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October 2011 www.sname.org/sname/mt Aerial photo of the SUNY Maritime College campus. on their academic knowledge. At the same time, they gain new knowledge and skill sets that can be built upon during the continua- tion of their academic career at the college. MES internship option students have completed internships with promi- nent associations including the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); NOAAs National Marine Fisheries Service at Woods Hole, Massachusetts; The New York Aquarium in Brooklyn, New York; CBS News in New York, New York; and the Sea Education Association at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. The MES major prepares students for employment with such facilities as envi- ronmental consulting firms, testing and research facilities, and regulatory agencies. e addition of the USCG license gives those graduates unique qualities that enhance their skills for work on oceanographic research vessels, or as meteorologists or bio- logical/physical oceanographers. The rigorous science background provided also serves as an excellent foun- dation for graduate study in a variety of disciplines including environmental law, environmental engineering, marine biol- ogy, meteorology, or oceanography. History of the MES program In 1995, the colleges meteorology and oceanography (M&O) degree, coupled with a USCG ird Mate license, was replaced with a degree in MES. Several years earlier, in 1992, curriculum changes occurred that laid the groundwork for todays course of study and included a track in MES. e MES option to the M&O degree program proved to be quite successful and virtually all M&O majors were selecting this option. In restructuring the major, the new cur- riculum was designed so that it retained all of the meteorology and oceanogra- phy courses. Also, because the option was now becoming the major, a number of new courses were introduced. Students in this program could now opt, by selecting from Preparing Tomorrows Leaders continued