- How
are the ONLINE classes taken?
NPS Online classes are taken online without any classroom attendance necessary. After registration and enrollment, you will be sent instructions on how to access the course material in Blackboard. Online courses offer you the flexibility of logging on at any time, in any location, to access course material. Courses are Faculty led and allow interaction between instructor and other students.
- How
are the VTE classes taken?
NPS offers real-time classes by video-teleconferencing equipment to distant sites using three high-speed ISDN lines. (Specific details of equipment compatibility requirements are available upon request.) Two-way video and audio enable students at the distant site to participate fully in the class. All lectures are recorded and posted on the web in a timely manner for downloading and streaming by students in the class. This allows students to make up classes that are missed due to travel or other work obligations. Some aspects of the class may be conducted using Blackboard.
- How are laboratories conducted?
The means of conducting the laboratories will vary from course to course. It may include one or more of the following:
- real-time exercises via an internect connection to a NPS lab facility,
- software simulations where the software is on campus and the students connect via the internet,
- software simulations using educational versions that are downloadable by the student,
- NPS faculty or staff travel to a remote site with portable equipment to conduct the lab,
- local experts from the sponsoring organization conduct labs using locally available equipment, or
- students travel to NPS to attend labs.
- What
is Blackboard?
Blackboard is a software system that enables instructors to develop their courses in an organized password protected environment. In this learning support system, you can view varied course content and use the asynchronous and synchronous communication tools for collaborative work. See also the Blackboard
Student FAQ.
- How
flexible are the certificate programs?
In addition to the convenience of accessing the course material any time or location, you have the additional flexibility of sitting out a quarter if necessary due to military duty requirements, family commitment, or other vital personal situation. The typical certificate program lasts one year, but could be completed in more time, if necessary. Some of our certificate programs will be sequential. If you ‘sit out' for a quarter, you will have to wait to get back into the sequence, keeping in mind ‘course availability'.
- What
are the time requirements? How long will
it take to complete the certificate program?
Can I take more than one course at a time?
Each course is about 12-weeks long, or one academic quarter. The typical certificate program requires four quarters or one year to complete. Courses are taught sequentially due to the personal time necessary for each course. Taking more than one course at a time is not recommended. These are full graduate level courses, very robust, time intensive (12-15 hours per week), and require completed assignments. It is also an added time commitment to work, family, etc.
- What
are the costs to my command and/or myself?
Refer to the OCL Eligibility and Tuition schedule found here for information about tuition, books and eligibility.
- Can
I pay for the course or program out my
own pocket or use Tuition Assistance?
Sorry, no. NPS is not permitted to accept funds from individuals nor can you use tuition assistance to pay for NPS courses or programs.
- Are there any prerequisites or eligibility requirements for enrollment?
Please check each programs web page since it may vary.
Certificate programs: http://www.nps.edu/DL/NPSO/cert_progs/index.html
Degree programs: http://www.nps.edu/DL/NPSO/degree_progs/index.html
- Are contractors allowed to take NPS programs?
Yes, but space is extremely limited. Less than 2% of NPS Distributed Learning students are contractors. For a list of programs that allow contractors, please visit this webpage.
- What is the application process?
Complete an online application found here and submit.
- What dates do the quarters normally begin?
Quarters usually begin on or about the first week of January, April, July and October. Please check the OCL Program Schedule for availability and more specific start and end dates.
- What are NPS Follow-on Resident Program(s) and how do I go on to fulfilling the MS or MA degree requirements?
After completing the requirements for the certificate, you may wish to pursue the MS or MA degree requirements. These programs are currently offered as resident programs. Attendance at NPS as an in-residence graduate student is restricted to military officer personnel. If you fit this category and wish to attend NPS as a full-time graduate student, contact your detailer or service representative and request assignment to NPS. For all others, most NPS graduate course credits are transferable to other colleges and universities. For more information regarding resident programs, please see the NPS Admissions web page
- Which courses are offered on a regular basis?
Refer to the OCL Program Schedule for more information.
- How can I obtain a copy of my NPS transcript?
You may obtain a copy of your NPS transcript from the Registrar's office by following the instructions found at: http://www.nps.edu/Admissions/QLinks/ReqTrans.html .
- My chosen program requires funding from my command, what forms do I use?
Funds can be transferred to NPS using MIPR, DD-448 or NAVCOMPT 2276-A upon acceptance into a program that requires command funding. For more information about funding documents, please email OCL_DL_Funding@nps.edu.
- Will I incur a service obligation if I am accepted into a Navy-funded degree or certificate program?
There are two answers to this question. Yes, you will incur a service obligation by participating in a Navy-funded degree program whether in-residence or through distributed learning (unless otherwise specified). However, Navy-funded programs resulting in a certificate or certification do not currently require a service obligation (as of January 2008); specifics will be addressed at a later time. For detailed information, please read NAVADMIN 195/07 and U.S. Code, Title 10, Subtitle C, Part III, Chapter 605: United States Naval Postgraduate School or contact your Detailer.
- Where can I find the waiver information for the Certificate in Systems Analysis (Curriculum 281) Program and Master of Systems Analysis (MSA) Program (Curriculum 363)?
Waiver information for the SA Certificate Program and the MSA Degree Program can be found here.
