Small Vessel Operations

The Vessel Operations and Technology curriculum is designed to prepare students for positions of responsibility in the operation and management of a variety of private and commercial vessels. The program is organized in a two-plus-two format offering a two-year Associate of Science degree in Small Vessel Operations (SVO) and a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Vessel Operations and Technology (VOT). A range of limited-tonnage U.S. Coast Guard merchant mariner licenses are also associated with these degree programs. Four academic semesters, plus a cooperative work experience during the summer following the first year, lead to an Associate of Science degree. Four additional academic semesters plus two additional cooperative work experiences and the VOT training cruise, lead to a Bachelor of Science degree.

A student successfully completing the first two years of the program, including an appropriate cooperative work experience, and meeting all the applicable USCG requirements may receive a USCG license as mate of vessels not more than 200 gross tons, Near Coastal (200 miles offshore). A comprehensive license exam, administered by MMA, is a requirement to earn this USCG license and is a prerequisite for both the mate 500-ton and mate 1600-ton licenses.

A student successfully completing the Bachelor of Science degree requisites, two additional cooperative work experiences on appropriately-sized vessels, the VOT training cruise and meeting all the applicable USCG requirements, will be eligible to sit for the USCG License examination either as mate of vessels not more than 500 gross tons or as mate of vessels not more than 1600 gross tons.

Depending on specific USCG sea-service and vessel tonnage requirements students will be eligible for either a Near Coastal or Oceans endorsement on their license. This program also satisfies the training and assessment requirements to meet the STCW Code for both Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch and Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch.

Participation in the Regiment of Midshipmen is optional when enrolled in this program. However, students electing to participate in First Year Cruise on the Training Ship State of Maine are subject to the Priority for Course Registration policy, must have been in the Regiment for the year and meet the following prerequisites: 4/C Maintenance; Ship’s Orientation; Ocean Survival (PE114), Fire Training, and NS101.

In addition to meeting the college requirement for graduation with at least a 2.0 grade point average for the A.S. and B.S. degrees, graduating students are required to have a minimum grade point average of 2.25 in the VOT/SVO program core courses. For the VOT program, core courses are defined as courses with the prefix CO, CR, and NS.

The following table outlines the normal sequence of courses taken by students majoring in Small Vessel Operations.

2023/Fall – Undergraduate/Associate of Science/Small Vessel Operations
Major Requirements

Credits : 66.00 Min  |  66.00 Max
2.250 Core GPA Minimum
2.000 Overall GPA Minimum

First Year Semester 1

Courses : 9 Min  |  9 Max Credits : 16.00 Min  |  16.00 Max
Course Name Credits
CS150 Structured Problem Solving with Computer 3.00
FY100 First Year Experience 1.00
HC111 Composition 3.00
MS101 Pre-Calculus Mathematics 4.00
NS101 Introduction to Nautical Science 2.00
NS103 Introduction to Vessel Operations 2.00
PE100 Basic Sailing 0.50
PE114 Ocean Survival 0.50
USCG1 USCG Fire Fighting 0.00
Total : 16.00

First Year Semester 2

Courses : 6 Min  |  6 Max Credits : 12.00 Min  |  12.00 Max
Course Name Credits
NS132 Small Craft Technology 3.00
NS135 Small Craft Construction 3.00
NS241 Seamanship 2.00
PS102 Technical Physics I 4.00
USCG2 USCG Fire Fighting Live Burn 0.00
USCG3 Lifeboat Exam 0.00
Total : 12.00

First Year Sem2 HUM

Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 3.00 Min  |  3.00 Max
Course Name Credits
HC220 Humanities I 3.00
HC230 Humanities II 3.00
Total : 3.00

First Year Semester 3

Courses : 1 Min  |  1 Max Credits : 3.00 Min  |  3.00 Max
Course Name Credits
CO223 SVO/VOT Cooperative Work Exp I 3.00
Total : 3.00

Sophomore Semester 1

Courses : 5 Min  |  5 Max Credits : 13.00 Min  |  13.00 Max
Course Name Credits
NS122 Cargo I 3.00
NS232 Marine Systems 3.00
NS271 Terrestrial Navigation I 3.00
NS272 Terrestrial Navigation Lab 1.00
OC101 Introduction to Ocean Science 3.00
Total : 13.00

Soph Sem1 Gened Elec

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

Sophomore Semester 2

Courses : 6 Min  |  6 Max Credits : 13.00 Min  |  13.00 Max
Course Name Credits
NS221 Meteorology 3.00
NS262 Navigation Rules 3.00
NS292 Electronic Navigation 3.00
NS293 Electronic Navigation Lab 1.00
NS298 Topics in Small Vessel Operations 2.00
NS299 200 Ton License Seminar 1.00
Total : 13.00

Soph Sem2 Dept Elective

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