Marine Transportation Major

Welcome to the Department of Marine Transportation. Our department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in marine transportation, the largest degree program on the Cal Maritime campus. This is a program that can lead to an exciting and rewarding career in the U.S. merchant marine and related industries. Our job placement has been very close to 100% upon graduation even in the severe economic downturn of recent years.

Because of its well-known quality and popularity among prospective students, and the limited number of candidate slots, the California State University has declared the MT degree an impacted program. This means that additional acceptance criteria may be required of the applicant over and above what is normally expected of most CSU students.

 

Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Transportation

The student choosing a career as a licensed deck officer (mate) or a shoreside maritime manager majors in marine transportation. This major provides the broadest maritime industry training possible consistent with officer licensing requirements.

Marine transportation graduates have a broad employment field open to them. A wide variety of shoreside management positions await the graduate in numerous maritime sectors, including vessel operations, ship's agency, marine insurance, stevedoring, charter brokering, and federal employment, as well as shipboard employment opportunities. This major, through the wide array of professional skills taught, is designed to prepare the student to take the U.S. Coast Guard STCW licensing exam for Third Mate and Officer in Charge of the Navigational Watch. Passing this examination, which results in the issuance of a Third Mate's license, is essential for a student seeking employment as a licensed deck officer on a commercial vessel.

 

Deck Licenses

Deck licenses issued by the U.S. Coast Guard in increasing rank are as follows: Third Mate, Second Mate, Chief Mate, and Master. A raise in grade is dependent upon the graduate's ability to accumulate sea time, usually one year's sea time in each license category, and to pass USCG examinations of increasing complexity and difficulty.