Graduate programs in physical, engineering, and underwater acoustics at the Naval Postgraduate School

The Departments of Physics and of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School offer graduate programs in acoustics leading to MS and PhD degrees in applied physics and engineering acoustics. Engineering acoustics degrees can be completed in either traditional or distance learning modes. The departments also offer stand-alone academic certificate programs in fundamentals of engineering acoustics, underwater acoustics, and sonar system applications, with a set of three certificates leading to a MS degree in engineering acoustics. MS and PhD programs are interdisciplinary, with courses and laboratory work drawn principally from the fields of physics and electrical engineering. Subjects covered include waves and oscillations; fundamentals of physical and structural acoustics; the generation, propagation, and reception of sound in the ocean; civilian and military applications of sonar systems; and acoustic signal processing. Topics of recent theses and dissertations include development and field testing of novel sensors for atmospheric and ocean acoustics, modeling and measurements of ambient noise and sound propagation in the ocean, sound scattering in underwater waveguides, acoustic vector sensors and vector field properties, acoustic communications, noise interferometry, time reversal in acoustics, geo-acoustic inversion, acoustic remote sensing of the ocean, and acoustics of autonomous underwater and aerial vehicles.