The Master of Engineering in Ocean Engineering (M.Eng.) at UNH provides an interdisciplinary education at a top-tier research university, equipping you with the skills needed to solve critical marine and coastal engineering challenges. You’ll engage in a hands-on project in areas such as ocean renewable energy, marine robotics, ocean mapping, coastal resiliency, environmental fluid dynamics, air-sea interactions, and more. Our state-of-the-art facilities, including the Chase Ocean Engineering Lab, and nearby marine laboratories, offer unparalleled opportunities for professional development. Current UNH students can complete the advanced degree in as little as one additional year through the accelerated master’s option.
Why get an advanced degree in ocean engineering?
Ocean engineering is an interdisciplinary program that prepares students to interact with professionals in diverse disciplines within the ocean science community to develop responsible solutions leading to sustainable activity and life in the ocean. It is a path toward developing practical, real-world ways to address the many urgent problems threatening the health of our oceans and, indeed, our entire planet. Rising sea levels, increasing populations close to the coast, and more frequent and severe storms are all issues that ocean engineers are addressing. An increasing number of positions for marine engineers coupled with a low number of ocean engineering programs nationwide means a very favorable job outlook.
Why choose UNH’s ocean engineering program?
UNH’s ocean engineering program provides hands-on research in ocean renewable energy, ROVs, ocean mapping, ocean acoustics and coastal processes that gives students practical experience in their chosen field. Collaboration with outstanding faculty and researchers, working in state-of-the-art engineering facilities, along with strong partnerships with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and private partners, give students great advantages in securing jobs when they graduate.
Potential Careers
- Aquaculture
- Coastal engineering (structures, erosion)
- Environmental consulting
- Government agencies such as NOAA, local, state and federal agencies
- Marine robotics
- Ocean acoustics
- Ocean equipment and instrumentation manufacture
- Ocean instrumentation
- Ocean mapping
- Oceanographic research
- Offshore structures
- Renewable energy (wave and tidal)
Curriculum & Requirements
Programs in Ocean Engineering are by definition interdisciplinary and require students to interact with the ocean science community as well as the traditional engineering disciplines. In this context, students are exposed to the broad-based issues of working engineering problems in the ocean environment. They are trained to develop responsible solutions to problems that will lead to sustainable activity and life in the ocean. The Ocean Engineering M.Eng. degree includes both coursework and a M.Eng. project as a capstone experience.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Engineering in Ocean Engineering requires the completion of at least 30 graduate credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| OE 990 & OE 991 | Ocean Seminars I and Ocean Seminars II | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
BIOL 855 | Biological Oceanography | |
ESCI 852 | Chemical Oceanography | |
ESCI 858 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography | |
ESCI 859 | Geological Oceanography | |
| Select four courses from the following: | 13-16 | |
ESCI 820 | Ocean Measurements Lab | |
OE 854 | Ocean Waves and Tides | |
OE 857 | Coastal Engineering and Processes | |
OE 858 | Design of Ocean Structures | |
OE #864 | Spectral Analysis of Geophysical Time Series Data | |
OE 865 | Underwater Acoustics | |
OE 874 | Integrated Seabed Mapping Systems | |
| Select three additional 800-900 level CEPS Courses | 9-12 | |
| Complete Master's Project | ||
| OE 892 | Master's Project | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30-37 | |
Students graduating with a MS or MEng in Ocean Engineering should be able to :
- Use their ocean engineering graduate education for success in technical careers in industry, academia, government, or for advanced ocean-related research in engineering and the physical sciences.
- Rigorously apply fundamentals of science and engineering to professional practice that enhances our understanding of and/or contributes to the sustainable development of the oceans.
- Contribute their ocean engineering problem solving skills to society through participation and leadership in groups dedicated to serving both professional associations and the public interest.
Deadlines
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
- Fall: July 1
- Spring: Dec. 1
- Summer: N/A
- Special: N/A
Application fee: $65
Campus: Durham
New England Regional: CT ME MA VT
Accelerated Masters Eligible: No
New Hampshire Residents
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission, or you will not be able to register for classes.
Transcripts
If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.
If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
- Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
- Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.
Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.
Letters of recommendation: 3 required
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
Resume
Resume is optional but recommended.
Personal Statement/Essay Questions
Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:
- Reasons you wish to do graduate work in this field, including your immediate and long-range objectives.
- Your specific research or professional interest and experiences in this field.
Important Notes
All applicants are encouraged to contact programs directly to discuss program-specific application questions.
International Applicants
Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.
