Ocean engineering programs prepare people to build systems that monitor and control coastal environments. Students learn to build dikes, flood control systems, and power stations in or near the ocean. They also learn to use math and science to solve problems caused by tidal forces, waves, and currents.

Have you ever been to Venice, Italy, or seen pictures of its romantic canals? It may interest you to know that the city of Venice is planning a colossal engineering project to hold back the sea. When storms produce very high tides, huge steel-and-rubber barriers will swing upwards from the bottom of the lagoon. They will prevent the tides from flooding the city.

Not all ocean engineering projects are of such a grand scale. They may involve buoys for monitoring water temperatures or improved sonar systems for submarines or new methods for preventing corrosion of ships. But they all require a good knowledge of math and science, especially physics.

In an ocean engineering program, you learn to apply scientific principles to materials that may be used in the ocean environment. And you learn to predict the behavior of waves, flowing water, and sound waves in the ocean. Your goal is to suggest new designs and processes or to improve existing ones. You try to find low-cost solutions to problems.

You can expect to be ready for the job market with a bachelor's degree in this field. This usually requires four or sometimes five years of full-time study beyond high school. About 10 colleges in the U.S. offer this program.

You may also consider getting a master's degree. Some universities offer a five-year sequence that combines the bachelor's and master's in ocean engineering. Or you may get a bachelor's in another branch of engineering, such as civil. Then, enter a master's program in ocean engineering. About 15 graduate schools of engineering offer this program.