Continuing Development of the FIG/Approved Category A 'Master of Science Degree in Hydrographic Science' Program at The University of Southern Mississippi

摘要

The International Federation of Surveyors/International Hydrographic Organization (FIG/IHO) Category 'A' certified Master of Science (M. S.) degree in Hydrographic Science (HS) Program established by The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) is in its third year of operation. Twenty-two students have graduated from the HS Program with fifteen students in the current Class of 2002. All HS students in the first two classes entered the program through NAVOCEANO (civilian and uniform navy). They completed the non-thesis M.S. degree option in one intensive year of study that required two semesters of theory and one summer semester of practical application. A new addition to the USM Stennis Space Center facilities is the Hydrographic Science Research Center (HSRC). The primary goal of the HSRC is to address NAVOCEANO operational hydrographic research needs. The HSRC compliments the HS program and will lead to excellent opportunities for graduate students who wish to do research and acquire a thesis based M.S. in Hydrographic Science. As the HS program evolves and grows, it will continue to diversify to meet the needs of a wider range of clients among both the students and their potential employers. The purpose of this paper is: 1) to address the needs of an ever-expanding HS client base, 2) to briefly describe the current HS program at USM and its future plans, 3) and to explain how the cooperation between USM, NAVOCEANO and HSRC has enhanced the progress of the HS program in meeting the needs of an expanding client base.