Yacht design students for three year B.A. Degrees via partnership

The Landing School partners with Southampton Solent University SW

The Landing School, Maine - offering great opportunities for yacht design students © SW

The Landing School of Arundel, Maine is one of the most renowned schools in the USA for its curriculum established to provide the highest quality hands-on training in boat building. But more than that - it affords potential yacht designers excellent advantages, including a three year Bachelor's Degree.

Today the Landing School is proud to announce the continued partnership with Southampton Solent University, offering Landing School Yacht Design students the opportunity to study abroad and earn a Bachelor's degree in a total of three years. The Yacht Design Program at The Landing School is part of an articulation agreement with Southampton Solent University in the United Kingdom. This articulation agreement was renewed ensuring that the partnership will continue for the next several years. Southampton Solent University offers one of only two Bachelor's degrees in Small Craft Design available in the world, the Bachelor's of Engineering in Yacht and Powercraft Craft Design (Hons).

Graduates of The Landing School Yacht Design program who achieve a final GPA of 2.4 or better are entitled to advanced placement in this prestigious degree program, meaning that they can complete a Bachelor's degree in a total of three years. Generally, students from the United States don't have the qualifications needed to enter this program. The benefit of this partnership is that with a diploma from The Landing School, students will enter Southampton Solent University with the skills to ensure they are thoroughly prepared to achieve this degree. Since this partnership began in 2009, six Landing School students have graduated from the Southampton Solent program with three more selected to attend this fall.

Steve Dalzell, current Landing School Yacht Design Instructor and former Southampton Solent faculty member says, 'This partnership offers an unprecedented opportunity for Landing School students to obtain an internationally recognized Yacht Design degree. Better still, students have the opportunity to network with a global group of fellow yacht designers which provides them with job opportunities that reach far beyond the United States.'

Robert DeColfmacker, President of The Landing School, says, 'By combining a 10-month Yacht Design diploma from The Landing School with a Bachelor's of Engineering from Southampton Solent University, graduates are highly prepared for a career in yacht design and walk away with an education that is second to none. The completion of this program provides a solid foundation for graduates while living, studying and working abroad provides an experience that they will cherish for the rest of their lives.'

Landing School students © SW

The Landing School Yacht Design Program:
The Landing School Yacht Design Program teaches the technical design process for both power- and sailboats from concept through preliminary design. While the curriculum is engineering-based, the aesthetic aspects of yacht design are also an important element. The fundamentals of hydrostatics and hydrodynamics form the basis for hullform design. The keels and rudders, rigs, engines, propellers, ergonomics and aesthetics are all considered in the development of interior arrange­ments, outboard profiles and deck plans.

Throughout the year, the scope of the studies is supported and extended by lectures by industry experts, field trips and reviews of case studies on business practices and client relations. Students spend much of their time preparing preliminary designs for safe and practical small craft. As a final project, each student prepares a complete set of plans and calcula­tions covering all aspects of the design for his or her own choice of a sailboat, powerboat or commercial craft. A student's designs comprise a portfolio that he or she may use to demonstrate his or her skills and experience when seeking employ­ment.

Southampton Solent Yacht Design Program:
The Yacht and Powercraft Design (YPD) Program at Southampton Solent University is a well-established engineering degree that aims to produce graduates with the theoretical understanding and design skills of a professional naval architect work­ing in the yacht and small craft industry. This could range from designing small racing sailing yachts through to a million­aire's super yachts or patrol boats and commercial craft. On average, there are about 95 students enrolled in YPD annually. Students are be taught by four full-time naval architects, two full-time technician instructors, and two part-time lecturers and industry speakers. This program is accredited by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects.

About The Landing School:
Headquartered in Arundel, Maine, The Landing School is a full-time, accredited post-secondary school that blends education in modern yacht design, boat building and marine systems technology under one roof. Founded in 1978, The School's inaugural program focused on Wooden Boat Building. Today, the school has grown to incorporate diploma and Associate's degree curriculums with concentrations in four programs: Wooden Boat Building (Small or Cruising Boats option), Composite Boat Building, Marine Systems and Yacht Design. The Landing School's driving force is to bridge the gap between theory and practice, providing graduates with the skills and understanding necessary for current employment opportunities and future career growth. The Landing School is also approved as an institution of higher education by the Maine State Approving Agency for Veterans Education Programs.

For more information about the school and its programs, please visit www.landingschool.edu.