The U. S. Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) and The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) have formed a partnership to develop a new program for training hydrographers. Academic courses for this program are taught at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, the location of NAVOCEANO and the USM Department of Marine Science. The partnership combines the academic programs of USM with the facilities at the Stennis Space Center and experience of NAVOCEANO personnel to provide the United States an opportunity to train current and future generations of hydrographers.

The hydrography curriculum is described within these web pages.  Our curriculum is recognized at the Category A level by the International Federation of Surveyors/International Hydrographic Organization (FIG/IHO) Advisory Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors. The academic curriculum can be completed in one rigorous year of studies and includes a summer field project using hydrographic survey launches based in nearby Gulfport, Mississippi. Students entering the program must be proficient in mathematics, statistics, and computing, since the academic courses are taught at the graduate level. Students will receive a Master of Science degree in Hydrographic Science upon successful completion of the curriculum.