Career requirements after graduation from USMMA?

[glyiker]

Hello, I'm currently a junior in high school looking into the Merchant Marine Academy, but I'm confused about the career requirements after graduation. I know I want to be a naval architect, and that USMMA has a great naval architecture program, but would I be able to go into that field right after graduation? I believe the handbook I found said graduates must work in the maritime industry, but I'm not sure if that could mean as a naval architect or if it's implying that graduates must take a job on a ship. If the requirement is to work on a ship, does anyone know if spending 5 years there would be detrimental to a naval architecture career later? Thanks

 

[beyond]

KP does not have a naval architecture major. You'll have a related skill set, but the engine majors are a different skill set than Nav Arch.

Most likely you'll end up on a ship after graduation, there are a few shoreside exceptions (..quite a few classmates are working for NavSea), but generally it means going to sea. It WILL NOT be detrimental to a Nav Arch career, it will be quite complimentary.

I know of a few folks that have done graduate school at Michigan in Naval Architecture after graduating KP. If you're stone cold set on being a Naval Architect (...and wicked smart), the best place in the country is just down the island from KP, http://www.webb.edu/.

 

[Idzak]

KP does not have a naval architecture major. You'll have a related skill set, but the engine majors are a different skill set than Nav Arch.

Most likely you'll end up on a ship after graduation, there are a few shoreside exceptions (..quite a few classmates are working for NavSea), but generally it means going to sea. It WILL NOT be detrimental to a Nav Arch career, it will be quite complimentary.

I know of a few folks that have done graduate school at Michigan in Naval Architecture after graduating KP. If you're stone cold set on being a Naval Architect (...and wicked smart), the best place in the country is just down the island from KP, http://www.webb.edu/.

US Coast Guard Academy has a major in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Check it out, www.cga.edu.

 

[NavyHoops]

USNA has a naval architecture major. You would need to serve as an unrestricted line officer first then request to transfer to Engineering Duty Officer to work in this field. I agree, Webb is a great school for this. I have several friends who work in this field. One was an engineering major and found his place working in this field and the other is a USNA grad who majored in Naval Arch and was non-commisonable. They both work at NSWC Carderock where a great deal of Naval Arch for the USN occurs. You need to decide if you want to serve in the USN or as a Merchant Marine or be a naval architect.