Water Studies Institute (WSI)
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide an exploration to the field of water studies, with specific focus on freshwater. Students will discuss the impact of water related challenges and opportunities in the context of the great lakes of the world. Focus will be given to the new and emerging career and educational pathways associated with water resources and their management. In addition to regular class lectures, invited experts from business, education and community organizations will introduce relevant topics of local and global significance including policy, law, sustainable development, history, engineering, health, and commerce. Group 2 course. Communications - Direct, Degree Req:Cultural Persp/Div, Infused: Writing Intensive.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide an exploration of water related industries and applications, with specific focus on freshwater, water quality, and associated technologies. Areas of instruction include water resources, water remediation and the use of technology in the management of these freshwater systems. In addition to regular class lectures, invited lectures will introduce relevant topics of local and global significance as related to water resources. Group 2 course.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 3
This course provides training on how to remain safe on a job site. It is for those involved in clean-up operations, voluntary clean-up operations, disposal, emergency response operations, and storage, and treatment of hazardous substances or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. Group 2 course.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 4
This course provides an introduction to the principles and techniques used for site assessment, remediation strategies, and monitoring techniques of contaminated groundwater and soils. Areas of emphasis include an overview of Phase I/II environmental site assessments (ESA), Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Site Health and Safety Plans (HASP), and the practice of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) commonly used in various industries. Group 2 course. Communications - Direct.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 4
Advancements in Great Lakes research and monitoring techniques allow for an increased ability to access and assess remote locations through the use of enabling technologies and platforms including: Research Vessels, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV), SONAR systems (single beam, multibeam, scanning) and oceanographic buoy systems. Focus will be directed at understanding the basics of how each component is used and gain firsthand experience operating systems and collecting information. Field activities will take place in local water bodies, Grand Traverse Bay and onboard the R/V Northwestern. Group 2 course. Completion of MTH 111 and ENG 111 or appropriate placement scores.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 4
This course provides a foundation for the use of acoustics in the marine environment while focusing on best practices for underwater search, survey and visualization programs. Multiple sonar systems are presented and are representative of current industry equipment, operations and practices. Emphasis is placed on understanding field applications where sonar platform, water depth and temperature, target range and size, acoustic frequency and object reflectivity/absorption have an effect on target detection, resolution and data accuracy. Group 2 course.
Credit Hours: 1.5, Contact Hours: 2
This course provides training in the best use practices of multiple acoustic platforms for use in search and recovery operations typical to law enforcement, homeland security and first responders from multiple agencies. Group 2 course. Quantitative Reasoning.
Credit Hours: 2, Contact Hours: 3
This course provides both classroom theory and hands-on practicum/field operations performed individually and in groups. Emphasis areas include demonstrating techniques of sonar operations critical to sonar performance, sonar data collection and data interpretation for use in marine engineering, survey and underwater construction activities. Group 2 course. Quantitative Reasoning.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 4
This course builds upon the basics of GIS taught in GEO 115 - Introduction to GIS, with a focus on basic spatial analysis techniques using standard and maritime/marine datasets. More advanced cartographic methods and spatial data management techniques are introduced using ArcGIS Desktop, Hypack, and other computer tools. Group 2 course. Critical Thinking - Direct.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 3
This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of the fundamental principles of water law and policy and human relationships, use, threats, and conflicts over water and aquatic resources. The course emphasizes a new integrative approach to water issues based on the nexus of the water commons to health, food, quality of life, energy, climate change, ecosystem, and economy. Group 2 course. Communications - Direct, Critical Thinking - Direct, Degree Req:Cultural Persp/Div, Infused: Writing Intensive.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 4
This course introduces the technology of remotely operated vehicles (ROV) as a system used for subsea activities including scientific study and research, subsea exploration and industrial applications. International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) and Association for Diving Contractors International (ADCI) guidelines will be used for training. Students will gain firsthand experience operating the ROV for the purpose of collecting information from docks, piers, and research vessels. Group 2 course. Communications - Direct.
Credit Hours: 4, Contact Hours: 6
This hands-on course will introduce students to sampling protocols, procedures, quality control, preservation technology, field analysis, and data interpretation. Students will learn how to sample soil, sediments, surface water, groundwater, and air using industry-accepted protocols and industry standard equipment. Proper logbook development, Chain of custody and quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) methods will be presented. Troubleshooting of equipment will be emphasized. Group 2 course. Quantitative Reasoning.
Credit Hours: 1-3, Contact Hours: 1-3
The internship in Freshwater Studies is a field experience for students interested in developing competencies to address significant water-related issues impacting our region and the world. Students engage in research activities with local and global community partners to collaborate in the implementation of best water management practices. The program is customized according to students' background and specific career goals. Activities can include activities involving the monitoring of: water quality, invasive species, water distribution systems, and ecosystems. Group 2 course. Communications - Direct.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 4
This course provides a foundation in the use of electronic sensors for remote observations. The focus will be on applications for marine and near-shore environments, though any sensor system/platform may be discussed. Basic sensor science will be applied to the study of remote sensing instruments, including marine acoustics, terrestrial acoustics, visible, laser/LIDAR, multispectral, and hyperspectral. Sensor development and evolution will be studied, as well as related current events including instruments used in deep-sea, commercial, military, and space science industries. Group 2 course.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 4
Marine Electronics focuses on the systems, applications, electronics, and safety requirements specific to the marine and ROV environments. The design, repair and integration of cabling, tether, communication devices, sensors, and components into electrical systems will be emphasized. Students will use test equipment and protocols to develop troubleshooting methods to analyze and integrate this technology. Group 2 course. Critical Thinking - Direct.
Credit Hours: 4, Contact Hours: 6
This course provides advanced training for the use of sonar systems in the subsea environment. Students will utilize multiple sonar systems for the purpose of profiling and imaging nearshore infrastructure; positioning and navigation of subsurface equipment; and interpreting collected sonar data for use in marine subsurface applications. Specific sonar systems utilized will include multibeam sonar, side scan sonar, scanning sonar and USBL systems. Group 2 course.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 4
This course provides a foundation in the coordination of maritime surveys from a pre-deployment standpoint. Students will be expected to have a strong understanding of the remote sensing science including capabilities and limitations of the sensor systems to be used. A major focus of the course will be to develop student skillsets for processing and merging marine and terrestrial datasets from a wide range of sources and systems. Significant time will be devoted to proper manipulation of data using commercial and freely-available tools. Group 2 course.
Credit Hours: 2-4, Contact Hours: 2-4
The purpose of the internship is to provide on-the-job training for the student who wishes to pursue a career in a technical field of study. The internship will be customized to meet the learning needs of the student and the job requirements of the sponsoring firm. Students spend 10-15 hours per week in this paid, supervised on-the-job training experience. In addition to the required 50 hours per credit in a work site, students participate in semi-monthly seminars. Students must apply one month prior to the semester in which they will complete the internship. Group 2 course.
Credit Hours: 1-3, Contact Hours: 1-3
Credit Hours: 4, Contact Hours: 4
This course requires the synthesis and integration of knowledge and skills acquired across the Marine Technology curriculum for completion of a team oriented project and will require significant written, oral and visual deliverables including a final presentation. These field based projects will demonstrate a comprehensive approach to mission planning, technical equipment competency, budgeting, data collection/processing and dissemination to an audience. Group 2 course. Communications - Direct, Critical Thinking - Direct.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 3
This course focuses on contemporary issues and current events in the marine industry. It is intended to explore the global marine technology market while providing industry perspective from the marine sector including consequences of pollution, safety regulations, policy development, technology advances, and economics. Students will evaluate trends and conditions expected to influence the industry over the next five years. Group 2 course. Critical Thinking - Direct.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 3
This class covers the practice of project management, specific to the underwater marine environment (ROV/AUV/Sonar Technologies). The course will emphasize the core principles of project management, including scope development, schedules, resource planning, budgets, risk management strategies and communication methods. The curriculum aligns with the Project Management Institute “Body of Knowledge” and students can earn a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification. Group 2 course. Communications - Direct, Critical Thinking - Direct.
Credit Hours: 3, Contact Hours: 4
This course focuses on the use of complex marine platforms in multiple marine environments including multiple sonar systems, unmanned underwater vehicles and remotely operated vehicles. Students will learn mission planning, platform mobilization, launch and recovery techniques, remote guidance, and advanced troubleshooting of autonomous and remote systems. Subsea applications will include scientific study and research, subsea exploration and industrial applications. Group 2 course. Quantitative Reasoning.