Ocean Engineering PhD Options for Program Emphasis

Students who wish to specialize in specific Ocean Engineering programs may pursue in–depth studies in the areas of marine materials, offshore structures, hydrodynamics and physical oceanography, marine vehicles, acoustics and other special ocean engineering topics. Unless otherwise stated, the Ocean and Mechanical Engineering Department graduate courses are 3 credits each. All programs require a minimum of 9 credits in graduate level mathematics or equivalent.

Marine Materials, Offshore Structures and Corrosion Option  
It is suggested that students in the Marine Materials and Corrosion Option take the following courses in addition to the core courses required for all Ocean Engineering PhD students:

  • Advanced Fracture and Failure Processes I (EOC 6157)
  • Corrosion I (EOC 6216C)
  • Corrosion II (EOC 6218C)
  • Physical Metallurgy (EOC 6230)
  • Special Topics (Theory of Elastcity) (EOC 6934)

Depending on a student's area of thesis research, elective courses may be chosen from, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

  • Advanced Topics in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry (CHM 6581)
  • Introduction to Finite Element Methods (EOC 5351)
  • Advanced Strength of Materials (EGM 6533)
  • Mechanics of Composite Materials (EGM 6562)
  • Mechanics of Polymers (EML 6235)
  • Fracture Mechanics (EML 6239)
  • Signal Processing (EOC 6630)
  • Special Topcs (Nanostructured Materials) (EOC 6934)

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Hydrodynamics and Physical Oceanography Option  

It is suggested that students in the Hydrodynamics and Physical Oceanography Option take the following courses in addition to the core courses required for all Ocean Engineering Ph.D. students:

  • Advanced Hydrodynamics I (EOC 6185)
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (EML 6726)
  • Turbulent Flow (EOC 6190)

Depending on a student's area of specialization, the elective courses may be chosen from the following list together with other courses offered by the Ocean Engineering Department:

  • Mathematical Methods in Ocean Engineering 2 (EOC 6174)
  • Advanced Ocean Wave Mechanics (EOC 6320)
  • Experimental Marine Hydrodynamics (EOC 6506C)
  • Hydrodynamic Aspects of Ship Design (EOC 6515)
  • Special Topics (Ship Structural Design; Flow Control) (EOC 6934)

Marine Vehicles Option  
In addition to the core requirements, recommended courses include:

  • Intelligent Underwater Vehicles I (EOC 6663)
  • Special Topics (Underwater Vehicle Navigation; Elements of High Speed Marine Vehicles) (EOC 6934)

Other courses, which may be taken, will be determined by the student's area of emphasis.

Acoustics and Vibrations Option  
It is recommended that students in the Acoustics and Vibrations Option take the following courses in addition to the core courses required for all Ocean Engineering Ph.D. students:

  • Mechanical Vibrations (EML 6223)
  • Advanced Hydrodynamics I (EOC 6185)
  • Ocean and eabed Acoustics (EOC 6312)
  • Signal Processing (EOC 6630)
  • Special Topics (EOC 6934)

Depending on the student's area of specialization, elective courses may be chosen from the courses offered by the Ocean and Mechanical Engineering department as well as from other departments such as Civil engineering, Computer engineering, Electrical engineering, Mathematics, and Physics.

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