Applied Computing - Curriculum 367 (DL)
Program Officer
Brandon Holmes, LCDR, USN
Glasgow Hall East, Room E309
(831) 656-7980
brandon.holmes@nps.edu
Academic Associate
Duane Davis, Ph.D.
Glasgow Hall, Room 212
(831) 656-2733, DSN 756-2733
dtdavi1@nps.edu
Brief Overview
The Master of Applied Computing (MAC) is a distance learning (DL) degree program that 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.
The MAC degree program is open to any U.S. military officers and U.S. Government civilians, as well as international students and defense contractors, who are eligible for entry to NPS certificate programs. The Master of Applied Computing program must be completed within 5 years.
Requirements for Entry
A baccalaureate degree with above-average grades is required. Completion of at least two semesters of college-level algebra or trigonometry is considered to be the minimum mathematical preparation. The minimum APC requirement for entry to this program 325; in addition, APC requirements for individual certificate programs that a student undertakes for the MAC degree will apply. International students should refer to the International Graduate Programs Office for current TOEFL and NPS Admissions for other entrance requirements.
As a fully online stackable certificate curriculum, entry date for this program will be predicated on specific entry dates for NPS DL certificate programs being undertaken for this degree. Students may be admitted into this curriculum after beginning work on NPS certificate programs, however, all NPS certificate programs require formal admission. If further information is needed, contact the Program Officer or the Academic Associate for this curriculum or the NPS Admissions Office.
Program Length
The length of the MAC curriculum will depend upon the length of time a student must take to complete the set of certificate programs used to meet the degree requirements. The typical length of time to complete the degree is 24 months. In all cases, the NPS Academic Policy Manual (APM) states that all requirements for any master's degree must be completed within a period of five (5) years after being accepted into the degree program.
Degree Requirements
- Completion within five years (per NPS APM) of at least three NPS DL certificates from the approved list. New certificates will be eligible for inclusion, subject to approval by CS Department.
- Certificate courses must total to at least 44 graduate credit hours, at least 20 hours of which come from CS, CY, MV, or SW courses.
- Certificates must include minimum of 12 4000-level credit hours.
(Optional) At the preference of certain sponsors, a capstone project may be completed with three CS4920 Advanced Topics; or similar courses, as equivalent to a fourth required certificate.
Outcomes
- Apply current best practices to solve computing problems (analyze, design, implement and evaluate).
- Apply the knowledge of computing and data systems theory to analyze problems, assess trade-offs, and develop creative solutions.
- Analyze the current and evolving state of computing tools and technologies.
- Assess and recommend computing technology innovations in military contexts
- Demonstrate flexible communication to work with diverse teams and audiences.
Typical Course of Study
Since this curriculum is comprised of individual certificates, the course of study will vary depending on the availability and timing of the specific certificates that are utilized. An acceptable course of study will include completion of no fewer than two and as many as four of the following certificates:
Artificial Intelligence for Military Use (128)
Applied Cyber Operations (225)
Cyber Operations Infrastructure (227)
Cybersecurity Fundamentals (256)
Cybersecurity Defense (258)
Cybersecurity Adversarial Techniques (260)
Data Science (268)
In addition, completion of no more than one of the following certificates may be used to satisfy curriculum requirements:
Capability & Mission Engineering (131)
Principles of Analytical Management (202)
Innovation and Design (209)
Implementing Technological Change (221)
Robotics Engineering (223)
Human Systems Integration (262)
Space Systems Fundamentals (273)
Systems Analysis (281)
Cyber Warfare (288)
High-Performance Computer Architecture (286)
Network Engineering (295)
Cyber Systems (296)
A typical course of study might consist of the following frequently available certificates (other options are possible as well):
Cyber Security Fundamentals
(Curriculum 256, 12.5-13 hours)
| CS4600 | Secure System Principles | | 3 | 2 |
| -or- | | | |
| CS3600 | Introduction to Cybersecurity | | 4 | 1 |
| -and- | | | |
| CS3670 | Secure Management of Systems | | 3 | 2 |
| CS3690 | Network Security | | 4 | 1 |
Artificial Intelligence for Military Use
(Curriculum 128, 13 hours)
| CS4000 | Harnessing Artificial Intelligence | | 0 | 2 |
| CS3331 | Basics of Applied Artificial Intelligence | | 4 | 0 |
| CS3332 | Applied Machine Learning | | 4 | 0 |
| CS4333 | Current Directions in Artificial Intelligence | | 4 | 0 |
Data Science
(Curriculum 268, 14 hours)
| CS4315 | Introduction to Machine Learning and Data Mining | | 3 | 1 |
| CY3650 | Foundations in Data Science | | 3 | 1 |
| OS4106 | Advanced Data Analysis | | 3 | 0 |
| OS4118 | Statistical and Machine Learning | | 3 | 0 |
Space Systems Fundamentals
| PH2514 | Introduction to the Space Environment | | 4 | 0 |
| SS3011 | Space Technology and Applications | | 3 | 0 |
| SS3610 | Space Communications Systems: Fundamentals and Analysis | | 4 | 2 |
| -or- | | | |
| SS3613 | Military Satellite Communications | | 3 | 0 |
| PH3052 | Physics of Space and Airborne Sensor Systems | | 4 | 0 |