Naval Postgraduate School – Distance Learning – Master’s Programs – Starting September 2024
1. This message announces application procedures for the Naval Postgraduate School September 2024 distance learning Master Programs (curriculum 311, 359, 363, 367, 569, 571, 572, 592, 608, 721, 722).
2. Context:
a. Naval Postgraduate School’s Master programs are 12-36 months in length. Upon successful completion of the coursework, students will be conferred with a master’s degree and a subspecialty code (Navy Officers only, depending on program of choice).
b. These programs support Navy and DoD defense educational needs and complement existing resident education by providing cross-disciplinary education in the chosen curriculum.
c. A bachelor’s degree is required for entry into a master’s program. A master’s is needed for entry into a PhD program. Students lacking these prerequisites may be accepted to the program through their undergraduate records and other indicators of success.
d. Programs Offered beginning, September 2024.
311 Systems Engineering: Designed for Navy System Commands and DoD organizations involved in a wide range of systems engineering and integration challenges. These commands can partner with NPS to educate and train engineers with tools and technologies relevant to their work, resulting in employees with greater knowledge and expertise to enable them to better meet the needs of their customers.
359 Human Systems Integration: Human Systems Integration (HSI) is an interdisciplinary program that emphasizes human considerations as a priority in systems design and acquisition, to reduce life cycle costs, and improve total system performance. HSI has been divided into several distinct domains that include human factors engineering, manpower, personnel, training, human survivability, health hazards, system safety, and habitability. HSI is based on the understanding that people (operators, maintainers, and support personnel) are critical elements of the system and that a human-centered design perspective promotes system effectiveness, safety, and cost savings.
363 Systems Analysis: Designed to meet the needs of the Navy and other services in the Department of Defense (DoD) for technical graduate education in systems analysis as a basis for aiding key decisions on force requirements, weapon systems, and other defense matters. Students acquire foundational skills and hands-on experience in all aspects of analytical studies, which includes the skills to formulate problems, use the analytical process to design study requirements, highlight critical assumptions, recognize strengths and weaknesses of applied analytical methodologies, and evaluate study recommendations.
367 Applied Computing: Equips graduates with the essential skills and knowledge to specify, evaluate, and manage computing systems, as well as the ability to provide technical guidance in the analysis, design, and application of computing systems used in the Navy. The MAC degree is designed to be completed by combining a sequence of NPS graduate-level certificates in areas related to computing, such as computer science, cyber systems and operations, robotics, and data science. The program’s flexible design provides sponsoring agencies and students the ability to achieve specific professional education goals by selecting a tailored combination of certificates. There is no thesis or capstone requirement for this degree.
569 Master of Mechanical Engineering: Broad-based, graduate education in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on thermo fluids, structures, autonomous systems, and space systems. Requirements for entry include a bachelor’s degree, preferably in an engineering discipline. While an undergraduate degree in engineering is preferred, special preparatory programs can accommodate officers with other backgrounds.
571 Naval Reactors – Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Program: Provide both naval officers and civilian employees of Naval Reactors (NR), an advanced education leading to a Master of Science in Engineering Science with major in either Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. This is a non-thesis program for individuals who work as engineers and who wish to pursue a master’s degree via Distance Learning. The program sponsor is NAVSEA and the subject matter expert is SEA-08.
572 Master of Mechanical Engineering for Nuclear Trained Officers (ME): This degree program provides the opportunity for nuclear trained naval officers (those who have successfully completed Naval Nuclear Power School, Officers Course) to obtain a Master of Science in Engineering Science with a major in Mechanical Engineering – MSES(ME), while on sea or shore duty. Requirements for entry include currently serving on Active Duty, successful completion of the Officer’s Course at the Naval Nuclear Power School, a B.S. in Engineering (or closely related field) and a nomination by command, which must include original transcript of the student’s undergraduate records.
592 Master of Electronic Systems Engineering (MSEE): Courses for this degree are delivered on a schedule determined in consultation with the customer, with one course per quarter being typical (four courses per year) can be completed in two to three years. This program is research-based and requires submission and approval of a written thesis. Requirements for entry include acceptance by the ECE Department: Entrance to the Electrical and Computer Engineering curriculum at Naval Postgraduate School is through a three-part requirement consisting of a minimum grade point average at the undergraduate level, a sufficient mathematics background, and a sufficient background in technical undergraduate studies. Applicants with a B.S.E.E. degree usually will satisfy the last two requirements automatically, and Command/Company endorsement.
608 Master of Aerospace Engineering: Degree program designed to meet the specific needs of the U.S. Military, U.S. Coast Guard, and international partners with a broad-based graduate education in Aerospace Engineering with a focus on missile design, autonomous systems, and space systems. The program is intended to be completed within 36 months (about 3 years), assuming one course or thesis slot per quarter. Requirements for Entry include a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or its equivalent, preferably in an engineering discipline. While an undergraduate degree in engineering is preferred, special preparatory programs can accommodate officers with other backgrounds.
721 Joint Executive Systems Engineering and Management (SEM-PD21): Designed to produce a cadre of change agents skilled in engineering and management across the nation to bring about dramatic improvements in the way American corporations and the defense industry develop and build new systems and products. This program prepares today’s technical experts for successful careers as systems engineering leaders, technically grounded senior managers, and agents of innovation and acquisition excellence in their business enterprises. It is known for its unique its joint focus: joint services, joint engineering and management, and joint government and industry; and integrating business and technical elements via formal education, exposure to ongoing research, and immersive experiences in current, real-world industry practices.
722 Systems Engineering Management: Systems and Program Management: An interdisciplinary program combining systems engineering with program management knowledge and skills. The program is intended to broaden the technical capabilities of the acquisition workforce who may have non-technical backgrounds, so they can manage and lead programs/ projects supporting the Defense Acquisition System. Students in this program learn the systems engineering process from establishing system requirements through test and evaluation. Simultaneously students learn how to manage, schedule, and budget programs as well as work with DoD suppliers through contracts to meet program obligations.
3. Tuition: NPS is mission-funded to provide tuition-free graduate education to full-time active-duty Navy and Marine Corps service members. Seats not filled by active-duty Navy and Marine Corps service members will be made available for open enrollment to other uniformed service members, Department of the Navy and other federal government civilians, and defense contractor civilians under tuition sponsorship by their organization or agency. For information regarding tuition, please contact the NPS Tuition office at tuition@nps.edu. NPS is required to have a support agreement (DON form 7600A or DD1144) in place with each government funding sponsor before acceptance of funding documents. All students are required to purchase their textbooks.
4. Application Process: Service members interested in the programs may visit the NPS web pages for detailed eligibility and application process. Program webpages:
https://online.nps.edu/w/311-systems-engineering
https://online.nps.edu/w/359-human-systems-integration
https://online.nps.edu/w/363-systems-analysis
https://online.nps.edu/w/367-applied-computing
https://online.nps.edu/w/569-naval/mechanical-engineering-master
https://online.nps.edu/w/571-naval-reactors-mechanical/electrical-engineering-program
https://online.nps.edu/w/592-electronic-systems-engineering
https://online.nps.edu/w/608-aerospace-engineering
https://online.nps.edu/w/721-joint-executive-systems-engineering-and-management
https://online.nps.edu/w/722-systems-engineering-management-systems-and-program-management
5. Post Graduation: Per OPNAVINST 1520.23C, Navy officers participating in this program must agree to remain on active duty for two years following completion of a master’s program. This obligation is discharged concurrently with any other service obligation already incurred if U.S. Navy. This agreement does not obligate the Navy to retain the officer on active duty.
6. Point of Contact: NPS master’s program contact, via email at ONLINE(AT)NPS.EDU. Additional information on the Naval Postgraduate School’s online programs can be obtained via our website online.nps.edu.
7. This message will remain in effect until superseded or 1 September 2024, whichever occurs first.
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 