Graduate Program
Master's Degree

Three major paths to the Master of Science with major in Ocean Engineering are available to graduate students, the Thesis Option, The Non-Thesis Option and MS with a Minor in Bussiness Option.

1. MS Thesis Option
2. MS Non-Thesis Option
3. MS with a Minor in Business Option
4. Admission Requirements for MS Program
5. Core Course Requirements
6. Transfer Credits
7. Options for MS Program Emphasis
8. Course Load
9. Supervisory Committee
10. Admission to Candidacy
11. Fast Track Program
12. Thesis Work and Progress Reviews
13. Degree Requirements
14. Unsatisfactory Performance
15. MS Course Options

MS Thesis Option

The MS thesis option requires a minimum of 30 credits, including a minimum of 6 thesis credits. At least 15 of the credits must be taken from the Ocean Engineering core course list (see core course requirements section). In addition, 9 credits will be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor. At least 18 of the 24 credits must be at or above the 5000 level. The remainder may be at the 4000 level with approval of the advisor. Students electing the thesis option will be required to complete the thesis program.

MS Non-Thesis Option

This option requires a minimum of 33 credits. At least 15 of the credits must be taken from the Ocean Engineering core course list (see core course requirements section). In addition, 18 credits will be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor. No thesis credits may be counted toward this degree. Additionally, 24 of the 33 credits must be at or above the 5000 level. The remainder may be at the 4000 level with approval of the advisor.

Master of Science with a Minor in Business Option

A nonthesis option, this program leads to a master’s degree along with a Minor in Business Administration. It requires a total of 36 credits. At least 15 of the credits must be taken from the Ocean Engineering core course list (see core course requirements section). In addition, 6 credits relating to the student’s area of specialization in ocean engineering must be selected and 15 credits must be selected from the College of Business approved course list outlined under the Minor in Business heading at the beginning of this College section. The Admissions and Degree Requirements sections of this catalog contain statements of regulations that apply to all graduate students. Of particular interest is the information under the headings Graduate Admission Regulations and Graduate Degree Requirements. Statements referring to foreign language requirements do not apply to Ocean Engineering students; neither the Master of Science nor the Ph.D. degree requires foreign language proficiency.  See below for Course Options.

Admission Requirements for MS Program

Specific admission requirements for Ocean Engineering are more stringent than the general FAU graduate admissions requirements. A candidate for the Master’s Program in Ocean Engineering must satisfy the following entry requirements:

1. A baccalaureate degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Naval Architecture, Physics, Chemistry, or any of the physical sciences.
2. A 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) GPA or better in the last 60 credits of undergraduate work.
3. A combined score of 1000 or higher on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), with no less than 400 on either section of the GRE. GRE scores more than five years old will not be accepted.
4. Must demonstrate proficiency in both written and spoken English. Students from nonEnglish-speaking countries are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and achieve a score of at least 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based).
5. Three letters of recommendation attesting to the student’s potential for graduate studies in a chosen field.
6. Adherence to the policies and regulations and the graduate admission requirements of the University as outlined in this University catalog.
7. Conditional admission may be permitted if the above requirements are not met.

Core Course Requirements

All MS graduate students, regardless of option or specialty, must complete the following core courses or must offer a satisfactory substitute course of similar content from another university or an appropriate substitute consistent with the student’s specialty for approval by the supervisory committee via a departmental petition:

• Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering I* (EOC 5172)
• Engineering Data Analysis (EOC 6635)
• Physical Aspects of Oceanography (OCP 6050)

In addition, two of the following five courses must be taken:

• Advanced Mechanics of Materials** (EOC 6152)
• Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering II* (EOC 6174)
• Advanced Hydrodynamics I (EOC 6185)
• Corrosion I (EOC 6216C)
• Engineering Principles of Acoustics (EOC 6317C)

* Students with an advanced mathematics competency may obtain exemption upon entrance to the program for Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering I (EOC 5172) and/or Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering II (EOC 6174). These students must demonstrate to their advisor, using course descriptions, that the equivalent of five to six courses beyond calculus, including areas such as differential equations, advanced calculus, matrix theory, complex analysis, and probability and statistics have been taken. Approval by the graduate programs committee is also required.

** May be substituted with Advanced Strength of Materials (EGM 6533), by petition.

Transfer Credits

A maximum of 9 credits of graduate-level work earned at FAU as an undergraduate or while in nondegree status at FAU and a maximum of 6 credits earned at another recognized institution prior to admission to the Ocean Engineering graduate program may be transferred to a student’s MS degree program subject to the following restrictions:

1. The student must present a transcript identifying the course, in which the student has earned a grade of “B” or better, along with a catalog/ course description.
2. The course must not have been counted toward any other graduate or undergraduate degree awarded or to be awarded to the student.
3. The student’s advisor and the Ocean Engineering graduate program coordinator, who may seek the advice of other faculty if needed, will decide whether to accept or reject the course credit.
4. No credit earned seven or more years before the degree is awarded may be counted toward a graduate degree.

Options for MS Program Emphasis

Six basic program emphasis options are available to MS graduate students in Ocean Engineering with either the thesis or nonthesis option. These program options are described in section below.

Course Load

All students choosing the MS thesis option and receiving financial assistance must be full-time students. This requires that they are registered for a minimum of 9 credits in the fall semester, 9 credits in the spring semester, and 6 credits for the summer semester. All international students must be registered as full-time students. A maximum of 15 credits may be taken in a semester.

Supervisory Committee

All MS graduate students will be assigned an academic advisor who will assist the student in planning a course schedule for the program and will also approve all course selections, schedules, and schedule changes. By the end of the first semester or at the completion of 9 credits, the student, in consultation with the academic advisor, should make the following selections: 1. A particular program-emphasis option. If selecting a thesis program then: a. Chair of the supervisory committee. b. At least two other members for the supervisory committee.

The chair of the supervisory committee, who is normally the student’s advisor, and at least one of the other members must be chosen from the Ocean Engineering faculty. Members from outside the department may be chosen for the supervisory committee with the permission of the department chair. The student should obtain the consent of other members to serve on the supervisory committee. Having obtained this permission, the names of the committee members should be submitted to the department chair. The committee acts as a unit to guide the student’s degree program.

Admission to Candidacy

Students choosing the thesis option as part of the M.S. program should, as soon as practical after the selection of a supervisory committee, submit a formal plan of study to the committee. The plan must be listed on the form titled, Admission to Candidacy: Master’s Degree, and will include all course and thesis work that the student expects to complete for the M.S. degree. The form must be submitted no later than the end of the second semester. Upon approval of the plan, the student will be admitted to candidacy for the M.S. Degree. The student is required to defend his/her thesis proposal before the end of the third semester.

For students electing the nonthesis option, the “Admission to Candidacy: Master’s Degree” must still be completed and approved by the advisor, who will submit the plan to the Office of Graduate Studies. For both the thesis and nonthesis track, it is required that the admission to candidacy form be completed and submitted at least one semester prior to the semester in which the student expects to graduate.

Fast Track Program

The Department of Ocean Engineering offers an accelerated program option for the Master of Science with major in Ocean Engineering (with thesis) for qualified students who will be supported under research assistantships. The accelerated program allows a student to complete an M.S. degree in 12 months.

The objective of this option is to provide an opportunity for the student to earn a master’s degree in one year, which translates into significant reductions in both time and expense, thus allowing the student to enter the workforce sooner, minimizing the financial impact of pursuing an M.S. degree. In order to achieve this goal, the program of study and thesis work must be well defined prior to the student starting the program of study. In addition to the normal requirements, students with an engineering core GPA of 3.5 or better, in conjunction with their prospective graduate studies academic advisor, are invited to submit a letter of intent to the graduate committee for consideration to be admitted into this program. The letter of intent should include an outline of the project and milestones to be reached by the end of each semester. Students admitted into the accelerated option are allowed to take a maximum of 12 credits per semester.

Candidates who are successful in completing the M.S. in one year will be presented with a certificate recognizing their achievement at the Honors Convocation.

Thesis Work and Progress Reviews

For those students who elect the MS thesis option, the first step, to be completed by the end of the second semester of full-time enrollment, is the submission of a written thesis proposal to the supervisory committee. This proposal must be approved by the supervisory committee before the student begins extensive work in the selected research area. In the proposal defense, the student presents and defends, as required, the plan research. At the beginning of the student’s third semester and each semester thereafter the supervisory committee will review the student’s progress.

If at any time the progress in the student’s research is found to be unsatisfactory, the supervisory committee will report to the department chair, inform the student in writing as to the nature of the difficulties, and record the committee’s opinion in the student’s file. The student will then be given ample opportunity to improve performance and defend the student’s position at a further review meeting held at the end of the semester. If no improvement has been demonstrated, the student’s future program, including the continuation of stipend and tuition waiver, will be re-evaluated.

A minimum of two weeks prior to the anticipated thesis defense, the written thesis must be delivered to the department in the format described in a pamphlet titled Requirements and Guidelines for Graduate Theses and Dissertations. Guidelines may also be obtained from the Office of Graduate Admissions and Graduate Studies or from the Department of Ocean Engineering. An announcement stating the thesis topic and time and location of the defense will be provided to all department faculty and to the supervisory committee members one week prior to the scheduled defense. The announcement will also be posted in the department and/or mailed to all Ocean Engineering faculty, staff, and students.

Degree Requirements

The degree of Master of Science with major in Ocean Engineering will be awarded to candidates who have:

1. Complied with University graduate policies and regulations.
2. Satisfied the University’s graduate degree requirements.
3. Satisfactorily completed the appropriate courses of study.
4. And for the thesis option, submitted and defended a thesis based on the student’s original work in an area of specialization.

The degree of Master of Science with major in Ocean Engineering (nonthesis option) will be awarded to the candidate who has completed requirements 1-3 above.

Unsatisfactory Performance

A MS graduate student whose academic performance is deemed unsatisfactory will be denied further registration in the department programs. Unsatisfactory academic performance is defined as failure to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in all FAU graduate program courses at the end of the second semester in the program (this would normally be 15 to 18 credits) or after any subsequent semester. Please note that this is more strict than the University requirement. A student who exhibits unsatisfactory performance in the Ocean Engineering graduate program may be permitted to apply to another program in the University. No graduate credit may be earned for courses completed with a “C-”, “D+”, “D”, “D-”, “F”, or “U” (refer to the Academic Policies and Regulations), even if grades in other courses bring the average up to a satisfactory level.

Master of Science Course Options

The following are suggested course sequences for the six Master of Science (M.S.) thesis options. Although some of these program emphasis options recommend more than eight courses, minimum requirments are met by taking eight courses (24 credits).

Marine Materials Option

First Year, Fall

• Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering I (EOC 5172)
• Corrosion I (EOC 6216C)
• Physical Metallurgy (EOC 6230)

First Year, Spring

• Engineering Data Analysis (EOC 6635)
• Composite Materials (EOC 6205)
• Elective

First Year, Summer

• Master’s Thesis (OCE 6971)
• Physical Aspects of Oceanography (OCP 6050)

Second Year, Fall

• Advanced Mechanics of Materials in Ocean Engineering (EOC 6152)
• Advanced Fracture and Failure Processes I (EOC 6157)
• Elective

Additional Courses Available

• Finite Elements Methods (Spring Semester; EOC 6155)
• Corrosion II EOC 6218C

Offshore Structures Option

First Year, Fall

• Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering I (EOC 5172)
• Advanced Mechanics of Materials in Ocean Engineering (EOC 6152)
• Coastal Structures (EOC 6430)

First Year, Spring

• Engineering Data Analysis (EOC 6635)
• Offshore Structures (EOC 6431)
• Finite Element Methods (EOC 6155)

First Year, Summer

• Marine Geotechnical Engineering (EOC 6435)
• Physical Aspects of Oceanography (OCP 6050)

Second Year, Fall

• Theory of Plates (EOC 6153)
• Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering II (EOC 6174)
• Master’s Thesis (OCE 6971)

Additional Courses Available

• Theory of Elasticity (EOC 6154)
• Advanced Hydrodynamics I (Fall Semester; EOC 6185)
• Plastic Analysis of Structures (EOC 6416)
• Special Topics* (EOC 6934)

* Special Topics may include Underwater Vehicle Navigation or Nonlinear Systems.

Hydrodynamics and Physical Oceanography Option

First Year, Fall

• Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering I (EOC 5172)
• Advanced Hydrodynamics I (EOC 6185)
• Engineering Data Analysis (EOC 6635)

First Year, Spring

• Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering II (EOC 6174)
• Advanced Hydrodynamics II (EOC 6186)
• Turbulent Flow (EOC 6190)

First Year, Summer

• Master’s Thesis (OCE 6971)
• Physical Aspects of Oceanography (OCP 6050)

Second Year, Fall

• Master’s Thesis (OCE 6971)
• Elective

Second Year, Spring

• Advanced Ocean Wave Mechanics (EOC 6320)
• Master’s Thesis (OCE 6971)

Additional Courses Available

• Vortex Dynamics (EOC 6184)
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (EOC 6189)
• Flow Noise (EOC 6311C)

Marine Vehicles Option

First Year, Fall

• Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering I (EOC 5172)
• Engineering Data Analysis (EOC 6635)
• Intelligent Underwater Vehicles I (EOC 6663)

First Year, Spring

• Underwater Vehicle Navigation (EOC 6934)
• Electives*

First Year, Summer

• Master’s Thesis (OCE 6971)
• Physical Aspects of Oceanography (OCP 6050)

Second Year, Fall

• Digital Control I (EEL 5630)
• Advanced Hydrodynamics I (EOC 6185)
• Master’s Thesis (OCE 6971)

Second Year, Spring

Master’s Thesis (OCE 6971)

Additional Courses Available

• Control Systems I (Fall Semester; EEL 4652)
• Engineering Principles of Acoustics (Fall Semester; EOC 6317C)
• Fuzzy Logic Control Systems (EOC 6681)

* Electives may include Nonlinear Systems.

Acoustics Option

First Year, Fall

• Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering I (EOC 5172)
• Engineering Data Analysis (EOC 6635)
• Engineering Principles of Acoustics (EOC 6317C)

First Year, Spring

• Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering II (EOC 6174)
• Flow Noise (EOC 6311C)
• Advanced Signal Processing (EOC 6630)

First Year, Summer

• Master’s Thesis (OCE 6971)
• Physical Aspects of Oceanography (OCP 6050)

Second Year, Fall

• Sonar System Design (EOC 6310)
• Master’s Thesis (OCE 6971)

Second Year, Spring

• Structural Acoustics and Vibrations (EOC 6316)
• Master’s Thesis (OCE 6971)

Additional Courses Available

• Mechanical Vibrations (Fall Semester; EML 6223)
• Applied Structural Reliability and Random Vibration (Spring Semester; EML 6228)
• Advanced Random Vibration (Fall Semester; EML 6229)
• Finite Element Methods (Spring Semester; EOC 6155)
• Advanced Hydrodynamics I (Fall Semester; EOC 6185)
• Flow Noise (EOC 6311C)

M.S. with Major in Ocean Engineering, Minor in Business Option

The following is a suggested course sequence for the Master of Science with major in Ocean Engineering, minor in Business. This is a nonthesis option only requiring a total of 36 credits.

First Year, Fall

• Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering I (EOC 5172)
• Financial Accounting Concepts (ACG 6027)
• Engineering Data Analysis (EOC 6635)

First Year, Spring

• Financial Management (FIN 6406)
• Global Environment of Management (MAN 6937)
• Marketing Functions and Processes (MAR 6055)

First Year, Summer

• Management of Information Systems and Technology (ISM 6026)
• Physical Aspects of Oceanography (OCP 6050)

Second Year, Fall

• Ocean Engineering Electives

Second Year, Spring

• Ocean Engineering Electives