Merchant Marine Education Requirements And Courses

Merchant marine education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Usually, merchant marines don't need a college education. The most common degree for merchant marines is bachelor's degree with 53% graduates, with only 17% merchant marine graduates earning high school diploma. Merchant marines who decided to graduate from college often finish United States Merchant Marine Academy or Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Some good skills to have in this position include safety procedures, vessel security and diesel engines.

What education do you need to become a merchant marine?

What degree do you need to be a merchant marine?

The most common degree for merchant marines is bachelor's degree, with 53% of merchant marines earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 17% and high school diploma degree at 16%.

Bachelor's, 53%

High School Diploma, 17%

Associate, 16%

Diploma, 6%

Other Degrees, 8%

What should I major in to become a merchant marine?

You should major in business to become a merchant marine. 16% of merchant marines major in business. Other common majors for a merchant marine include marine transportation and marine engineering.

Business, 16%

Marine Transportation, 15%

Marine Engineering, 13%

Engineering, 7%

Other Majors, 49%

Best majors for merchant marines

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Business	16.3%
2	Marine Transportation	14.7%
3	Marine Engineering	13.2%
4	Engineering	7.0%
5	Political Science	5.4%

Show more common merchant marine majors

20 best online courses for merchant marines

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1. Large Marine Ecosystems: Assessment and Management

Focusing on the Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) of the world, this course will introduce the concept and practice of ecosystem-based management. LMEs occupy areas of coastal ocean at least 200 000 km² or greater in size. These coastal waters produce 12.6 trillion USD in ecosystem goods and services annually and are vitally important for billions of people around the globe. Because LMEs are bounded by ocean features and are globally linked, management of human activities needs to occur in an...

2. Marine Biology

This course is about life in the oceans, from the sunlit surface to the inky depths, from microscopic phytoplankton to the great blue whale. The ocean is among the world’s most inhospitable environments for scientific research, which is why we know as much about the surface of the moon as we do the bottom of the sea. This course uncovers the evolutionary history of marine organisms, adaptations to life in water, the behavior and functional morphology of sea animals, interactions between...

3. Maintenance Planning Basics

4.4

(1,042)

Understanding maintenance planning basics of successful maintenance department...

4. Diesel Engine Fundamentals (Mechanical Engineering)

4.6

(374)

Learn about the diesel engine! Ideal for Automotive Engineering and Automobile Engineering!...

5. Paleontology: Ancient Marine Reptiles

Paleontology: Ancient Marine Reptiles is a four-lesson course teaching a comprehensive overview of the evolutionary changes that occur when air-breathing terrestrial animals return to water. This course examines the diversity, adaptations, convergence, and phylogenetic relationships of extinct marine reptiles. Students will explore three major groups of marine reptiles: ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and mosasaurs. Watch a preview of the course here:...

6. Reliability and Maintenance Engineering - FMEA

(533)

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis - A mechanical engineering approach to risk management of plant and machinery...

7. Maintenance Management Basics

4.4

(632)

Crucial knowledge and practices for successful maintenance department...

8. Customer Service

4.6

(11,267)

How to Approach New Customers and Maintain Existing Ones...

9. Customer Service Foundation

4.5

(290)

An introductory course about understanding the foundations of Customer Service...

10. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)

4.5

(2,583)

Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...

11. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer

4.7

(18,204)

Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...

12. Customer Service Basics: Improve your Service now

4.5

(889)

The basic golden rules to kickstart your service...

13. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment

4.5

(1,881)

Impress management or get that job with you your ability to display life and dollar saving work place safety practices...

14. Start Improving Customer Service

4.8

(2,040)

Creating a Customer Service advantage in Your department or business through communication and Customer Management...

15. The Customer: Build a Customer Service Strategy (BITE SIZE)

4.5

(10,168)

For you and your team to be successful in providing great customer service, start by putting your customer first...

16. OSHA Safety Pro: Trenching Excavation & Soil Mechanics

4.3

(727)

A quick yet detailed certification in OSHA safety with a focus on Trenching, Excavation, & Soil Mechanics...

17. Ace Your 103, Basic Coastal Cruising Written Sailing Exam

4.7

(446)

Convenient way to accelerate your sailing knowledge, add to your seamanship, safety and improve your 103 exam score...

18. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

4.5

(941)

Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...

19. Customer Service: Keep 'em coming back!

4.5

(3,150)

How to give the best customer service in your industry and keep those customers raving about your business...

20. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.

4.4

(478)

OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...

Merchant marine education level	Merchant marine salary
High School Diploma or Less	$58,681

Merchant marine education level

Merchant marine salary

High School Diploma or Less

$58,681