6.6.2 Validation

(Approved November 16, 1994)(Amended January 25, 2012)(Amended June 12, 2024)

A student with the appropriate background may validate a course that is required for his/her curriculum. Validation will allow the student to omit that course from the program of study. However, no credit will be granted for a course that has been validated. The basic purpose of course validation is to make optimal use of the student's time at the Naval Postgraduate School. Every validation must be justified by documented evidence of prior work in the area of the course to be validated.

The validation of a course must be approved by the Chair or their designee of the academic unit offering the course. Specific criteria for validation (e.g., review of the student's transcripts or examination on the material of the course) are left to the discretion of the cognizant academic unit Chair or their designee.

After validating one or more courses, it is permissible for a student to complete his or her program in less than the maximum time allowed, to include additional elective courses in the program, or to devote additional time to thesis research with the concurrence of the Academic Associate and Program Officer.