U.S. Coast Guard Licensing

Students at Maritime College have the option of studying for a Merchant Marine license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). All students pursuing a license must be part of the Regiment of Cadets and participate in the Summer Sea Terms and authorized sea service onboard commercial vessels. Maritime College offers the following licenses:

Deck

  • Unlimited Third Mate Oceans; Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch

  • Mate (500 or 1,600 Gross Registered Tons); Near Coastal or Oceans; Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on ships of 500 gross tons or more.

Engine

  • Unlimited; Third Assistant Engineer Steam, Motor, or Gas Turbine; Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch.

  • Assistant Engineer (Limited) motor propelled vessels, on vessels of any horsepower. Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch in a Manned Engine Room or Designated Duty Engineer in a Periodically Unmanned Engine Room on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 750KW/1,000HP or more, limited to motor vessels.

The unlimited licenses lead to a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering degree. Students must pass the USCG license exam to graduate. The limited licenses are administered through the Maritime Technology and Operations Department and leads to an AAS degree.

These programs must also comply with both federal guidelines and international standards related to maritime education. The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended (to which the United States is a signatory) sets qualification standards for seafarers on seagoing merchant ships. USCG is responsible for implementing STCW training in the United States.

Programs Offering an Unlimited Third Mate or Third Assistant Engine License

Bachelor of Engineering

  • Electrical Engineering (Deck or Engine)

  • Facilities Engineering (Engine)

  • Marine Engineering (Engine)

  • Mechanical Engineering (Engine)

  • Naval Architecture (Deck or Engine)

Bachelor of Science

  • Marine Environmental Science (Deck)

  • Marine Operations (Deck or Engine)

  • Marine Transportation (Deck)

  • Maritime Studies (Deck)

Master of Science

  • International Transportation Management (Deck)

  • Maritime and Naval Studies (Deck)

Programs Offering a Limited Deck or Engine License

A.A.S. in Marine Technology: Small Vessel Operations with Deck Limited License

  • Mate (500 or 1,600 Gross Registered Tons) Near Coastal or Oceans; Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on ships of 500 gross tons or more.

A.A.S. in Marine Technology: Small Vessel Operations with Engine Limited License

  • Assistant Engineer (Limited) motor propelled vessels of any horsepower. Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch in a Manned Engine Room or Designated Duty Engineer in a Periodically Unmanned Engine Room on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 750KW/1,000HP or more, limited to motor vessels.