MAE Distance Learning Programs

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) offers a wide range of distance learning (DL) opportunities, including Master’s degrees, certificates and individual courses. This page will describe the three (3) special programs we have created to leverage the U.S. Navy’s three most advanced technical education and training schools,  

• Bettis Engineering Reactor School (BRES)
• Navy Nuclear Power School (NNPS)
• Navy Test Pilot School (N-TPS)  

If you are a graduate of one of these schools then MAE has a custom tailored master’s degree program that maximally utilizes your experience in the school you attended, and creates a program for completing an advanced degree in a minimum time. 
MAE also offers degree programs, certificates, and individual courses to students who are not graduates of one of these schools. If you are in any branch of uniformed service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, NOAA, etc.), are a DoD Civilian, or are an employee of a DoD Contractor (Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, General Dynamics, Raytheon, etc.) you are eligible to attend NPS or to enroll in one of our DL Programs.              

For more information, please see our DL Programs flyer, or select from the following programs below.

571: Naval Reactors - Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Program

The objective of this special program is to provide both naval officers and civilian employees of Naval Reactors (NR), an advanced education leading to a Master of Science in Engineering Science with major in either Mechanical or Electrical Engineering. This is a non-thesis program for individuals who work as engineers and who wish to pursue a master's degree via Distance Learning. The program sponsor is NAVSEA and the subject matter expert is SEA-08.

572: Distance Learning Program in Mechanical Engineering for Nuclear Trained Officers

This special program provides the opportunity for nuclear trained naval officers (those who have successfully completed Naval Nuclear Power School, Officers Course) to obtain a Master of Science in Engineering Science with a major in Mechanical Engineering - MSES(ME), while on sea or shore duty. This is a non-thesis program, but a capstone research or design project is required. This is a distance learning program, with content primarily offered via asynchronous course packages, in which pre-recorded lectures are provided to students on DVDs, and the student communicates directly with the professor. Synchronous course options are occasionally offered via video teleconference (VTC) facilities when available.

The MSES-ME program is fully funded, off-duty postgraduate education.

613: U.S. Naval Test Pilot School/Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program

The objective of this special program is to provide an opportunity for graduates of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS), who are trained in aircraft, rotorcraft, and airborne systems flight test, to obtain a Master of Science in Engineering Science with a major in Aerospace Engineering – MSES(AE). This is a distance learning program building upon the USNTPS academic and flight test instruction, with the student's USNTPS final flight test project and report serving in lieu of a thesis, and will provide advanced aerospace engineering knowledge to the test pilot and flight test engineer. NPS instruction will include advanced aerodynamics, aircraft structures, stability and control, and propulsion, and may also include systems engineering, autonomous vehicles, and air vehicle survivability. Instruction in flight system testing from the USNTPS as well as advanced graduate education in aerospace engineering topics from the NPS will qualify graduates of this program to participate in all technical aspects of naval air weapon systems acquisition.

223: Robotics Engineering Certificate

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) offers the Graduate Certificate Program in Robotics Engineering. This highly-relevant, four-course online program helps DoD professionals advance their careers and become leaders in the emerging fields of unmanned vehicles (UxVs), robotics, and autonomous systems.