Naval science and technology has a tremendous impact upon defense, world commerce, and energy production. The U.S. Navy is expanding its fleet to the largest size in nearly 20 years. Approximately 90 percent of world trade is carried by sea. The number of offshore solar, wind, and wave energy installations continues to increase.
The underlying science and technology challenges demand a workforce with a strong foundation in the engineering sciences related to fluid flow, computational and experimental methods, autonomous systems, and control.
Students completing this certificate will work in a unique learning community where they will have an opportunity to contribute to projects of interest to the Navy and its supporting industry and to learn about potential career paths.
Any University of Iowa undergraduate student who is not concurrently enrolled in a UI graduate or professional degree program may earn the Certificate in Naval Science and Technology.
The Certificate in Naval Science and Technology is administered by the College of Engineering's Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Iowa graduates have a 95 percent job/grad school placement rate within six months of graduation. Our Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.
Students who complete this certificate gain strong technical and leadership skills as well as an understanding of marine systems, enabling them to work effectively in naval science and technology and other technology-intensive fields.
With its strong emphasis on fluid dynamics fundamentals, the program also provides effective preparation for work in a wide range of industries and applications not necessarily related to naval hydrodynamics.
The University of Iowa provides a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students through the Iowa Scholarship Portal. Scholarships are available to first-year, transfer, and currently enrolled students. For additional details on scholarships for your program of study, check directly with the department or college.
The Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid also are great resources for students seeking scholarships.
The Certificate in Naval Science and Technology introduces students to the principles of naval hydrodynamics, including propulsion, resistance, maneuvering, and seakeeping, as well as the fundamentals of autonomous systems, including control systems, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
The program requires 18 semester hours (s.h.) of course work from a select set of courses. Every certificate course has prerequisites and students must complete all of a course's prerequisites before registering for the course. Prerequisites do not count toward the 18 s.h. required for the certificate.
Students must complete either a capstone design project on an approved naval science and technology topic or an independent investigation involving research or testing of a system related to naval hydrodynamics. A student may choose to complete both courses for credit toward the certificate.
Mechanical engineering students may use this certificate as a tailored engineering focus area (EFA) by adding an additional eligible course. Also, mechanical engineering students may earn the certificate while they complete the design elective focus area for their major.
See Certificate in Naval Science and Technology to learn about course requirements.