Marine Transportation

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 Poly Solano campus. This program leads to an exciting and rewarding career in the U.S. merchant marine as a civilian mariner, and in other related industries. Our job placement has been very close to 100% upon graduation in recent years and many jobs have six-figure salaries.

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.

 

All students majoring in marine transportation must also participate in the Corps of Cadets. As a cadet, you'll learn about accountability, responsibility, leadership and professionalism while you stand watch, attend formation in the mornings, and wear uniforms. Being a cadet comes with responsibilities that other students don't have, but that also make you highly employable for any job. 

 

As part of the marine transportation program, you'll learn how to operate small craft and large ships. Each summer you will go to sea, either on our own training ship or on a commercial ship. Recent summer sea terms have taken cadets to Hawaii, South Korea, Portugal, Samoa, Japan, Fiji, Tahiti and Mexico and many other domestic locations. When on commercial summer sea term, cadets may sail on continerships, tankers, tug boats, cruise ships, research vessels, offshore supply vessels and more.