Overview

The Master of Systems Analysis (MSA) program is a distance learning, graduate degree program, designed to meet the needs of the Navy and other services in the Department of Defense (DoD) for technical graduate education in systems analysis as a basis for aiding key decisions on force requirements, weapon systems, and other defense matters. Students acquire foundation skills and hands-on experience in all aspects of analytical studies, which includes the skills to formulate problems, use the analytical process to design study requirements, highlight critical assumptions, recognize strengths and weaknesses of applied analytical methodologies, and evaluate study recommendations.

This program is especially tailored to students whose career pattern will not allow them to get away for a full-time, graduate education program. The entire degree program can be completed at the student's current duty station. This program consists of a blend of approximately 50% web-based, asynchronous online instruction, and 50% synchronous distance learning with scheduled class video meetings. The web-based instruction is paced week-to-week by the instructors, but the students have great flexibility to do their course work at times of their choosing during each week. The synchronous classes meet at a scheduled time, once per week, during the workday, with the agreement of the student's current command.

The MSA program is a 24-month, part-time program. Students take two courses per quarter, for eight quarters. The curriculum consists of four blocks. Two of the blocks comprise stand-alone, web-based sequences. One is a four-course sequence leading to a Certificate in Systems Analysis, the second online sequence is a track approved by the student's service sponsor in a particular defense systems area in which systems analysis may be applied. The other two blocks round out the master's program with additional systems analysis core courses and a sequence of systems analysis case studies and projects that are an approved equivalent of a master's thesis. All students who successfully complete the distance-learning course of study will receive:

• A Certificate in Systems Analysis awarded after completion of the first four quarters.
• A Master of Systems Analysis degree awarded upon completion of the two-year program.
• The approved systems analysis context track for Navy Unrestricted Line Officer students is a four-course sequence in Defense Resources Management (DRM). The student's service sponsor may approve another track based on course availability and needs of the sponsor and student.

Courses Required

Eligibility

The following are eligible for this offering:

• Naval Officers
• Non-Naval Officers
• DON Civilians
• DOD Civilians
• Non-DOD Federal Employees
• International military personnel
• International non-military personnel

Requirements for Entry

• Baccalaureate degree
• GPA of 2.2 or better (GPA waiver may be granted)
• Calculus with C or better (Calculus waiver unlikely; please click here for a calculus review)

Learning Outcomes

1. Systems Analysis: The graduate of this curriculum will understand and be able to apply the basic principles of systems analysis as a basis for aiding key decisions on force requirements, weapon systems, and other defense matters. The following specific Educational Skill Requirements support this high-level objective.
2. Basics: The graduate will possess the mathematical skills required to support graduate study in operational analysis and have the ability to use computers to aid in analysis.
3. Uncertainty Fundamentals: The graduate will be well versed in uncertainty fundamentals for systems analysis, including applications of probability, statistics, data analysis, and modeling uncertainty.
4. Simulation: The graduate will be able to construct and utilize Monte Carlo simulations of combat and other processes that evolve in time and will be able to deal with statistical issues associated with the need for replication.
5. Tactical Analysis: The graduate will be able to apply operations analysis methods to tactical and operational problems, including tactical decision analysis.
6. Cost Analysis: The graduate will understand the methods and practice of cost analysis including various cost models, with particular emphasis in the relationship of effectiveness models and measures to cost, and applications in cost-benefit analysis.
7. Risk-Benefit Analysis: The graduate will be able to apply the principles of probabilistic risk assessment in the context of systems analysis decision problems. This includes a framework for balancing risks and benefits, and analysis under conditions of large financial and technological uncertainties.
8. Optimization: The graduate will be able to formulate and solve a wide variety of optimization problems with particular emphasis on applications in optimum allocation of scarce resources and multi-year capital budgeting.
9. Practice: The graduate will have gained experience in all aspects of analytical studies, including review, critique, and oversight of the work of others, as well as participation in the conduct of an analytical study. Review, critique, and oversight include the ability to highlight critical assumptions, recognize strengths and weaknesses of applied analytical methodologies, and evaluate study recommendations. Practice in the design and conduct of an analytical study includes the skills to formulate problems, use the analytical process to define study requirements, and apply appropriate analytical methodologies. Practice also includes demonstrating proficiency in presenting results both orally and in writing.
10. Systems Analysis Context: The graduate will have completed an approved option sequence in Defense Resource Management, or another approved option sequence in a particular defense systems area in which systems analysis may be applied.

Application Information

Applications are handled by the NPS Admissions Office. Please visit the admissions website or contact them at admissions@nps.edu.

Tuition & Service Obligation

For information regarding tuition, please contact the NPS Tuition office at tuition@nps.edu, or contact this offering’s POC at spilnick@nps.edu.

For information regarding service obligation, please visit the Admissions Office’s Eligibility/Service Obligation page.

Other Information

Navy officers earning the 3211P subspecialty code become eligible to fill 3211P-coded billets (Operations Research Analysis) throughout the Navy and 6511P-coded Requirements Officer billets throughout the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

Seats not filled by active duty Navy and Marine Corps officers will be made available for open enrollment to other uniformed officers, Department of the Navy and other federal government civilians, and defense contractor civilians under tuition sponsorship by their organization or agency. The open enrollment tuition for other service military, government civilians, and defense contractors is $2,600 per course. Students are required to purchase their own textbooks. NPS is required to have a Support Agreement (DoN Form 7600A or DD1144) in place with each government funding sponsor prior to acceptance of funding documents. For questions about funding transfers and tuition due dates, or to inquire if a Support Agreement is already in place, email Tuition@nps.edu.