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What is the Senior Capstone Design Experience?

The Department of Ocean Engineering’s senior capstone design courses utilize industry-level team projects and professional interaction to equip future engineers with important design, communication and presentation experience. Capstone courses are the culmination of the Texas A&M ocean engineering experience, as seniors apply their four years of classroom knowledge to solve realistic engineering problems. The courses prepare ocean engineering students to use advanced technology to analyze and design engineering elements and systems according to industry standards. Seniors also make significant professional contacts through design projects with industry participants, frequent guest lecturers and design contests.

Capstone design projects are a key element in the education of engineers. This type of activity, along with appropriate work term employment, is important in making young engineering graduates ready to start working in industry.

Peter G. Noble, Chief Naval Architect, ConocoPhillips-Floating Systems

Why are Senior Capstone Design Courses Important?

The capstone experience successfully prepares future engineers by bridging the gap between classroom and industry. Students are required to use their knowledge and skills to complete an engineering design project equivalent to the assignments they will soon receive as professional engineers. Students perform the projects in groups, forcing them to develop the skills necessary to succeed in diverse industry design teams. Employers value graduates with capstone design experience because these students have gained broad experience by applying their extensive knowledge base to solve complex ocean engineering problems as a team.