Ocean Engineering

The Ocean Engineering program features a summer internship component that provides students with hands-on work experience and networking opportunities with employers at federal agencies and engineering firms.

This experience allows students to apply the knowledge and skills they've gained in the classroom, enhancing their education and preparing them for successful careers in the field before they even graduate.

USM is leading the way in developing and utilizing autonomous platforms for ocean exploration. Our Ocean Engineering students have access to cutting-edge resources, including an 18' Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) (C-Worker 5), a 100" Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) (Iver3), and an explorer-class AUV rated for depths up to 2000 meters, among other advanced systems.

Senior students will engage in project design and capstone courses, where they will apply their skills and knowledge to real-world, application-oriented research projects. Additionally, the Ocean Engineering program offers Honors College students the opportunity to participate in groundbreaking undergraduate research, providing a pathway to hands-on innovation in ocean technology.

• Ballard and Coats Ocean Engineering Scholarship Endowment
• Judith Bostwick Ocean Engineering Scholarship Endowment

Mission

The mission of the Ocean Engineering program is to provide students with the best possible preparation to excel in an ocean related industry as highly competent engineers or to pursue advanced degrees.

Vision

The goal of the Ocean Engineering BS Program is to become an established provider of high-quality education in the field of ocean engineering and to be recognized for its well-prepared graduates who can become leaders in their field. Our vision is to become the premier institution for the development of uncrewed systems and the modeling and monitoring of the Gulf of Mexico.

• Graduates use the knowledge and skills to successfully develop engineering solutions to complex current and future problems considering the unique challenges of the ocean environment. 
• Graduates take economic, environmental, and societal factors into account as they arrive at an engineering solution. 
• Graduates gain the trust and respect of peers as effective and ethical members of diverse teams. 
• Graduates advance intellectually and professionally through lifelong learning building upon their education. 
• Graduates are prepared to seek out positions of leadership within their profession, their organization, and their community. 

(1) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.

(2) an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.

(3) an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.

(4) an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.

(5) an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.

(6) an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.

(7) an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.