Education from The Landing School reinforces and preserves traditional design and construction methods while advancing the boatbuilding art through the integration of modern techniques and contemporary materials. The marine industry values this unique training and has lauded The Landing School internationally with a reputation for graduates of exceptional quality. The School is considered by many leaders in the marine industry to be unequaled in its training.

The School’s mission is to effectively prepare students for careers in the marine industry. The training programs equip women and men to be practical designers, builders and systems technicians who work professionally on today’s vessels, adapt to the industry’s evolving technology and appreciate the traditions of the past.

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The School serves the marine industry by providing skilled employees who design, build and repair boats with the highest standards of quality. Accordingly, The School receives generous support and direction from the industry in curriculum design and program implementation. Noted industry leaders regularly lecture at The School and evaluate student work.

The Landing School blends modern yacht design, boatbuilding and marine systems technology under one roof. The School bridges the gap between theory and practice to provide graduates with the skills and understanding necessary for current employment opportunities and future career growth potential.

The School offers four instructional programs designed to prepare students for careers in the marine industry. Each program is a comprehensive, full-time, 40-week course: 

The Boatbuilding Program is intensive, hands-on professional training in contemporary techniques of boat construction, either with small boats or cruising boats.

The Yacht Design Program is a detailed and rigorous academic course in the science and art of yacht and small commercial craft design focused on the development of practical design skills and project execution.

The Marine Systems Program fulfills the technical training needs of students who seek employment installing, maintaining and repairing marine systems.

The Composites Program teaches students to understand and use composite materials and processes through theory, hands-on labs and actual boat construction.  

Close physical proximity of these four programs in one facility provides the students in each program exposure to the activities of the other three. For example, students in the Yacht Design Program come in regular contact with both an active boat shop and a marine systems laboratory. This exposure is formalized throughout the academic year with cross-program teaching sessions where students receive instruction in other school programs. While these programs are offered individually, additional career options arise when students opt to take more than one program in consecutive years.