Marine Mechanic Schools

Overview

Marine Mechanics is a study of repairing and regulating the electrical and the mechanical elements of the boat engines. These schools specialize in training individuals to work on any form of marine transportation or equipment. Most often these schools are located near coastal areas, specifically in locations such as California, Florida, and the islands of Hawaii; where marine transportation, especially boats, is very popular. Also, many scientific organizations and projects rely intensely on marine equipments, which make the marine mechanics school popular.

Marine mechanics degree can be obtained as an associate degree, diploma, or a bachelor's degree. As marine mechanics schools are considered as a technical or industrial trade school, the duration of the degree is less than two years. The curriculum of the marine mechanics bachelor's degree includes coastal engineering, dynamics of ocean systems, engineering design of offshore and coastal systems, fluid mechanics, marine hydrodynamics, naval architecture, numerical methods, ocean engineering laboratory, ocean wave mechanics, oceanography, underwater acoustics, and moored system design. The curriculum of the associate degree involves much practical training and includes marine mechanics, marine business concepts, marine electricity, and marine systems installation, repair, and service.

Benefits

The demand for marine mechanics is constantly increasing, so the probability of getting jobs is high. In addition, marine work is seasonal; you can have the option of working one part of the year and you can be involved in other activities the rest of the year. If you love staying near the sea, a career in marine mechanics could turn out to be the best choice for you.

You can work in the fields such as amusement and recreation industries, equipment rental, ship and boat building companies, marinas, boatyards, independent repair shops, motor vehicle dealers, or support activities for water transportation. If you wish to become an entrepreneur, you can study marine mechanics from an accredited college and start your own workshop. You can expect a salary package of $35,000 per annum averagely as an amateur, and, with a few years of experience, your salary can scale up to $100,000 or more.

Costs

The costs of the marine mechanics degree are minimal while comparing to other degrees. It also varies, depending on the college or university that you choose to study at. The average tuition fees ranges from $9,000 to $16,000 for bachelor's degree. You may have to shell out nearly $139 per credit unit for associate degrees.

Schools

There are many schools and colleges which offer marine mechanics degrees and courses. Alexandria Technical College and Cape Fear Community College are some of the few colleges which offer full time marine mechanics courses. Marine Mechanics Institute offers different programs in marine mechanics.

Testing & Preparation

To enter the marine mechanics profession, you should be at least 18 years of age. You should have completed high school or its equivalent. You should also qualify at the basic tests like Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), and American College Test (ACT) with a reasonable score.

Financial Aid

There are various scholarship facilities available for the students that are offered by the college itself. You can contact the corresponding officials for the aid. Certain companies also give scholarships to the students, with stipulated criteria of working for a particular period of time, in the same company after pursuing the degree. The Federal Student Aid and USA Funds provide financial aid and scholarships for deserving students. You can also apply for the International Student Loan that offers financial assistance both for international students willing to pursue their education in the US or US citizens opting to study abroad.