OpenFieldNorthwestern Michigan · Traverse City, Michigan, United States
Northwestern Michigan College is a renowned public community college located along Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City, Michigan. It is globally acclaimed for the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, Great Lakes Water Studies Institute, and aviation technology.
NMC hosts the Great Lakes Campus, featuring the 224-foot training ship State of Michigan, the Great Lakes Maritime Academy (one of six state maritime academies in the US), the Great Lakes Culinary Institute, and a state-of-the-art flight training center at Cherry Capital Airport.
Open-access policy for standard associate degree pathways. Admission to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy and Aviation Flight Training requires federal physical fitness standards, US Coast Guard / FAA medical certifications, and competitive review.
First bachelor's degree of its kind in the US, training students in autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), marine robotics, hydrographic sonar survey, and seafloor mapping.
Comprehensive USCG-approved curriculum qualifying cadets for USCG Third Mate licensing and first-class Great Lakes pilotage, featuring ship simulator labs and open-water sea time.
FAA Part 141 approved flight training taking students from private pilot through commercial multi-engine instrument rating and flight instructor certifications.
Pioneering interdisciplinary freshwater science program investigating watershed conservation, benthic ecology, water quality sensors, and Great Lakes hydrological systems.
ACF-accredited program at the Great Lakes Culinary Institute featuring classic European kitchen techniques, farm-to-table cuisine, pastry design, and restaurant dining management.
Undergraduate summer fellowship conducting multibeam sonar seabed mapping, invasive quagga mussel reef assessments, and underwater ROV surveys in Lake Michigan.
Director & Professor of Marine Technology
Great Lakes Water Studies Institute
Prof. VanSumeren directs marine robotics and hydrographic bathymetry research, deploying subsea AUV and ROV platforms for Great Lakes benthic and shipwreck mapp...
View researcher profile ↗Superintendent & Master Mariner
Great Lakes Maritime Academy
Capt. Achenbach oversees maritime navigation, vessel safety management systems, and polar water navigational certification protocols for deep-draft commercial v...
View researcher profile ↗Education & Outreach Coordinator
Freshwater Studies Institute
Dr. Hazelwood leads international watershed conservation education initiatives and collaborative water quality monitoring between North and South American river...
View researcher profile ↗OpenField is an independent research platform not officially affiliated with Northwestern Michigan College. Information reflects public documentation reviewed on 2026-10-16. Students must verify application deadlines, fee structures, and prerequisite details directly with official university admissions departments before applying.
Updated 2026-10-16 · Editorial policy · Submit corrections