Westlawn or virginia tech M

Hello,
I'm looking for some advice on which education path may be most appropriate for someone in my shoes. Currently have a bachelor's of science from Maine maritime academy in vessel operations and technology. I've been working in various marine industries, hands-on steadily for the last 18 years on tug/push boats, barges, and commercial fishing vessels, as both an operator/captain and engineer, and feel fairly confident in my real world knowledge/grasp of the applicable systems and characteristics inherent with vessels in those sectors.

I'd like transition into the design side of things. I've been scale drawing boats by hand most of my life and have have just recently wetted my toes in computer based design. I'm employed full time right now and supporting a family of 4, so I'd like to be able to do coursework online. For someone looking to admeasure vessels for tonnage restricted industries and do alittle moonlight design work on the side, sponsoning and lengthening vessels, does one edgucation path lend it self more handily to my desired goals ? Both offer online courses. VT offers the ocean engineering masters program, westlawn their naval architecture and yacht design course.
I'm not trying to leave my current sector of employment, but I would like to have another tool in my tool belt to fall back on, and maybe do alittle work on the side for a local NA that's looking to retire soon, which in addition might serve to outlet some creative passions. Is the westlawn program sufficient if one day I choose to leave the offshore sector entirely and pursue a career in say, surveying for rina/abs ?
I have no interest in yachts or vessels >200'. Primarily commercial work boats and fishing boats<100'.

I guess what I'm asking is if there's greater career potential down the road for one program vs the other or if one program might have alot of stuff incorporated that really isn't necessary for what I'm trying to do. Accreditation differences ? Better options ?

Thanks in advance,

 

Westlawn is NOT a NA course; it is more practice oriented course without deep engineering principles. It is a yacht design course covering certain types of vessels only.
You can look at staff in Westlawn and try to find anyone with degree in NA. Though they all have 'thousands of miles of sailing' and ' decades of of living on board a yacht' instead

 

Thanks, I guess I didnt realize westlawn was directed primarily at yachts. I think southhampton also offers a course. I might look there aswell.

 

Hi Seiner,

You may also be interested in taking a look at Navalapp courses: Navalapp Courses https://navalapp.com/courses/

More courses are currently in preparation.

I hope this helps.

 

The VT Ocean Engineering website and requirements for admission to their Master's program are: Graduate admissions https://www.aoe.vt.edu/graduate/graduate-admissions.html

Admissions requirements
An applicant should have:

• A bachelor’s degree, typically in engineering, mathematics, or physics from an accredited institutionm
• Evidence of genuine promise of success in graduate study, such as a good academic record. (A 3.0 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale is strongly recommended.)

​

Looking at the curriculum a knowledge of calculus and basic differential equations appears to be expected. https://www.aoe.vt.edu/content/aoe_...ontent/download/file.res/AOE_Graduate_P-P.pdf
You may want to ask VT Ocean Engineering if your bachelor's degree is sufficient. Looking at the curriculum a knowledge of calculus and basic differential equations appears to be expected.

From what I know about the Westlawn program I think it is of limited relevance to metal inspected commercial vessels. The VT masters program may also be of limited direct relevance though a VT masters degree would help open different doors than a Westlawn certificate.

You might contact RINA and ABS and ask what they require for qualifications.