Educational Program

Education at CCOM

One of the major goals of the NOAA/UNH Joint Hydrographic Center - UNH Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping is to maintain an internationally recognized education and training program in the hydrographic and ocean mapping sciences. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of New Hampshire are committed to the support and operation of this program. Significant amounts of private sector support have also been received from the hydrographic and ocean mapping industry.

Hydrography, in the context of this program, is the measurement and definition of the configuration of the bottoms and adjacent land areas of oceans, lakes, rivers, harbors, and other water areas and the tides (or water levels) and currents that occur in those bodies of water. It includes elements of both physical oceanography and surveying and mapping. Ocean mapping is a broader concept that includes not only the elements of hydrography, but also encompasses such topics as the geologic characterization of the seabed and the mapping of living resources and habitats.

The long-term goal of the educational program is to establish degree and certification programs at both the graduate and undergraduate level and continuing education programs for hydrographic professionals. We have chosen an evolutionary path toward this goal with our initial focus on graduate degree programs.

Graduate Degrees in Ocean Mapping

The University of New Hampshire offers Ocean Mapping options on the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Ocean Engineering and in Natural Resources and Earth Systems Science (NRESS). These interdisciplinary degree programs are provided through the Center and the respective academic departments of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. The University has been awarded recognition as a Category A hydrographic education program by the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG)/International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).

Requirements for the Ph.D. in Earth Sciences and Engineering are described in the respective sections of the UNH Graduate School catalog. M.S. degree requirements are described on their respective pages in this website (see below for specific programs).

How to apply

For information on how to apply to the master's program visit one of the following departments:

• Ocean Engineering (OE)
• Earth Sciences (ES)
• Natural Resources (NR)
• Mechanical Engineering (ME)
• Electrical Engineering (EE)
• Computer Science (CS)
• Civil Engineering (CE)

MS Earth Sciences

Required:	Credit hours
OE 810 Ocean Measurements Laboratory	4
ESCI 858 Introduction to Physial Oceanography	3
ESCI 859 Geological Oceanography	4
ESCI/OE 870 Introduction to Ocean Mapping	4
ESCI/OE 871 Geodesy and Positioning for Ocean Mapping	4
ESCI/OE 972 Hydrographic Field Course	4
ESCI 997 Seminar in Earth Sciences	1
ESCI 998 Proposal Development	1

THESIS OPTION

Thesis - in addition to required coursework

6

NON THESIS OPTION

Course:	Credit hours
ESCI 898 Directed Research	2
Approved Electives	8

Where a course of equivalent content has been successfully completed as an undergraduate, an approved elective may be substituted.

For more information please go to Graduate school

MS Earth Sciences

Core Requirements:	Credit hours
OE 810 Ocean Measurements Lab	4
OE/ECE 845 Environmental Acoustics I	4
OE/ECE 846 Environmental Acoustics II	4
ESCI 858 Introduction to Physical Oceanography	3
ESCI 859 Geological Oceanography	4
OE/ESCI 870 Introduction to Ocean Mapping	4
OE/ESCI 871 Geodesy and Positioning for Ocean Mapping	4
OE/ESCI 972 Hydrographic Field Course	4
OE 990 Ocean Seminars I	1
OE 991 Ocean Seminars II	1
OE 899 Thesis	6

Where a course of equivalent content has been successfully completed as an undergraduate, an approved elective may be substituted.

For more information please go to Graduate school

Electives List

At least 6 additional credits from the electives below:

Elective:	Credit hours
EOS 824 Introduction to Ocean Remote Sensing	3
OE 854 Ocean Waves and Tides	4
NR 857 Photo Interpretation and Photogrammetry	4
NR 860 Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resources	4
OE/CS 867 Interactive Data Visualization	3
ESCI 895 Topics in Earth Sciences	1 - 4
ESCI 896 Topics in Earth Sciences	1 - 4
ESCI 898 Directed Research	2
ESCI 907 Geostatistics	3
OE 954 Ocean Waves and Tides II	4
ESCI 959 Data Analysis Methods in Ocean and Earth Sciences	4
OE/ESCI 973 Seafloor Characterization	3
OE/EE 995 Graduate Special Topics	3
ESCI 996 Advanced Topics in Earth Science	1 - 4
OE 998 Independent Study	1 - 4
ESCI 895 Nearshore Processes	3 - 4
Other related courses with approval	-

For more information please go to Graduate school

Graduate Certificate Program

The program goal is to provide advanced graduate training to working professionals in the area of Ocean Mapping. These professionals will come from a variety of backgrounds ranging from Earth Science, Geology, Biology, to Engineering. To meet the demands of this broad audience the certificate program has two components.

The first component, a Graduate Certificate in Ocean Mapping (Basic) is awarded for completion of the four core courses. The second component, a Graduate Certificate in Ocean Mapping (Advanced) is awarded for successful completion of three additional electives (totaling at least 10 credits).

The advanced certificate is the component where students tailor their courses to meet their individual goals, hence the array of courses. It is possible to select courses for the Advanced Certificate, which would fulfill the Category A (professional) International Federation of Surveyors/International Hydrographic Organization (FIG/IHO) Standards of Competence for Hydrographics Surveyors.

Successful completion of, or concurrent enrollment in courses for the Basic Certificate is necessary to begin the Advanced Certificate.

Required courses:	Credit hours
OE 810 Ocean Measurements Lab	4
ESCI/OE 870 Introduction to Ocean Mapping	4
ESCI/OE 871 Geodesy and Positioning for Ocean Mapping	4
ESCI/OE 972 Hydrographic Field Course	4

Elective courses:	Credit hours
OE 845 Environmental Acoustics I	4
EOS/OE 854 Ocean Waves and Tides	4
NR 857 Photo Interpretation and Photogrammetry	4
ESCI 858* Intro. to Physical Oceanography	3
ESCI 859* Geological Oceanography	4
NR 860 GIS in Natural Resources	4
OE/CS 867 Data Visualization	3
OE 885 Environmental Acoustics II	4
ESCI 895 Topics in Earth Sciences	4
OE 895* CARIS Training & Seamanship	4
ESCI 973 Seafloor Characterization	3

*Required Advanced Certificate courses for Category A Certification.

For more information please go to Graduate school

 

FIG/IHO Category A Certification

University Academic Courses:	Credit hours
OE 810 Ocean Measurements Lab	4
ESCI 858 Introduction to Physical Oceanography	3
ESCI 859 Geological Oceanography	4
OE/ESCI 870 Introduction to Ocean Mapping	4
OE/ESCI 871 Geodesy and Positioning for Ocean Mapping	4
OE 895 Special Topics; Seamanship for Ocean Scientists and Engineers*	2
OE/ESCI 972 Hydrographic Field Course	4
OE 990 Ocean Seminars I or ESCI 997 Seminar in Earth Sciences	1
OE 991 Ocean Seminars II or ESCI 998 Proposal Development	1

Non-credit classes:	Classroom Hours
CARIS HIPS-SIPS Training Course	40

*For students who have not completed NOAA Officer (or equivalent maritime service) Training Class

For more information please go to Graduate school