First Ever Graduate Course in Space Safety Announced

University of Southern California Viterbi School of Engieering mural. (Credits: Lan65).

The University of Southern California (USC) Viterbi School of Engineering has annouced the first ever graduate-level course in space safety.

Entitled Safety of Space Systems and Space Missions, the course is designed to teach engineers and program managers how to design systems that will meet human rating certification standards. It will focus on systems engineering of human spaceflight craft, building on real-life experience from the past 50 years in space.

Michael Kezirian, a safety engineer with The Boeing Company and Fellow Member of IAASS, is to teach the course. The textbook used will be Safety Design for Space Systems, sponsored by IAASS and published by Butterworth-Heineman, edited by Gary Eugene Musgrave, Axel (Skip) M. Larsen and edited by Tommaso Sgobba.

USC has made the course available both on campus and online for distance learning. Non-matriculated students may register for the course, provided they have an engineering or related undergraduate degree. Safety of Space Systems and Space Missions will be offered as an elective in USC’s Masters of Science in Astronautical Engineering program.

By providing these options, USC is catering to a broader range of learners and making high-quality education more accessible. The ability to pursue an elective like Safety of Space Systems and Space Missions remotely can be a game-changer for students who are unable to attend classes on campus.

Similarly, an online computer science degree can offer a pathway to advanced knowledge and skills in a rapidly evolving field without the constraints of a traditional classroom setting. This approach not only accommodates diverse learning needs but also ensures that students have access to cutting-edge education no matter where they are located.

With the flexibility of online programs, students can tailor their learning experience to fit their individual schedules and pace, making it easier to balance their studies with personal and professional responsibilities. Moreover, the integration of interactive tools and resources in online platforms enhances the learning experience, allowing students to engage with complex concepts and collaborate with peers globally.

In the video below USC introduces the Viterbi School of Engineering.