<p>What is the difference between an oceanographic college and a maritime college?</p>
<p>There’s no such thing as an oceanography college, at least not in the US. A maritime college is usually small, male dominated (exception; TAMU Galveston) and heavily focused on marine transport as well as a few branches of engineering/ engineering tech. Often it functions in a quasi militaristic fashion although cadets are allowed far more freedom than those at West Point.</p>
<p>Maritime colleges prepare students for a careers relate to the maritime industry such as maintaining and running large commercial ships that transport goods across the oceans. The curriculums in these schools vary and may emphasize engineering or maritime business or more non engineering aspect of running ships. There is a United States Merchant Marine academy in Kings Point New York. It is practically no cost and highly competitive. Several state, Ca. N.Y. Maine Mass. have state sponsored Maritime schools which are less competitive. All the schools are quasi military …students where uniforms drill and may be eligible for commissions in the Armed services.
Oceanographic colleges are more academic schools with curriculums that emphasize the study of oceans,water and the environment. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Generally, I wouldn’t recommend that someone study oceanography at a maritime academy unless the goal is to command the research vessel rather than participate in actual oceanographic study. With the exception of TAMU-G, the maritime academies are located in states whose flagships or branch campuses have strong programs in oceanography. In CA, there’s Cal Maritime which trains students primarily for careers in shipping/ transport, but there’s also Humboldt State, UCSB, UCSC, UCLA, and UCSD which all offer excellent programs in oceanography and closely related fields. NY’s SUNY Maritime is complimented by Stony Brook which has fantastic facilities for oceanographic/ geologic research. The same is true for Massachusetts, Maine, and Washington.</p>