |  5 Max Credits : 12.00 Min  |  12.00 Max
Course Name Credits
HC230 Humanities II 3.00
NS301 Stability 3.00
NS345 Ship Handling 3.00
NS493 Electronic Navigation II 3.00
PD301 Personal Development III 0.00
Total : 12.00

Junior Sem1 Gened Elective

Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 3.00 Min  |  3.00 Max
Course Name Credits
EC% Any EC Course
GE% Any GE Course
GENED% Any GENED Course
HC% Any HC Course
HY% Any HY Course
PO% Any PO Course
PY% Any PY Course

Junior Semester 2

Courses : 5 Min  |  5 Max Credits : 9.00 Min  |  9.00 Max
Course Name Credits
MT32D Maint Junior Deck 0.00
NS221 Meteorology 3.00
NS332 Marine Communications 3.00
NS381 Terrestrial Navigation II 3.00
PD302 Personal Development III 0.00
Total : 9.00

Junior Sem2 Free Elective

Courses : 2 Min  |  2 Max Credits : 6.00 Min  |  6.00 Max
Course Name Credits
% Any Course

Junior Semester 3

Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 4.00 Min  |  4.00 Max
Course Name Credits
CD303 Junior Cruise Deck 4.00
Total : 4.00

Senior Semester 1

Courses : 6 Min  |  6 Max Credits : 10.00 Min  |  10.00 Max
Course Name Credits
MT41D Maintenance Senior Deck 0.00
NS420 Ship’s Business 3.00
NS461 Casualty Analysis 3.00
NS491 Advanced Navigation 3.00
NS499 License Seminar 1.00
PD401 Personal Development IV 0.00
Total : 10.00

Senior Sem1 Dept Elective

Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 3.00 Min  |  3.00 Max
Course Name Credits
EG% Any EG Course
NA% Any NA Course
NS% Any NS Course

Senior Semester 2

Courses : 4 Min  |  4 Max Credits : 9.00 Min  |  9.00 Max
Course Name Credits
HC232 Management Communication 3.00
MD310 Medical Care Provider 3.00
NS498 Watchkeeping 3.00
PD402 Personal Development IV 0.00
Total : 9.00

Senior Sem2 Dept Elective

Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 3.00 Min  |  3.00 Max
Course Name Credits
EG% Any EG Course
NA% Any NA Course
NS% Any NS Course

Senior Sem2 Free Elective

Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 3.00 Min  |  3.00 Max
Course Name Credits
% Any Course