College of Distance Education
F.A.Q's
  • What are the time requirements?

Fleet Seminar Program: Three courses are required to fulfill the requirements of the College of Naval Command and Staff Diploma. The normal academic year runs from September through April to complete each course.

Web-enabled Correspondence Program: Command & Staff (three courses): There are four modules in the Strategy & Policy course, two modules in the National Security Decision Making course, and six blocks in the Joint Maritime Operations course. It takes approximately 18 months to complete all requirements for this diploma with JPME Phase I certification.

  • Do I have to buy the books?

Not for the core courses. The books are issued to each student to be returned at the completion of the course or module. Students can purchase books through the Naval War College Book Store. For some elective courses, students will be required to purchase books.

  • Can I take the course underway?

No. The Web-Enabled Courses require web connectivity.

  • Do I get a Master's Degree?

The Naval War College has been accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges since 1 March 1984. Beginning in the fall of 2001, the Masters Degree Accreditation was extended to the fleet seminars in the National Capital Region (includes fleet seminars at USNA, Fort Meade, Dahlgren, Patuxent River plus all DC locations), Newport, Monterey, Norfolk, San Diego and Pearl Harbor. were certified. Assessment of additional sites is scheduled for the 2002-2003 academic year. Students at all certified sites will be able to earn a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies degree from the Naval War College. See the Nonresident Graduate Degree Program Guide.

Students taking ANY of the three core courses (S&P, JMO, or NSDM) by Correspondence (Web-enabled or CD-based) ARE NOT ELIGIBLE for the NWC masters degree. Our correspondence programs are tightly focused on the learning objectives specified in the OPMEP for JPME Phase I credit—and thus omit much of the "executive education" content required for the masters.

  • Can I transfer credits to a civilian institution?

A number of students each year apply their NWC course-work toward a Masters Degree at a civilian institution. Since the courses in the NWC Nonresident Program have been accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), many colleges and universities will accept transfer credit for successful completion of each core course.

  • Can I transfer between the Seminar Program and CD-Based or Web Program?

Yes. Allowance will be made for students to complete our core courses via the web or cd-rom if they are unable to take all three Fleet seminar courses.  However, this will preclude them from the Graduate Degree Program.