The Ocean Engineering (M.S.) master’s program at UNH offers interdisciplinary academic and research experiences at a top-tier university, preparing you with skills and knowledge needed to address important issues associated with marine processes and to find sustainable engineering solutions. Focus areas include hands-on research in ocean renewable energy, ocean aquaculture, marine robotics, ocean mapping, coastal resiliency, environmental fluid dynamics, air-sea interactions, and more. Innovative research facilities are located on campus in the Chase Ocean Engineering Lab, and at nearby marine laboratories on the Gulf of Maine and Great Bay Estuary. Research partners include government research labs and UNH research centers.
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. Ocean Engineering 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, gives students great advantages in securing jobs after they graduate.
Potential careers
- Aquaculture
- Coastal engineering (structures, erosion)
- Environmental consulting
- Government (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)
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The Ocean Engineering program at UNH has allowed me to apply my undergraduate experience in chemical engineering and use it for research that has a much greater interest for me.Learn More
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.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science 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 course from the following: | 3-4 | |
BIOL 855 | Biological Oceanography | |
ESCI 852 | Chemical Oceanography | |
ESCI 858 | Introduction to Physical Oceanography | |
ESCI 859 | Geological Oceanography | |
ESCI 868 & ESCI 869 | Applied Physical Oceanography for Hydrographic Surveyors and Marine Geology and Geophysics for Hydrographic Surveyors | |
| Select four courses from the following: | 13-16 | |
ESCI 820 | Ocean Measurements Lab | |
ESCI 864 | Spectral Analysis of Geophysical Time Series Data | |
OE 817 | Marine Robotics and Applications | |
OE 853 | Ocean Hydrodynamics | |
OE 854 | Ocean Waves and Tides | |
OE 857 | Coastal Engineering and Processes | |
OE 858 | Design of Ocean Structures | |
OE 865 | Underwater Acoustics | |
OE 874 | Integrated Seabed Mapping Systems | |
| Select two additional 800/900-level CEPS courses | 6-8 | |
| Complete Master's Thesis | ||
| OE 899 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
| Total Credits | 30-36 | |
Program Learning Outcomes
- 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.
Deadline
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
- Fall: Jan. 15 (for funding); April 1 (recommended US; final international); July 1 (final)
- Spring: Dec. 1
- Summer: N/A
- Special: N/A
Application fee: $65
Campus: Durham
New England Regional: CT MA ME VT
Accelerated Masters: Yes (for more details see the accelerated masters information page)
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.
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.
Explore Program Details
UNH's School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering serves as the interdisciplinary nexus for marine science and ocean engineering teaching and research across the university.
