536: Engineering Acoustics PhD

At Naval Postgraduate School, tuition is The total tuition for a typical part-time student is $30,000..

This is a PhD program in Engineering Acoustics. It requires coursework in physics and electrical engineering, preliminary and qualifying examinations, and a dissertation research project. The program focuses on areas such as underwater acoustics, sonar systems, and signal processing, with opportunities for research in acoustic remote sensing and sound propagation.

Focus areas include Acoustic remote sensing, Noise interferometry, Nonlinear oscillations and nonlinear waves, Propagation of sound in the ocean, SONAR systems analysis and simulation, Acoustic vector sensors and vector field studies.

Admission is based on GRE scores and previous undergraduate and graduate transcripts. A preliminary examination is administered by the Engineering Acoustics PhD Committee, though GRE scores and this exam may be waived for NPS Master's graduates in Engineering Acoustics. Transferred coursework must have a minimum grade of 'B' within three years prior to admission.

Distance learning (DL) format with potential for shorter residency periods. The program is described as part-time for tuition calculation.

Applied research connects the Naval Postgraduate School's graduate education with practical defense needs. Warfare studies and wargaming form a central area of work, alongside research in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, digitally crewed vessels, and space-related imaging systems. Centers, institutes, and academic groups provide interdisciplinary expertise across the institution's education and research programs.

Based in Monterey, California, NPS offers graduate study through academic departments and provides programs both on campus and through distance learning. NPS Online extends defense-focused education through tailored graduate-level distance learning and on-location opportunities. The school also supports research and education linked to operational challenges, with faculty expertise spanning a broad range of critical disciplines.

International applicants should understand that NPS is designed primarily for eligible U.S. and allied military personnel, Department of Defense civilians, and a limited number of defense contractors. The school also works with international partners. Its degrees are master's and PhD programs focused on defense-related study, and its academic model expects students to connect professional operational experience with graduate education and applied research.