Basic Curriculum: The Academic
Program
The California Maritime Academy is
committed to its mission of providing
each student with a college-level
education in intellectual learning,
applied technology, leadership
development, and global awareness.
Intellectual Learning means the
acquisition of basic knowledge and the
ability to apply that knowledge in new
situations. One who has mastered such
learning will have progressed beyond a
mere absorption of facts and be able to
analyze data, identify key issues,
evaluate alternatives, solve problems,
and apply old solutions to new
scenarios. Ultimately, such a thinker
will have internalized the conceptual
framework of a field and be able to
construct new meaning within that field.
Hence courses in the major and general
education both begin in the freshman
year, to culminate later in courses that
require greater maturity and knowledge.
Applied Technology, the second
component of Cal Maritime’s mission, is
active learning that replaces or
supplements traditional classroom
lecture or discussion. Students who have
studied concepts engage in “hands-on”
activities that integrate previous
knowledge and apply it to real-world
situations and scenarios. This method
takes such forms as (a) kinesthetic
activities such as operating ships or
repairing equipment, (b) problem solving
and skill application in simulators, (c)
lab work such as applying theories in
controlled environments, (d) design
projects, and (e) cooperative education
projects with industry. Cal Maritime
makes the assumption that in our
programs, “knowing” the subject goes
beyond the intellectual exchange of the
classroom and includes, in addition,
addressing it in very concrete ways.
Leadership in the modern maritime
industry, whether one is a ship’s
officer or in a management position
ashore, requires sophistication and a
rare collection of skills and insights
that inspire trust, confidence, and the
willingness of others to follow. Cadets
are exposed to the aspects of leadership
in many areas of the academic and
co-curricular programs. The foundation
for their development is laid in the
classroom, in courses that address
leadership issues through examining the
literature, discussing case studies, and
providing laboratory settings such as
cruise and simulator. Such courses are
to be found throughout the curriculum.
Global Awareness is a necessity
in the modern maritime industry. Crews
and passengers together represent
international communities. Ports of call
present varied regulatory and political
environments. The world is getting
smaller, and the modern maritime leader
must appreciate and respect diversity
while knowing and understanding the many
guises in which it appears. Students at
Cal Maritime receive training in global
awareness not only in the newest major,
Global Studies and Maritime Affairs, and
not only in many courses scattered
throughout the curriculum, but also in
the required cruises that provide sea
training and visits to ports of call.
Here students can experience connections
to the larger world and develop an
understanding of how their selected
vocations will function in the context
of an international setting.
Practical Focus: Classes at Cal
Maritime provide not only intellectual
enrichment, but also the skills and
knowledge necessary for the workplace.
Such courses address all of the
requirements of the Standards for
Training Certification and Watchstanding
Code (STCW), as established by the IMO
(International Maritime Organization),
and all of the training and preparation
necessary for the Third Mate’s or Third
Assistant Engineer’s license or
Certified Plant Engineer-In Training (CPE-IT)
endorsement, as established by the
Association for Facilities Engineering.
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