Texas A & M University Establishes Ocean Engineering Department

The College of Engineering at Texas A&M University has announced the establishment of the Department of Ocean Engineering, a department that combines two existing programs within Texas A&M University — one on the campus in College Station, Texas, and one on the marine-oriented campus in Galveston, Texas.

The merger brings together the world-class infrastructure of one of the largest engineering campuses, College Station, and the strategic location on Pelican Island and unique resources at Galveston.

Texas A&M’s College Station campus has offered undergraduate ocean engineering degrees since 1972 through the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, and is one of only a few universities in the United States that offers degrees in ocean engineering. It is a top-ranked and ABET-accredited degree program. The Texas A&M Galveston campus has been graduating students in maritime systems engineering for more than 40 years and its offshore and coastal engineering systems program is also an ABET-accredited program. The new department will offer Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Master of Engineering degrees as well as a Ph.D. in philosophy/engineering.

“Ocean and coastal engineering issues greatly impact our economy, environment and national safety and security,” said M. Katherine Banks, vice chancellor and dean of engineering. “We are uniquely configured to build a comprehensive program that leverages our strength in the field at Texas A&M’s College Station campus with our marine campus in Galveston to address global challenges related to our oceans and engineering.”