Advanced Acquisition Studies - Curriculum 218 (DL)

Program Officer

Madeleine Fuentes, LCDR, USN

Code GB, Ingersoll Hall, Room 220

[phone], DSN 756-7793

[e-mail]

Academic Associate

Dr. Robert Mortlock, Professor of the Practice

Code GB, Ingersoll Hall, Room 314

[phone], 756-2672

[e-mail]

Program Director

Christina Hart, Ph.D.

Code GB, Ingersoll Hall, Room 334

[phone], DSN 756-6269

[e-mail]

Brief Overview

The Certificate in Advanced Acquisition Studies is graduate academic certificate program available to NPS distance learning students. Designed for students interested in Defense system acquisition and program management processes, the program operationalizes the business of Defense acquisition and creates Acquisition Warriors for the DoD.  This program supports continuous acquisition reform initiatives mandated by Congress and senior leaders and also supports initiatives to educate operational warfighters in the acquisition sciences. Graduates earn fulfillment for Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) training requirements for the Program Management Practitioner certification level. Additionally, the program provides education supporting for Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.  Requirements for Entry:  a baccalaureate degree defined in section 4.2 of the Academic Council policy manual.  Entry Dates: at the beginning of any quarter throughout an academic year (Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct).  Program Length:  the program length is flexible, and students can take the classes in any academic quarter.  Graduate Certificate Requirements:  requirements for the graduate Certificate in Advanced Acquisition Studies are met by successful completion of four of the available courses. Graduate credit is obtained by maintenance of a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. 

Convenes

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Program Length

Four quarters

Outcomes

• Advanced Leadership and Management Concepts: apply advanced leadership and management techniques to defense problems - policy formulation/execution, strategic planning, defense resource allocation, cost benefit and cost effectiveness analysis and decision support systems
• Program Leadership and Management Principles: apply the principles of project, program and portfolio management -risk management and tradeoff decision analysis using cost, schedule and performance; formulate and execute Defense acquisition policies, strategies, plans and procedures.
• Systems Acquisition Process: manage within the adaptive acquisition framework - requirements determination, research and development, funding and budgeting, procurement, systems engineering, test and evaluation, manufacturing and quality control, and integrated logistics support.
• Analysis, Problem Solving and Critical Thinking: conduct analysis and the ability to think creatively, manage change and complexity the Defense Acquisition Decision Support Systems.

Advanced Acquisition Studies

Required Courses

Students take one of the three options below for required courses:

Course Number	Title	Credits	Lecture Hours	Lab Hours
MN3331	Principles of Acquisition and Program Management		5	1
	-or-
MN3301	Acquisition of Defense Systems		4	0
	-or-
MN3221	Principles of Acquisition and Program Management I		3	0
	-and-
MN3222	Principles of Acquisition and Program Management II		3	0

Electives

Students must take at least three of the following electives:

Course Number	Title	Credits	Lecture Hours	Lab Hours
MN3309	Software Acquisition Management for Defense Systems		3	2
MN3384	Acquisition Production, Quality and Manufacturing Decision Science		3	2
MN4470	Strategic Planning and Policy for the Acquisition Logistics Manager		4	0
MN4602	Acquisition Test and Evaluation Decision Science		3	2
MN4307	Defense Acquisition Program Management Case Studies		4	0
MN3302	Advanced Project Management		3	0