Difference in Degree Titles

[VillasRandy]

Hi, im a senior in HS right now and have been looking and applying to different schools w/ degrees involving boat design. I have been accepted to University of New Orleans, Texas A&M @ Galveston, Maine Maritime Academy, SUNY Maritime, and i go for my interview at Webb on monday.

Besides wanting opinions about where to go, i am also curious about differences in degrees. Ive seen Naval Architecture, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Marine Systems Engineering, Marine Engineering Technology.

I really want to be designing vessels.

[Ike]

Naval Architecture generally includes everything involved with the design of a vessel (vessel includes anything that floats), the hull, superstructure, all the systems on the vessel, everything! Marine Engineering is generally applied to the "systems" on a vessel, e.g. engines, plumbing, electrical, AC and Ventilation and so on. Marine Systems Engineering and Marine Engineering Technology are (dare I say lesser????) lesser degrees of Marine Engineering covering specific systems. Yes, it does get confusing! Be glad you didn't ask what the difference is between a yacht designer and a Naval architect!

[VillasRandy]

alright, thank you, now i guess it all comes down to me picking which school to go to. Of those that I have applied to does anyone have any opinions?

im looking mostly for the best program right now, job placement upon graduation, equipment at the school...
of those listed, i am not concerned about price (3 of them i have been offered full tuition scholarships, and some kind of scholarship to the others)

[Eric Sponberg]

I am an alumnus of the University of Michigan, so I regard it very highly. If you want to go into ship design, I would encourage you to go there. You will get the best engineering background in naval architecture that is possible. Webb Institute is also very good.

Eric

[Ike]

I would agree with Eric. U of M is tops. Webb is excellent but very exclusive. However, if you can get into Webb they pay the bill. If you search these threads fro Naval Architecture schools you will find a long list of schools that offer it.

[VillasRandy]

well i have applied and been accepted to all of those i listed except for webb, and im going for my final interview on monday of next week. It is too late for me to apply to U of M, i already checked there and missed it by a few days. So of those listed Webb is the highest ranked?

[LostInBoston]

There is also Ocean Engineering, where you can learn naval architecture and hydrodynamics.

[VillasRandy]

ok, i realize that there is difference between the degrees, now i just need to decide what school to go too.

UNO- NAME
Webb- NAME (not accepted quite yet)
TAMUG- MSE
MMA- MSE
SUNY- NA

those are my options.