Distance Learning Program in Mechanical Engineering for Nuclear Trained Officers - Curriculum 572
Program Officer
CDR Yevette Davis
Code 74, Watkins Hall, Room 107
(831) 656-2033, DSN 756-2033
yevtte.davis@nps.edu
Academic Associate
Walter Smith, Ph.D.
Code ME/Go, Watkins Hall, Room 324
(831) 656-2593
walter.smith@nps.edu
Program Administrator
Walter C. Smith, Ph.D.
Building 215, Room 111
(831) 656-2593
walter.smith@nps.edu
Brief Overview
This special program provides nuclear-trained U.S. Navy officers (those who have successfully completed the Naval Nuclear Power School Officer’s Course) the opportunity to earn either:
the Master of Science in Engineering Science with a major in Mechanical Engineering (MSES-ME), or a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Mechanical Engineering, or a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering, or a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Nuclear Engineering while serving on sea, shore, or overseas duty.
All courses are delivered concurrently with resident courses and follow the Naval Postgraduate School quarter system. Distance students are enrolled in the same courses, during the same academic quarters, and are held to the same academic standards as resident students. This program is not a correspondence-based program.
Courses are conducted synchronously with resident instruction, with lectures recorded to support active-duty distance students completing coursework during off-duty hours. Faculty interaction, assignments, and examinations occur on the same schedule as for resident students, unless students make prior arrangements with instructional faculty.
The degree options are non-thesis programs. A capstone research or design project is normally required; however, approved professional qualifications, such as completion of the Prospective Nuclear Engineer Officer (PNEO) program, may be accepted in lieu of the capstone or research project, subject to departmental approval.
This is a fully funded, off-duty postgraduate education program.
Requirements for Entry
Admission into this program is restricted to individuals who have successfully completed the Officer's Course at the Naval Nuclear Power School (NPS) or will be attending Naval Nuclear Power School. Further requirements include a minimum Academic Profile Code of 323 and a B.S. in Engineering (or closely related field). All entrants must be nominated by their commands. The nomination to the Director of Admissions must include original transcripts of the student's undergraduate records.
Convenes / Academic Delivery
Students typically enter this program in the Summer or Winter quarters (with Summer the preferred quarter). All courses are delivered at the same time as resident offerings and follow the standard NPS academic calendar. Distance students are expected to complete coursework on the same schedule as resident students; however, reasonable flexibility is provided to accommodate operational demands and off-duty study requirements for active-duty officers. Lectures are recorded and made available to enrolled distance students. Approved course substitutions may be permitted to align with degree option, prior preparation, and professional experience.
The final quarters of the program may be devoted to a capstone research or design project, during which the student is enrolled in ME0810, unless the capstone requirement is waived through approved professional qualifications, such as completion of the Prospective Nuclear Engineer Officer (PNEO) program. A degree plan must be submitted and approved by the Chairman of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering prior to enrollment.
The program fully recognizes credits earned at the Naval Nuclear Power School; however, not all credits may be applied toward degree requirements.
Each course must be completed within the academic quarter in which it is offered. The nominal program duration is approximately 1 year, though completion timelines may vary depending on requirements and operational constraints.
Courses Required (Representative Plan)
The required course sequence is shown below. Enrollment in the capstone/research course is required only if not satisfied through approved professional qualifications.
Quarter Course
Quarter 1 ME3201 – Applied Fluid Dynamics
Quarter 2 ME4225 – Computational Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer
Quarter 3 ME3240 – Marine Power and Propulsion
Quarter 4 ME4101 – Advanced Thermodynamics
Depending on the quarter and availability, there are five courses that the Academic Associate can currently substitute for the four required courses listed above (as long as the student will meet the three courses ME4XXX level requirement):
MS4601 Nanomaterials
ME3521 Vibrations
ME4613 Finite Element Methods
ME4800 Machine Learning
ME3611 Mechanics of Solids II
Degree Requirements for Mechanical Engineering
The student must complete 16 hours of advanced graduate level NPS courses (at least three courses must be at the ME4XXX level). This requirement may be met by completing a sequence of four courses via Distance Learning or in residence in a program approved by the Chairman of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. There are two (2) technical tracks available, one in the Fluids, Thermal, and Propulsion area (572 Naval Nuclear Power School track) and the other in Solids, Structures, and Vibrations (571 BRES track). This program typically leads to a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering, or a Master of Science in Engineering Science (Major in Mechanical Engineering) or a Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, or a Master of Engineering in Nuclear Engineering and the program may be completed in four academic quarters.
Subspecialty
This is a degree program only and does not provide an additional subspecialty code.
Requirements for Graduation:
Completion of Naval Nuclear Power School Officer’s Course (20 credits used for degree)
Completion of Course Requirements (4 course, two at 3000 level, two at 4000 level, 16 credits)
Professional qualification (12 credits granted for Prospective Nuclear Engineer Officer (PNEO) program) or completion of Capstone/Research.
Application Information
Applications are processed through the Naval Postgraduate School Admissions Office. For additional information, please visit the admissions website or contact: admissions@nps.edu
Tuition
For tuition-related questions, contact: tuition@nps.edu
or the program point of contact: walter.smith@nps.edu
Information regarding service obligations is available on the Admissions Office Eligibility/Service Obligation webpage.
Outcomes
The objective of this special program is to provide both naval officers and civilian employees graduates of Naval Nuclear Power School with an advanced education. The overall Program Educational Objectives of the Mechanical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering programs are to support the NPS Mission by producing graduates who have knowledge and technical competence at the advanced level in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering in support of national security.
In order to achieve this goal, the specific objectives are to produce graduates who are expected to achieve the following within a few years of graduation:
1. Have become technical experts who are able to formulate and solve important engineering problems associated with national security in Mechanical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering and related disciplines using the techniques, skills and tools of modern practice, including experiments, and modeling and simulation. These problems may include issues of research, design, development, procurement, operation, maintenance or disposal of engineering components and systems for military applications.
2. Have assumed positions of leadership in the specification of military requirements in the organization and performance of research, design, testing, procurement and operation of technically advanced, militarily effective systems. The graduate must be able to interact with personnel from other services, industry, laboratories, governmental stakeholders, and academic institutions, and be able to understand the role that engineering and technology have in military operations, and in the broader national and global environment.
3. Can communicate advanced technical information effectively in both oral and written form.
Typical Course of Study
Quarter 1
| ME3201 | Applied Fluid Mechanics | | 4 | 1 |
Quarter 2
| ME4225 | Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer | | 3 | 2 |
Quarter 3
| ME3240 | Marine Power and Propulsion | | 4 | 2 |
Quarter 4
| ME4101 | Advanced Thermodynamics | | 4 | 0 |