Operational Oceanography
Program Officer
CDR Shelley Caplan
Spanagel Hall, Room 304
(831) 656-2045, DSN 756-2045
shelley.caplan@nps.edu
Academic Associate
James MacMahan, Ph.D. (Oceanography)
Spanagel Hall, Room 327C
(831) 656-2379, DSN 756-2379
jacolosi@nps.edu
Brief Overview
This flexible oceanography program involves approximately 100 quarter-hours of classroom lectures, supplemented by an additional 20 quarter-hours of laboratory exercises. This program is designed to provide the student with:
- A thorough understanding of the principles governing the physical and dynamic properties of the oceans.
- An understanding of the analysis and prediction of oceanic and atmospheric parameters and conditions using direct and remote sensing observational techniques, statistical analyses, and numerical models.
- An understanding of the effects of oceanic and atmospheric properties and conditions on weapon, sensor, and platform performance, while conducting and supporting naval warfare with particular emphasis on ocean acoustics.
- An educationally significant oceanographic experience at sea.
- An oceanographic research experience germane to naval warfare culminating in a thesis of professional quality.
- A knowledge of Joint Maritime Strategic Planning.
- Thesis with multi-authors is not allowed.
This program is designed to allow the student to meet all of the requirements for Navy PME (as established by the Chief of Naval Operations) and for Joint PME (as established by the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff) for Intermediate Level Professional Military Education.
The Operational Oceanography program has a physical oceanography and ocean acoustics base. It is a very flexible program allowing students to examine oceanographic topics relevant to their warfare specialization areas, such as antisubmarine warfare, amphibious warfare, mine warfare, anti-air warfare, strike warfare and special warfare. This program is open to Information Dominance Corps (18xx) Unrestricted Line Officers (1110, 1120, 1310, 1320), officers from other services, International Officers and DoD civilians.
Requirements for Entry
A baccalaureate degree in the physical sciences, mathematics or engineering is desirable. Completion of mathematics through differential and integral calculus and one year of calculus-based college physics are required. An APC of 323 is required for direct entry. A refresher quarter is available for candidates who do not meet all admission requirements for direct entry and is offered in the Spring or Fall quarter prior to enrollment.
Convenes
Operational Oceanography is an eight-quarter course of study with entry dates in January and July. If further information is needed, contact the Academic Associate or the Program Officer for this program.
Program Length
24 months
Subspecialty
Completion of this program qualifies an officer as an Operational Oceanography Subspecialist with a subspecialty code of 6402P. The program sponsor is the Oceanographer of the Navy (CNO N2/N6E).
Typical Subspecialty Jobs
CV ASW Module
ASW Operations Center
Navy Laboratories
Office of Naval Research
Naval Academy Instructor
NIMA
Naval Oceanographic Office
Typical Course of Study - Fall Start
Quarter 1
| MA1115 | Multi Variable Calculus | | 4 | 0 |
| MA1116 | Vector Calculus | | 3 | 0 |
| MA2121 | Differential Equations | | 4 | 0 |
| OC3230 | Descriptive Physical Oceanography | | 3 | 1 |
Quarter 2
| MA3132 | Partial Differential Equations and Integral Transforms | | 4 | 0 |
| | | | |
| MR2020 | Computer Computations in Air-Ocean Sciences | | 2 | 2 |
| -or- | | | |
| OC2020 | Computer Computations in Air-Ocean Sciences | | 2 | 2 |
| | | | |
| NW3230 | Strategy and War | | 4 | 2 |
| | | | |
| MR3140 | Probability and Statistics for Air-Ocean Science | | 3 | 2 |
| -or- | | | |
| OC3140 | Probability and Statistics for Air-Ocean Science | | 3 | 2 |
Quarter 3
| OC3150 | Analysis of Air Ocean Time Series | | 3 | 2 |
| | | | |
| MR3321 | Air-Ocean Fluid Dynamics | | 4 | 0 |
| -or- | | | |
| OC3321 | Air-Ocean Fluid Dynamics | | 4 | 0 |
| | | | |
| NW3275 | Joint Maritime Operations - part 1 | | 4 | 0 |
| OC3260 | Fundamentals of Ocean Acoustics | | 4 | 1 |
Quarter 4
Quarter 5
| OC4267 | Ocean Acoustic Variability and Uncertainty | | 4 | 0 |
| | | | |
| MR4323 | Air and Ocean Numerical Prediction Systems | | 4 | 2 |
| -or- | | | |
| OC4323 | Air and Ocean Numerical Prediction Systems | | 4 | 2 |
| | | | |
| OC4211 | Ocean Dynamics II | | 4 | 0 |
| OC4900 | Directed Study in Oceanography | | V | 0 |
Quarter 6
| OC4270 | Tactical Oceanography | | 3 | 4 |
| OC3212 | Polar Meteorology/Oceanography | | 4 | 0 |
| OC4800 | Advanced Courses in Oceanography | | V | 0 |
| OC0810 | Oceanography Thesis Research | | 0 | 8 |
Quarter 7
| OC4325 | METOC for Warfighter Decision Making | | 3 | 2 |
| OC4800 | Advanced Courses in Oceanography | | V | 0 |
| OC0810 | Oceanography Thesis Research | | 0 | 8 |
| OC0810 | Oceanography Thesis Research | | 0 | 8 |
Quarter
| NW3285 | Theater Security Decision Making | | 4 | 0 |
| OC0810 | Oceanography Thesis Research | | 0 | 8 |
| OC0810 | Oceanography Thesis Research | | 0 | 8 |
| OC0999 | Thesis Seminars | | 2 | 0 |
Typical Course of Study - Spring Start
Quarter 1
| MA1115 | Multi Variable Calculus | | 4 | 0 |
| MA1116 | Vector Calculus | | 3 | 0 |
| MA2121 | Differential Equations | | 4 | 0 |
| OC3230 | Descriptive Physical Oceanography | | 3 | 1 |
Quarter 2
| MA3132 | Partial Differential Equations and Integral Transforms | | 4 | 0 |
| | | | |
| MR2020 | Computer Computations in Air-Ocean Sciences | | 2 | 2 |
| -or- | | | |
| OC2020 | Computer Computations in Air-Ocean Sciences | | 2 | 2 |
| | | | |
| NW3230 | Strategy and War | | 4 | 2 |
| | | | |
| MR3140 | Probability and Statistics for Air-Ocean Science | | 3 | 2 |
| -or- | | | |
| OC3140 | Probability and Statistics for Air-Ocean Science | | 3 | 2 |
Quarter 3
| OC3150 | Analysis of Air Ocean Time Series | | 3 | 2 |
| | | | |
| MR3321 | Air-Ocean Fluid Dynamics | | 4 | 0 |
| -or- | | | |
| OC3321 | Air-Ocean Fluid Dynamics | | 4 | 0 |
| | | | |
| NW3275 | Joint Maritime Operations - part 1 | | 4 | 0 |
| OC3260 | Fundamentals of Ocean Acoustics | | 4 | 1 |
Quarter 4
Quarter 5
| OC4325 | METOC for Warfighter Decision Making | | 3 | 2 |
| OC4800 | Advanced Courses in Oceanography | | V | 0 |
| OC4211 | Ocean Dynamics II | | 4 | 0 |
| OC4900 | Directed Study in Oceanography | | V | 0 |
Quarter 6
Quarter 7
| OC4267 | Ocean Acoustic Variability and Uncertainty | | 4 | 0 |
| | | | |
| MR4323 | Air and Ocean Numerical Prediction Systems | | 4 | 2 |
| -or- | | | |
| OC4323 | Air and Ocean Numerical Prediction Systems | | 4 | 2 |
| | | | |
| OC0810 | Oceanography Thesis Research | | 0 | 8 |
| OC0810 | Oceanography Thesis Research | | 0 | 8 |
Quarter 8
| NW3285 | Theater Security Decision Making | | 4 | 0 |
| OC0810 | Oceanography Thesis Research | | 0 | 8 |
| OC0810 | Oceanography Thesis Research | | 0 | 8 |
| OC0999 | Thesis Seminars | | 2 | 0 |
Educational Skill Requirements (ESR)
Operational Oceanography Program
Subspecialty Code: 6402P
- Weapon and Sensor Performance: The officer must have an understanding of the effects of open-ocean and near-shore ocean on weapons, sensors, and platform performance. The officer must have the ability to translate this knowledge into warfighter decision recommendations, taking into account available courses of action, assessments of vulnerability, uncertainty, and risk.
- Integration of Oceanic Parameters: The officer must be able to observe, assimilate, analyze, and predict oceanic and littoral water conditions using direct and remote sensing observation techniques, statistical analysis, and numerical models. The officer will have a sound understanding of polar, mid-latitude oceanographic dynamics, including the impact of regional conditions on military operations and systems.
- Numerical Processing: The officer will have a thorough understanding of numerical modeling/processing as it applies to the physics and dynamics of the ocean. This understanding should include a broad understanding of the modeling process itself to include strengths, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities; the state of current models and techniques; and appropriate applications of deterministic and stochastic techniques.
- Ocean Problem Solving: The officer must develop critical thinking skills and conduct independent analyses to solve environmentally challenging problems in the field of Physical Oceanography as it applies to Naval/Joint operations, using modern scientific research techniques, field experience, tools, and equipment.
- Other NPS Requirements: The officer must successfully complete all NPS requirements for the Master's Degree in Physical Oceanography.