New Option in Marine Engineering Technology

Target Student Population

Many students in the MET program enter with education and training from a wide variety of sources. Articulation agreements already exist with the Northrop-Grumman Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice program, the Virginia Community College system, Virginia Dominion Power, and the US Navy Nuclear Power School. Many of the transferring students have some experience in the Maritime industry and are prime candidates for this program. Additionally, the Hampton Roads NROTC program (administered by Hampton University, Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University) is one of the largest NROTC units in the country. It is the belief of the MET Advisory Committee, and the special committee formed from academia, industry and the MET advisory committee, that the population exists within the region and within the existing programs to make this program is not only feasible but highly desirable to not only the student population but the employment market of this region. The initial course offering of the course Principles of Maintenance Engineering in Spring 2006 as an elective attracted over 30 students.  This program along with the proposed graduate program in marine architecture and shipbuilding will provide a career path for students from high school to graduate studies as shown below.