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Program Details

Program Details

More information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Coastal Engineering degree program are below.

FAQs

The program will be seeking accreditation through the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) but it is not yet accredited. More information about ABET and the accreditation process can be found here: https://www.abet.org/.
A good use-case is for a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs). The best way to prepare to start a degree in Coastal Engineering is to develop a strong foundation in math in high school. Students should be ready to take calculus when arriving at UNCW to maintain a 4-year degree path. Interested students should contact Nile McKibben. 
Students completing the Associates in Engineering degree at a North Carolina Community College can transfer to UNCW and complete two years of coursework to earn the B.S. Coastal Engineering degree. All interested transfer students should contact Nanci Boldizar for more information.
Prospective students interested in visiting campus can schedule a visit online with the admissions office. While the Coastal Engineering Building is not a specific stop on the campus tour, it is located at 5236 Randall Drive and accessible during weekday hours to see after the completion of your tour. 
The Coastal Engineering curriculum is designed to be a 4-year program provided students enter with a strong math foundation and ready to take MAT 161 the fall semester of their freshman year. The best path to a 4-year degree is to make sure you meet each semester with your academic advisor and use the campus resources provided. It is also important to remember that the curriculum is sequential, and classes are only offered once per academic year. Hence, poor performance in one of the engineering classes would extend graduation to a 5th year.  
First-year students may be eligible for scholarships through the admissions office. Declared Coastal Engineering students are also eligible for program scholarships that are made possible by generous donations from industry partnerships with the program.  
Many of our Coastal Engineering students engage in internships over the summer. These internships have been with private engineering firms, government agencies, dredging companies, and through research at other universities. Some of these internships continue part-time into the fall semester. Students are responsible for applying for these internships directly with the employer, but the program often advertises available internships and the UNCW Career Center can assist with interview preparation. Internships are typically paid, and students can earn credits for the internships if they enroll and pay for the summer session. 

Coastal Engineering Advisory Board

Members of Advisory Board
Member Affiliation
Matt Estep Weeks Marine
Rick Grant Duke Energy
David Sims David Sims & Associates
Andrew Ritter NC Board off Examiners
Josh Taylor Balfour Beatty
Johnny Martin Moffatt & Nichol
Neal Andrew Andrew Consulting Engineers
Perry Davis Cape Fear Engineering
Carter Hubard WK Dickson
William Fuller HDR
Angela Schedel HDR
Tamara Murphy Army Corp of Engineers
Walt Gray MS Consultants
Chris Creed Foth Olsen
Chuck LaVerdiere Stonewall Structural Engineering

Contact UNCW

Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography

Phone: (910) 962-3462
Fax: (910) 962-7014

601 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403

Hours:
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Summer Hours:
Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Friday, 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

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