MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT) AT CAMBRIDGE | NAVAL ARCHITECTURE, MARINE ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION & OCEAN ENGINEERING EDUCATION
NAVAL ARCHITECTURE, MARINE ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION & OCEAN ENGINEERING EDUCATION AT MIT CENTER FOR OCEAN ENGINEERING (COE)

For nearly a century, MIT has been a leading center of ship research and design, and is widely recognized for its contributions in such areas as hydrodynamics, ship structural mechanics and dynamics, propeller design, and overall ship design. The Pratt School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, which was established through a bequest to MIT in 1912, is an integral part of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Today, MIT is at the forefront of ocean science and engineering, with significant efforts in fluid mechanics and hydrodynamics, acoustics, offshore mechanics, marine robotics and sensors, and ocean sensing and forecasting. In addition, the Naval Construction program provides advanced graduate education on the design of naval ships and vehicles.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers an undergraduate degree in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering, graduate degrees in Ocean Engineering, in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, in Naval Engineering, and in Oceanographic Engineering as part of the MIT/WHOI Joint Program. Currently, approximately 110 students pursue Ocean Engineering degrees.
MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (CTL) Programs details can be found here
Academic Programs
Undergraduate Programs
- BS in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering:: The Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Ocean Engineering is designed for students who are interested in mechanical engineering with a specialization in ocean engineering. The program incorporates aspects of ocean exploration and utilization of the oceans for transportation, defense, and resources. Courses and research covers the disciplines of fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, acoustics, dynamics, materials, and ocean systems and design. The degree prepares students for work in the industry and government in areas including offshore oil recovery, transportation and defense, ocean environment protection, underwater vehicles, global climate monitoring, and computer-aided design.
Graduate Program - Transportation
- Master of Engineering Track - Transportation: This Master of Engineering specialty covers the analysis, planning, design, operation and management of transportation systems. It offers a broad range of subjects, including methods for transportation systems analysis, transportation demand analysis, urban transportation planning, transportation and environmental limits, comparative land use and transportation planning, and logistics systems and supply chain management. Also available are subjects focusing on urban public transportation, airlines, airports, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and marine transportation systems. This program is conducted by Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and not part of COE
Graduate Programs - COE
- MS in Ocean Engineering: The Master's of Science in Ocean Engineering could take from 12 to 18 months, depending on the relative strength of undergraduate preparation in engineering or the physical sciences.
- MS in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering: The curriculum leading to a is based on a broad working knowledge of all the basic engineering skills. As a part of the more general field of ocean engineering, naval architecture and marine engineering are concerned with all aspects of waterborne vehicles operating on, below, and just above the sea surface. The program is intended to develop an individual who plans to concentrate in areas related to waterborne vehicles and/or their subsystems.
- Naval Engineer (2-3 year program): The program leading to the Naval Engineer's degree requires a higher level and significantly broader range of professional competence in engineering than that required for the S.M. degree. The program for an engineer's degree ordinarily includes subjects in the areas of economics, industrial management, and public policy or law, and at least 12 units of comprehensive design.
- MS in Oceanographic Engineering (offered in conjunction with Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institute): The Joint Program in Applied Ocean Science & Engineering offers graduate students the opportunity to plan an exciting career in research the ocean and ocean technologies. Students are given the opportunity to select individual paths combining mathematical and engineering skills with oceanography. Through the MIT-WHOI Joint Program in Applied Ocean Science and Engineering.
- MS in Transportation with concentration in Ocean Systems Management: Ocean Systems Management (OSM) covers the business and government management aspects of ocean engineering systems and activities, focusing on ocean transportation and international logistics. Formerly a separate degree, Ocean Systems Management is now a depth concentration within the Master of Science in Transportation (MST) degree
Doctoral Programs
- Ocean Engineering
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
- Oceanographic Engineering
MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (CTL) Programs details can be found here