Overview

The Combat Systems Science and Engineering Certificate addresses the technologies and theoretical foundations of current and future combat systems. The courses available in the certificate cover fundamental physical principles governing combat systems and their integration, ranging from sensor technologies, weapons and their effects, modern missile technologies, and advanced weapon systems.

Courses required

Prerequisites

• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution including an undergraduate physics sequence.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand energy release in explosives, material response to shocks, and ballistics
• Understand the basic principles of solid-state lasers and propagation issues related to atmospheric effects
• Understand the basic physics of nuclear bombs, design of nuclear weapons, and related damage mechanisms
• Understand the design of chemical warheads and the lethality of each type
• Identify the types of electromagnetic (EM) radiation, corresponding sensors, and how different regions of the spectrum can be exploited
• Understand the mechanisms of detection for optical, infrared, and thermal sensors, including noise mechanisms
• Describe the tradeoffs in radar system design and performance and understand the concept of radar cross section
• Appreciate the capabilities of advanced weapons and how they are integrated in modern combat systems  

Application Information

Applications are handled by the NPS Admissions Office. Please visit the admissions website or contact them at admissions@nps.edu.

Tuition & Service Obligation

For information regarding tuition, please contact the NPS Tuition office at tuition@nps.edu, or contact this offering’s POC at cgsmitht@nps.edu.

For information regarding service obligation, please visit the Admissions Office’s Eligibility/Service Obligation page.

Other Information

The academic certificate program must be completed within three years of admission to the program. A student must maintain at least a 3.0 GQPR in the courses to be awarded a certificate.