NMC expands bachelor's degree offerings to include new major

TRAVERSE CITY — Students may begin enrolling in NMC’s newest bachelor’s degree major, marine technology, following unanimous approval by the Board of Trustees Monday.

Building on college courses, faculty and assets already in place — namely NMC’s Great Lakes Campus, harbor, and research vessels — the four-year program offers students both an interdisciplinary curriculum and the hands-on training necessary for employment in the growing field of marine technology. Classes are slated to begin in Fall 2015.

“We are very excited to offer this new bachelor of science major, which bridges the gap between traditional academic programming and industry needs for the marine space,” said Hans VanSumeren, director of NMC’s Great Lakes Water Studies Institute. “We have built this major with direct input and support from the marine industry while emphasizing the skills needed for immediate employment opportunities.”

Globally, there is a strong need for highly trained people across multiple sectors of the marine industry. This interdisciplinary major emphasizes the core and marine-related technical competencies along with the project management skills required for work in the highly complex marine industry.

Graduates can expect to find opportunities both in the U.S. and abroad in areas of marine mapping and hydrographic surveying, marine data processing and management, marine platforms and instrumentation and marine project management.

Marine technology now becomes the third major that NMC offers within its bachelor of science degree. The other majors are Maritime-Engineering Officer and Maritime-Deck Officer. In December 2013, NMC became the first community college in Michigan to award bachelor’s degrees following enabling legislation passed by the State of Michigan.

NMC also offers an associate’s degree in Engineering Technology specializing in Marine Technology, and an associate degree in Freshwater Studies.

“This newest degree option further bolsters NMC’s position as an international magnet for attracting students interested in working for multiple sectors of the marine industry,” VanSumeren said.

Learn more about the new bachelor's degree major here »

Release date: October 27, 2014

For more information:

Diana Fairbanks
Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019