Curriculum

The purpose and objective of the Undergraduate Studies Program are harmonized and serve the goals set by the Department of Naval Architecture of UNIWA. A key parameter in the compilation of the syllabus was the in-depth theoretical training of the students so that, in combination with the technical knowledge they acquire, they can cope with the current demands of the profession but also be able to adapt to the important changes that are likely to happen in their professional life as engineers. For the compilation of the syllabus, the special requirements of the organizations or companies where the graduates may be employed have also been considered.

 

Common fields of employment of the graduates, in Greece and abroad, are:

 

  • Shipyards: surveyors, supervisors of new construction or repairs.
  • Technical offices: surveyors, supervisors, experts, claims, estimates.
  • Public sector: Department of Merchant Shipping (mainly Merchant Shipping Control Branch, Coast Guard), Navy, Education and Research Institutes.
  • Shipping companies: ship operation and maintenance managers, new construction or repair supervisors, claims, estimates, etc.
  • Appraisers: Departments for approval of studies and plans, inspections, departments of research and development, etc.
  • Companies of the Broader Maritime Sector: e.g., companies trading machinery and ship equipment systems. Provision of specialized technical support services to shipping companies, shipyards and shipbuilding offices.
  • Offshore Construction-Renewable Energy Sources: Oil and Gas Extraction Platforms, Energy from the wind (Offshore Wind Farms) and from the waves.

 

Structure of the curriculum

The Undergraduate Studies Program of the Department of Naval Architecture has a duration of 10 semesters (five academic years) (Government Gazette 2323/t. B’/13.6.19) and its implementation initiated in the academic year 2019-2020. The total number of offered courses is 70, apart from the Diploma Thesis that is elaborated in the 10th semester. Moreover, students can optionally take part in a four-month Internship, which is an elective course, that is offered in the 7th, 8th or 9th semester of studies and corresponds to two elective courses. In particular, the Syllabus offers 48 compulsory courses, 22 elective courses, an Internship and a Diploma Thesis. The courses offered in the first six (6) semesters are all compulsory. The 22 elective courses are offered during the 7th, 8th and 9th semester and are organized in the following three thematic sections:

 

  • Thematic Section A: Study and Design of Ships and Floating Structures,
  • Thematic Section B: Marine Engineering
  • Thematic Section C: Management, Quality and Economics of Maritime Transport.

 

Each student must choose three (3) courses from each one of the Thematic Sections A and B and one (1) or three (3) courses from Thematic Area C, depending on whether he/she chooses to do an internship.  The required number of courses to obtain the degree is 57 (48 compulsory and 9 elective) in the case that the student does not choose to do an internship, or 55 in the case that the student chooses to do an internship (48 compulsory, 7 elective and the Internship). The total Credit Units (ECTS) for obtaining the Diploma are 300 and correspond to 30 ECTS per semester. The first nine semesters are dedicated to attending courses, while the 10th semester is dedicated entirely to the preparation of the Diploma Thesis. The Thesis is assigned to each student individually and is awarded 30 ECTS. The Diploma Thesis constitutes an independent scientific and systematic approach to the analysis of a topic and is based on existing literature and research. At the same time, the student utilizes and expands the knowledge and skills acquired during his studies. For monitoring and examining each Diploma Thesis, a three-member committee is appointed, by the Assembly of the Naval Architecture Department, and consists of the supervising faculty member and two other faculty members of the Department or other Departments of relevant scientific expertise.  Statistics regarding the characteristics of the courses are presented below. In order to derive these percentages, all 70 courses offered have been taken into account.

 

  • Number of compulsory courses (48) in total (70) courses offered: Rate 68.6%.
  • General Background Courses (G.B.): 11. Rate 15.7%. These courses are all compulsory.
  • Special Background Courses (S.B.): 20. Rate 28.6%. Out of these 20 courses, 14 are compulsory and 6 are compulsory electives.
  • Specialized Courses (S): 39. Rate 55.7%. Out of these 39 courses, 23 are compulsory and 16 are compulsory electives.

 

The 11 compulsory General Background Courses offer the necessary theoretical background in the basic sciences and include: 6 Mathematics courses (Mathematical Analysis I and II, Linear Algebra, Numerical Analysis, Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics), 2 Physics courses (Physics I and II), 1 Engineering course (Mechanics I), 1 Programming course (Introduction to Computer Programming) and 1 Design course (Mechanical Engineering Drawing & Introduction to MCAD). The 14 compulsory Special Background Courses offer the necessary theoretical background in the science of Engineering and include: 2 courses in Engineering (Mechanics II and III), 2 courses in Fluid Mechanics (Fluid Mechanics and Viscous  Flows – Fluid machinery), as well as the courses of Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Machines Elements , Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, Introduction to Control Systems, Internal Combustion Engines, Naval Materials Technology, Manufacturing Processes, Ship Lines Drawing and Introduction to CASD, Technical English. The 23 compulsory Specialized Courses cover the entire scope of the knowledge of the Naval Architecture profession in detail. Finally, depending on the capabilities and interests of the students, each student can choose 9 out of the 22 elective courses offered, out of which 16 belong to Specialized Courses and 6 to Special Background Courses. Special care has been taken so that the weekly teaching hours vary between 24 and 26 hours per semester, except in the 5th semester in which the weekly teaching hours are 27. In addition, it should be noted that the compulsory courses of the 8th and 9th semesters, as well as the compulsory elective courses of Thematic Sections A and B of the 7th, 8th and 9th semesters are Level 7 courses (according to the European Qualifications Framework) and offer thorough examination and specialization in advanced topics and technologies of the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering science.  In more detail, the syllabus per semester is outlined in the relevant COURSES link http://na.uniwa.gr/en/courses/.

 

Curriculum learning outcomes

After completing the studies at the Department of Naval Architecture, the graduate will be able to:

 

  • Be familiarized with both basic and specialized theories, principles, regulations, legislation, methodologies and tools related to the study, design, construction, retrofitting, repair, operation, management and maintenance of ships and floating structures.
  • Explains the behaviour of ships and floating structures under a range of different operating conditions.
  • Distinguish complex natural phenomena related to the operation of ships and floating structures (resistance, propulsion, behaviour in waves, energy transactions).
  • Calculate and design ships, floating structures and their subsystems.
  • Propose technical solutions related to the improvement (economic, environmental, operational) of the design of ships and floating structures and their subsystems.
  • Perform specialized measurements regarding the safety and efficiency of marine engineering systems.
  • Evaluate the correct progress of the design and construction of ships and floating structures through supervision and inspections.
  • Support the optimal operation and maintenance of ships with technical, economic and environmental criteria.
  • Evaluate the safety of the operation of ships and floating structures, focused on the protection of human life and natural environment and the reduction of any adverse impact on society.
  • Participate in the organization and execution of research programs in the areas of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in research institutes and/or academic institutions.

 

The above expected learning outcomes have been considered for the design of the course syllabus and the teaching and evaluation methods.