Since 1901, MIT has maintained a graduate program in Naval Construction and Marine Engineering, in close cooperation with the United States Navy. This program prepares Navy, Coast Guard, foreign naval officers, and other graduate students for careers in ship design and construction. Besides providing the students a comprehensive education in naval engineering, we emphasize their future roles as advocates in ship design and acquisition. The course of study consists of both a two-year program, which leads to a Master's of Science degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and a three-year program, which leads to the degree of Naval Engineer.

The curriculum leading to a Master of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering is based on a broad working knowledge of all the basic engineering skills. As a part of the more general field of ocean engineering, naval architecture and marine engineering are concerned with all aspects of waterborne vehicles operating on, below, and just above the sea surface. The Master of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering is intended to develop an individual who plans to concentrate in areas related to waterborne vehicles and/or their subsystems.

The program leading to the Naval Engineer's degree requires a higher level and significantly broader range of professional competence in engineering than that required for the S.M. degree. The program for an engineer's degree ordinarily includes subjects in the areas of economics, industrial management, and public policy or law, and at least 12 units of comprehensive design.

Should the student be working toward the simultaneous award of the engineer's and master's degree, a single thesis is generally acceptable, provided it is appropriate to the specifications of both degrees and demonstrates the educational maturity expected of candidates for the higher degree. Additional information on departmental requirements is available from the Department of Mechanical Engineering.