USM to Offer Uncrewed Maritime Systems Certification Program

Wed, 09/06/2023 - 08:53am | By: Gabriela Shinskie

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is offering a unique program that provides students a better understanding of the blue economy via the study of uncrewed maritime systems (UMS).

The Uncrewed Maritime Systems Tier 1 Certification Program will be held Oct. 16- Nov. 17, every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Marine Research Center (MRC) in Gulfport, Mississippi. This five-week program consists of three courses and one lab for a total of 10 credit hours.

Carl Szczechowski, instructor and coordinator of the Uncrewed Maritime Systems Certificate Programs within the School of Ocean Science and Engineering at USM, says all are welcome to be a part of this program from high school graduates to Ph.D.’s.

“We cover a great number of topics during the five weeks, from basic electronics to oceanography, acoustics, communications, navigation, and sensors,” said Szczechowski. “We have had a great student mix from 19 years-old to folks in their late ‘50s. Students come from a variety of study and work backgrounds and include technicians, scientists, engineers, and computer scientists. We learn from each other.”

Students are presented material focused on uncrewed undersea, surface, and aerial vehicles and are provided with a better understanding of the environment in which the vehicles operate. “Daily sessions in the electronics lab provide hands-on experience including constructing a functioning underwater buoyancy glider,” Szczechowski explained.

The courses are as follows:

• MAR 431: Basic Marine Instrumentation (3 hours)
• MAR 434: Operating Instrumentation in Marine Environments (3 hours)
• MAR 433: Marine Autonomous Vehicles (3 hours)
• MAR 433L: Marine Autonomous Vehicles Lab (1 hour)

The deadline to apply is Oct. 13. Those interested can apply online. The maximum number of participants for the class is 15. For questions, email or call 228-236-6572.