Overview

The objective of this program is to provide graduates of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS), or equivalent, the opportunity to obtain a Master of Science in Systems Engineering or Master of Science in Engineering Systems with an Aviation Systems specialization leading to a 5804P subspecialty code. The program is delivered by distance learning and builds upon the TPS academic and flight test instruction, with the student's TPS final flight test project and report (DTII) serving in lieu of a thesis, and will provide the advanced systems engineering knowledge, tools and skills necessary for the graduate to be successful as a class desk systems engineer in a Naval Aviation Systems Command (NAVAIR) mission billet.

Courses Required

Requirements for Entry

• Entrance into the program is restricted to graduates of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS), or equivalent as approved by the USNTPS Director of Academics.
• All entrants will be board selected by NAVAIR and the Director of USNTPS in coordination with the NPS program academic team. All nominees will be instructed to apply for the program through the NPS online admissions site and to send official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended plus TPS transcripts for determination of academic acceptance.
• Master of Science in Systems Engineering- ABET undergraduate degree or equivalent with a minimum 2.6 GPA
• Master of Science in Engineering Systems- Bachelors degree with min of 2.6 GPA and at least one (1) college calculus course

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 wowen@nps.edu.

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

Other Information

The FY23 off campus tuition price for OPEN enrollment seats entering the two-year, eight quarter (one course per quarter) distance learning part-time Aviation Systems Engineering Non-Resident Master’s Degree Program (Cohort 312-233A) is $2750 per course ($22,000 for degree) for military, federal government civilian employees and defense contractors, payable in full by FY, quarterly installments or as negotiated with the program manager. Qualified active duty Naval and Marine Corps Officers are eligible for NPS mission funding. Tuition does not include textbooks or additional class materials (software, handouts, case studies, miscellaneous equipment, etc.). If requested, NPS can provide textbooks for an additional $250 fixed fee per course per student.

Curriculum

The program is designed to build upon the USNTPS academic instruction and final flight test project and report. Students are given 10 quarter-hours of transfer credit (4 at the 3000-level and 8 at the 4000-level) for the USNTPS academic curriculum and their USNTPS final flight test project and report (DTII) serves in lieu of a thesis.

To be considered for this degree, a student must meet the degree requirements and complete all the requirements of the curriculum. Completion of an approved study program includes:

• A minimum of 36 quarter credit hours of 3000 and 4000 level courses, 16 of which must be at the 4000 level.
• A four-course core in systems engineering fundamentals and methods.
• Completion of an approved team systems engineering project or an individual thesis.

The 312 curriculum meets these degree requirements through an approved course of study requiring:

• Eight NPS DL courses, which include four systems engineering fundamentals and methods core courses (31 credit hours – see course list below)
• Award of 10 total credit hours for TPS courses equivalent to NPS courses (SE3303, SE4353, and SE4115) toward degree requirements.
• Submission of the required Develop-mental Test – II student project from TPS for review and approval as the thesis equivalent.

Eligibility and Admissions Standards

Entrance into this program is restricted to graduates of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) curriculum, currently a 48-week program. All entrants will be Board selected by NAVAIR and the Director of USNTPS in coordination with the NPS program academic team. All nominees will be instructed to apply for the program through the NPS online admissions site and to send official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended plus US-NTPS records for determination of academic acceptance.