Program overview
This major focuses on various engineering issues in ports, coasts, and offshore areas. Simply put, it's about how to design ports for safe docking of large ships, how to protect coastlines from wave erosion, and how to build wind turbines or oil platforms at sea. Core courses include port planning and layout, coastal dynamics, offshore engineering structures, marine environment and wave theory, among others. You'll also learn to use computer simulations for water flow and waves, as well as conduct model experiments. It's ideal for students who love the ocean, have strong hands-on skills, and are interested in engineering practice. China has unique strengths in this field—for example, Shanghai Jiao Tong University has a large wave flume, while Dalian University of Technology and Hohai University have extensive experience in port design, with many faculty involved in major domestic and international projects. If you're passionate about the ocean and don't want to stay in the lab all day, this major offers plenty of field trips and project-based opportunities.