Admissions

Unless otherwise specified in this catalog, admission to the Naval Postgraduate School is accomplished as described in this section. For admission to either a degree or a non-degree program, whether on campus or by distributed learning, the minimum qualification is a regionally accredited baccalaureate degree with appropriate preparation for the proposed program. Each program has its own admissions criteria. The Academic Profile Code (APC) is only one element of the admissions criteria used to evaluate applicants for admission to NPS. The school requires submission of official transcripts covering all college work (undergraduate and graduate) completed to date. The normal lead time is six months prior to estimated arrival date, or corresponding graduate education selection board. Any delay in arrival of necessary documentation to include official transcripts will impede the evaluation for admissions.

Master's Program Admissions

A candidate entering any master's degree program must possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution—or in the case of foreign students, a recognized institution—with a minimum grade point average of 2.2 on a 4.0 system, of which 100 semester hours/150 quarter hours must be letter-graded. If the candidate does not possess an undergraduate degree, the following are standards for admission to a program leading to a graduate degree:

1. A minimum of 100 semester hours/150 quarter hours of letter-graded undergraduate work must have been completed at regionally accredited institution with an average grade of "B." Courses in which grades lower than "C" were earned will not be counted in the total. Courses which have been duplicated on various transcripts should be counted only once in arriving at the number of semester hours to be credited.
2. The general education requirements prescribed for the Naval Postgraduate School baccalaureate degree must be satisfied as specified in the Academic Policy Manual.
3. No more than 20 semester hours may be credited for work done in non-degree granting service schools.
4. Final approval of candidacy will be made by the Academic Council upon the recommendation of the appropriate department chair.

All applicants must submit an online application at https://www.nps.edu/Admissions/AMS/Login.aspx to be considered for entry into any NPS program. All undergraduate and graduate work to date (degree and non-degree) is required for academic evaluation. Please print the confirmation page displayed upon submission of the completed application. It contains further instructions regarding transcripts. Failure to comply with the instructions will delay the processing of the application.

U.S. Naval Officers

Selection for the Navy's fully funded graduate education program is based on outstanding professional performance, promotion potential and a strong academic background. Officers interested in this program should contact their assignment officers to determine professional qualification status. All applications for APC calculation should be initiated at https://www.nps.edu/Admissions/AMS/Login.aspx. Upon determination of academic qualification (by NPS), individuals are eligible for assignment. Officers who are professionally qualified but lack academic qualifications should contact the Director of Admissions at grad-ed@nps.edu for information on ways to improve their academic backgrounds.

Naval Postgraduate School

Admissions Office

1 University Circle, He-022

Monterey, CA 93943

Telephone: (831) 656-3093 / DSN 756-3093

E-mail: grad-ed@nps.edu

U.S. Army Officers

Army officers applying to NPS should request an Academic Profile Code (APC) review online at https://www.nps.edu/Admissions/AMS/Login.aspx for the purpose of prescreening prior to applying to Army Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS), or following Expanded Graduate School Program (EGSP) selection and slating, for an advanced academic degree program offered at NPS. Requesting an APC review in advance of applying to an ACS training agency will assist in the selection process and will expedite the formal NPS admissions process after an officer has been selected by the Army. Officers interested in fully funded education at NPS should provide their training agencies (branch, functional area, USMA, etc.) copies of all college transcripts, current (less than five years old) Graduate Records Examination (GRE) and/or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores and a copy of their NPS APC reviews when submitting their ACS applications.

Army officers applying for admission to the Department of National Security Affairs under ACS funding must include scores from the Graduate Record Examination, taken within five years of the date of application. Army officers sponsored under EGSP may be required to submit a GRE score on a case-by-case basis.

U.S. Air Force Officers

Selection for the Air Force's fully funded graduate education program (assigned to AFIT as a full-time student wherein all tuition costs are paid by the Air Force) is based upon professional performance, promotion potential, and academic background. Interested Air Force officers must contact their assignment team at Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) to determine professional qualification status and potential AFIT-sponsored graduate education opportunities available in their career fields. Air Force officers wishing to apply for an AFIT-sponsored graduate program must make their desires known to AFPC and follow AFPC application procedures (generally update your Airman Development Plan (ADP) and submit Air Force Form 3849 to your assignments officer).

To determine eligibility for an NPS curriculum, Air Force officers should apply online at https://www.nps.edu/Admissions/AMS/Login.aspx, requesting an Academic Profile Code (APC) review for the purpose of prescreening from the NPS Admissions Office prior to applying to AFPC. Officers should submit a copy of their NPS eligibility letters along with their AF Form 3849 application to AFPC and also maintain a copy in their personal records for future use if selected.

Air Force officers applying for admission to the Department of National Security Affairs must include scores from the Graduate Record Examination, taken within five years of the date of application.

U.S. Marine Corps Officers

NPS opportunities for Marine Corps officers fall under two categories: 1) Special Education Program (SEP) and 2) Regional Area Officer/Foreign Area Officer (RAO/FAO). SEP candidates should refer to MCO 1520.9G. RAO/FAO should applicants should refer to MCO 1520.11E.

The Marine Corps holds selection boards for both programs that are announced annually by a MARADMIN message. Marine officers interested in these programs should consult the latest MARADMIN for board details and contact HQMC, MMOA-5 if they have questions. Prospective applicants should also discuss the timing of NPS attendance with the Career Counseling Branch at HQMC. All applications should be submitted online at https://www.nps.edu/Admissions/AMS/Login.aspx.

U.S. Coast Guard Officers

Each year, a message is promulgated by the USCG canvassing USCG program managers, yours included, to nominate officers for graduate education. If you are interested, read the Education and Training Manual on the USCG intranet and speak with your program manager.

Military Staff of NPS and Local Commands

Military staff of NPS and tenant commands may be admitted for study upon request and approval from their supervisors and prospective academic associates. A staff member may attend up to two classes per quarter. Any overload must be approved by the Registrar. Admission to NPS must be approved prior to the granting of a degree. All applications should be submitted online at https://www.nps.edu/Admissions/AMS/Login.aspx. Note: The Academic Council must also approve the program of study after admission is granted.

International Students

Military officers and government civilian employees from other countries may be admitted to most curricula. The procedures for application are available from the Security Assistance Office or Defense Attaché Office of the U.S. Embassy, the MLO, MAAG, OMC or ODC, as appropriate. Correspondence must be processed through official channels; requests from individual prospective students should not be sent directly to the School.

All candidates must satisfy the curriculum academic standards, as described in this catalog. International candidates from non-English speaking countries will also be required to validate their fluency in English through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum TOEFL score required for direct entry to NPS is 83 IBT (Internet Based Test, 220 for the CBT (Computer Based Test (CBT), or 560 (Written Test). If a candidate fails to achieve the 83 IBT, 220 CBT, or 560 Written score, but does achieve a score of 65 IBT, 183 CBT, or 500 Written or higher, he/she is eligible to attend the TOEFL Preparatory Academic Writing Course, MASL P177022 (16 weeks) at the Defense Language Institute in San Antonio, Texas.

The only countries exempted from TOEFL testing are those countries who are exempted from all ECL testing requirements as determined by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) MSG 081457 Nov 06 (Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brunei, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Singapore, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, and the United Kingdom).

When applying for a TOEFL exam, the NPS identification code is 4831. This code should be included on the registration application so a copy of the results can be sent directly to NPS. TOEFL test results are valid for two years from the test date and must be valid when the student reports to NPS. Questions regarding available programs or admission procedures should be directed to Code 04IGP, 1 University Circle, Rm B-047, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA 93943-5025. Telephone: (831) 656-2186 or e-mail from this website: www.nps.edu/Adminsrv/IGPO/index.html

Civilian Employees of U.S. Government

A civilian who is an employee of, or sponsored by, an agency of the United States Federal Government may be admitted for study upon request and sponsorship of the agency. Federal civilian employees are not required to pursue the curricula designed for officer-students as described in this catalog but instead determine, with the guidance of assigned academic counselors, the combination of courses that will best meet their needs.

A civilian who is expecting agency sponsorship should apply online requesting evaluation for admission at least six months prior to expected commencement of studies. A completed application should indicate the desired curriculum and degree intentions and be accompanied by a complete set of official transcripts of all previous college work to date (degree and non-degree). GRE and/or GMAT scores are required for consideration for admission to any doctoral program.

All official supporting documents should be directed to the Director of Admissions, Code 01C3, Naval Postgraduate School, 1 University Circle, He-022, Monterey, CA 93943. Questions about available programs or admission procedures may be telephoned to (831) 656-3093 or DSN 756-3093 or email: grad-ed@nps.edu.

Any civilian employee of the United States Government is eligible to participate in the programs of the School. The individual's employing agency is expected to meet the tuition expense for regular on-campus enrollment.

Civilian Scholarship-for-Service Programs

The Naval Postgraduate School offers several Scholarship-for-Service programs in which civilians, who are U.S. Citizens, are supported with a full salary, generous government benefits, and full tuition waiver while working toward a Master's or Doctoral degree. Upon degree completion, these students are required to fulfill an obligated service commitment with the Defense Department or in some programs of other federal agencies. These are highly competitive programs that require an outstanding academic record. GRE and/or GMAT scores are required for consideration for admission to any doctoral program. Current government employees are eligible for some of these programs. Go to https://www.nps.edu/Admissions/AMS/Login.aspx and apply online.

All official supporting documents should be directed to the Admissions Office, Code 01C3, Naval Postgraduate School, 1 University Circle, Room 022, Monterey, CA 93943-5100. Questions about available programs or admission procedures may be telephoned to (831) 656-3093 or DSN 756-3093 or e-mailed to grad-ed@nps.edu.

Programs available to civilian students can be classified as follows:

Regular Curricula: The School's programs for officers are designed to meet the requirements of the services for specific education. The contents usually exceed the requirements for a graduate degree since the service's requirements, rather than degree requirements, determine the scope of each program. Civilian students may enter any curriculum at the point at which they are qualified and complete the curriculum along with regular officer students.

Degree Programs: Civilian students may enter programs designed to award a graduate degree, while meeting the educational goals of the individual or the sponsoring agency. To minimize the residency requirement, an off-campus preparatory program may be developed in consultation with a school advisor. If the available time in residence is insufficient to complete degree requirements, the thesis-project portion of the program may be completed off-campus.

Non-Degree Programs: Civilian employees may desire to pursue a program for professional advancement without a degree objective. NPS certificate programs are one such option available to civilians. These typically comprise four courses taken over one year. Certificate Program Managers are the initial point of contact for admissions. Alternatively, for groups of employees from an agency, special courses can be offered to meet particular requirements, provided the demand is in an area of expertise of the school.

Civilian Employees of NPS and Local Commands

A civilian employee of NPS and local commands may be admitted for study upon request and approval of the employee's supervisor and prospective academic associate. The Human Resources Office sponsors the Civilian Academic Development (CAD) Program to provide the opportunity to pursue self-development, training and education. The CAD program is administered by the HRO Training Officer and is the initial point of contact for civilians. The Training Officer can be reached at (831) 656-3052.

Civilian Employees of DoD Contractors

NPS accepts a limited number of employees of corporations that are contractors for the Department of Defense (DoD) in programs related to systems engineering and defense product development. Specifically, the following master's degree programs are open to employees of DoD contractors:

Distributed Learning Programs

Product Development for the 21^st Century (721)

Systems Engineering (311)

Space Systems Operations (316)

Software Engineering DL (369)

Contract Management (835)

Program Management (836)

Resident Programs

Operations Analysis (360)

Systems Engineering and Analysis (308)

Systems Engineering (580)

Missile Systems Engineering (in Mechanical Engineering, 570)

Electronic Systems Engineering (590)

Space Systems Engineering (591)

Software Engineering (369)

Total Ship Systems Engineering (533, 570, or 590)

Acquisition & Contract Management (815)

Systems Acquisition Management (816)

For information on these programs, please visit our Web site at: www.nps.edu/admissions/contractors

Contractor Application Process

All necessary forms, instructions, and an example of an application package can be found at www.nps.edu/admissions/contractors.

Application packages should include:

1. Submittal of a completed online application. The online application can be accessed at https://www.nps.edu/Admissions/AMS/Login.aspx.
2. Candidate's statement of education objectives relevant to government and corporate enterprise.
3. Certified transcripts from ALL undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.
4. Two letters of recommendation.
5. Letter from employer stating its willingness to pay tuition for the program and supply salary and benefits during your time at NPS, if a resident program.

Applications should be submitted online, and all official required documents should be mailed to the Naval Postgraduate School, Director of Admissions, 1 University Circle, He-022, Monterey, CA 93943. If you have questions about available programs or admission procedures please call (831) 656-3093 or e-mail: grad-ed@nps.edu.

Doctoral Program Admissions

The Navy Doctoral Program

This program typically selects a limited number of Navy officers each year for doctoral studies. Details are provided in a NAVADMIN message that addresses curriculum/subspecialty quotas, service obligation, and application procedures for this program. Applications for doctoral study at NPS under this program are reviewed by appropriate Departmental Ph.D. committees. The Navy Personnel Command conducts the Doctoral Program Selection Board; and selected officers are notified by their Detailers.

The Permanent Military Professor (PMP) Program

This program is designed to prepare Navy officers to become military instructors at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), the Naval War College (NWC), and the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). These officers serve a critical role in the education of the Navy's Officer Corps by combining fleet experience with advanced academic preparation to convey relevant knowledge to USNA midshipmen and officers attending NWC or NPS. Applicants for the PMP program must have attained the rank of 0-5 (select); and 0-6s may apply if already in possession of a completed doctorate in the discipline they propose to teach. The Navy Personnel Command announces the program and publishes application procedures through an annual NAVADMIN message. Applications for doctoral study at NPS under the PMP program are reviewed by appropriate Departmental Ph.D. committees; the Navy Personnel Command conducts the selection board and notifies selected officers. Once selected, the officers are obligated to serve as a PMP until their statutory retirement date.

Individual Doctoral Programs - All Services, Civilians, and Internationals

NPS doctoral programs are available to officers of all U.S. services, civilian employees of the government, a limited number of DoD Contractors, and to individuals sponsored by selected allied nations. Applications may be submitted at any time. An individual applying for admission to a Ph.D. program must hold a bachelor's degree qualifying the student for graduate status in the department of his/her major study, or shall have completed an equivalent course of study. All U.S. applications shall be submitted to the Director of Admissions, who will be responsible for processing. International applications shall be submitted to the International Graduate Programs Office. All applications are forwarded by the Director of Admissions to the chair of the Department of the proposed major subject area for determination of acceptability by the Departmental Ph.D. committee. The chair will recommend appropriate action to the Director of Admissions, who will notify applicants. The application must include the following:

1. A completed application form. This form may be obtained online at www.nps.edu/admissions/phd or from the Admissions Office by emailing grad-ed@nps.edu. This form includes:
   • Full name, title/rank, date of birth and SSN.
   • Current mailing address, telephone and email.
   • Department of the proposed major subject area.
   • Description of current position and responsibilities.
   • A brief outline (200 words or fewer) of specific areas of interest within the proposed major field of study.
   • Identification of source of support for attendance at NPS.
2. Certified copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts. However, transcripts from NPS are not necessary.
3. Results of a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test taken within the last five-years.
4. Two letters of recommendation regarding academic potential.
5. A writing sample (For Applicants to the Ph.D. in Security Studies Only).
6. For international applicants not currently enrolled at NPS whose native language is other than English, or whose primary language of instruction was other than English, current results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Written English. For specific test score requirements, see the preceding section pertaining to "International Students."
7. Attestation by the student's sponsoring agency or nation that they are committed to tuition and salary support during the student's residence at NPS.

Applicants should review the NPS catalog for specific application, and admission time lines pertaining to their Ph.D. program. In particular, applicants for the Ph.D. in Security Studies should note that although the program accepts applications for its program year round, admissions decisions are made twice yearly: during the first week in April, and the last week in October. Furthermore, applicants for the Ph.D. in Security Studies, must now possess a Master's Degree in Security Studies or closely allied field.

The mailing address and contact information for the Director of Admissions is:

Naval Postgraduate School

Admissions Office

1 University Circle, He-022

Monterey, CA 93943

Telephone: (831) 656-3093 / DSN 756-3093

E-mail: grad-ed@nps.edu

The mailing address and contact information for the International Government Programs Office is

Naval Postgraduate School, International Programs Office, 1 University Circle, Rm B-047, Monterey, CA 93943-5025. Telephone: (831) 656-2186 or e-mail:  www.nps.edu/Adminsrv/IGPO/index.html

For more information please visit www.nps.edu/admissions/ph.

Threshold for Admission

Each curriculum at the Naval Postgraduate School has a specified threshold Academic Profile Code (APC) for admission. See the Master Curriculum Chart in this catalog for specific APC requirements for each curriculum. Officers with deficient APCs may still qualify for entry into these curricula by completing suitable courses from any accredited civilian college. In certain instances, NPS offers a technical refresher quarter for applicants whose APC does not qualify them for direct entry to a technical curriculum. (See Technical Refresher Quarter section.) Transcripts (not grade reports) of work done at civilian schools must be forwarded to Director of Admissions, Code 01C3, Naval Postgraduate School, 1 University Circle, He-022, Monterey, CA 93943, to effect an APC change. The grades in all courses completed will be used to revise an officer's QPR.

Academic Profile Codes

The NPS Admissions office evaluates applicants based on three criteria. The result is the assignment of an Academic Profile Code (APC). This is a three-digit code, which summarizes pertinent portions of a student's prior college performance. The three independent digits reflect an individual's cumulative grade-point average (Quality Point Rating), exposure to and performance in calculus-related mathematics courses and exposure to and performance in selected science/engineering areas.

First Digit

The first digit indicates overall academic performance based on a recalculated* GPA from all previous college transcripts. The first digit is derived from the following table:

*Failures and repeated courses are included in the QPR calculation.

Second Digit

The second digit represents mathematical background according to the following criteria:

*All math courses from calculus through post-calculus are considered when evaluating the transcripts for the second digit. A minimum calculus sequence is Calculus I and II.

Third Digit

The third digit represents previous course coverage in science and technical fields according to the following criteria:

A first digit code of 0, 1, 2 or 3 (as appropriate) will be assigned only if transcripts provided exhibit at least 100 semester-hours or 150 quarter-hours of actual graded classroom instruction. Grades of Pass/Fail, Credit/No Credit will not count toward the 100/150 hour requirement.

A technical code of 1 or 0 ordinarily is assigned only to an officer whose undergraduate major was Physics, Aeronautical, Electrical, Mechanical or Naval Engineering, or whose undergraduate technical major is consistent with the officer's designated occupational specialty. General Engineering degrees and Engineering Technology degrees are specifically excluded from this list of engineering degrees.

Example

An APC of 221 indicates a total grade point average for all college courses in the interval 2.60-3.19, a complete sequence in calculus with an average between C+ and B and a major in physics or pertinent engineering area with upper-division courses with an average between C+ and B.

Catalogs

The point of contact for requests for Naval Postgraduate School Catalogs is:

Naval Postgraduate School

Office of the Registrar

1 University Circle, He-022

Monterey, CA 93943

Telephone (831) 656-2591 / DSN 756-2591

Printed catalogs:

For a printed catalog, send a request to the address above and include a check or money order for $10 per catalog to cover shipping and handling. Make payable to U.S. Treasurer.

The online edition of the University's catalog updated quarterly and is located at: http://www.nps.edu/admissions/catalog

The point of contact for requests for printed catalogs and admissions for international students is:

Director of International Programs

Naval Postgraduate School

1 University Circle, Rm B-047

Monterey, CA 93943-5025

Telephone: (831) 656-2186 / DSN 756-2186 / FAX (831) 656-3064

www.nps.edu/Adminsrv/IGPO/index.html

Curriculum Listing

The latest version of this chart is found at www.nps.edu/admissions/catalog