Anyone on here have a college degree that they feel has been useful in the industry that isn’t a) a degree from an Academy (Marine Transportation / Engineering) b) any other Engineering degree?
Hoping to hear from people who felt their degree has helped them, either technically or for their career progression.
Thanks!
Marine Sciences (Oceanography by a different name really) - mainly because I’m getting to be older than dirt and it was a lot more in depth with meteorology than the marine transportation degree was at the time. With the required classes now though, that advantage disappeared.
Still comes in handy when dealing with stuff below the surface though with clients concerned with subsea currents, ducting, and thermo/haloclines.
My English degree has indirectly helped me. I think it has enabled me throughout my career to be a fairly good communicator and has helped open promotional opportunities to me.
I was CG first, collage after, Merchandising major. First job trainee with a major American carrier. Went through the various positions. Leaned early, shoreside management, you need to know a lot about ships. Staying in the CG Reserve 20 years and 5 limited tonnage licenses with occasional work on small boats helped. But what’s really important in ship management you need to know the cargo. How it stows, cost to load & unload. damage potential. Seasonal variances, who buys & who sells. When the cost of goods changes hands.
The nautical part is important can’t be successful in management without it. Without the cargo ship won’t sail. 49 years in management 2 American 1 Scandinavian 1 Asian, cargo knowledge was essential . It’s just as important with full time mariners. Scandinavian company particularly, the vessels officers, shore based port captains and superintendents were experts on cargos carried
I don’t think the degree matters. I’ve worked with mariners, and hired them to work for me, for many years. One of the best mariners I’ve ever known had an anthropology degree.
Mechanical engineering degree was valuable. Funny thing is my cousins had EE and CE but their jobs were outsourced so they could only work as temp contractors. By then I was on ships and the only one with a regular job or regular by maritime industry standards.
A degree isn’t really important. Being smart with common sense is much more important and makes a big difference.
Some of the best mariners, and people, that I know are primarily self educated.
That said, a 4 year college degree is an indicator of having some smarts, persistence and education, but it’s less of an indicator of having common sense.
Team sports, musical talent, travel experience, and a second language are indicators of someone that will probably turn out to be a good mariner.
One of my shipmates had a degree in child psychology and said it served him remarkably well on board.
An acounting degree. Shipping companies need accountants too.
I have an associates in Chinese and it helped me get through a lot of watches in the far east making passing arrangements with fishing boats. Couldn’t have imagined getting through those watches without that ability 
I would think that a degree in Transportation or Geography would be helpful.