Navy Program
The Joint Program offers a master’s degree program for U.S. Naval Officers, and more than 85 officers have received this degree dating back to the first award in 1970. The Joint Program recently accepted a U.S. Coast Guard Officer into a master’s degree program, and this option may continue in the future. The U.S. Navy manages the initial application process for Naval Officers prior to consideration by the Joint Program.
Two Joint Committees now consider Naval Officers for admission to the master's degree program: the Joint Committee for Applied Ocean Science and Engineering (JCAOSE) and the Joint Committee for Physical Oceanography (JCPO). The master's degree program is suitable for motivated students with undergraduate degrees in geoscience, physics, chemistry, mathematics, or engineering. The program is designed to be completed in 27 months (two years and a summer). The first year is spent taking courses and beginning research with an advisor. In the second year, the student conducts research and thesis work, culminating in a SM thesis. This must be signed off by the advisor and either the JCPO or JCAOSE chair. Within the PO discipline, it is recommended to give a public presentation of the work.
Navy students are required to conduct research at WHOI for one summer or equivalent amount of time. Those choosing the Mechanical Engineering option generally live near MIT at least for their first year, because most of their classes the first semester/year will likely be taught at MIT. Summer and transient housing for JP students residing in Woods Hole is guaranteed; family housing is subject to availability. A celebratory dinner is hosted each August for the graduating cohort to celebrate their graduation.
An example curricula can be found here.
Please refer to each discipline's handbook for more information (AOSE and PO) or check out their websites (AOSE and PO).
Navy Requirements for Joint Program
As a JP student, you are “Duty Under Instruction (DUIN)" as part of the Navy’s Civilian Institution Program (CIVINS) which is headed by NPS. There are a few requirements and instructions that you should be aware of, especially the requirements of the Education Plan (EP).
Here are some quick links to the necessary instructions and requirements:
Military Housing Options
1. Woods Hole United States Coast Guard Air Station – Cape Cod, MA
Home page: http://www.uscg.mil/d1/airstacapecod/
2. MIT Hanscom Air Force Base – MA
Home page: http://www.hanscom.af.mil/
Housing - https://www.housing.af.mil/Home/Units/Hanscom/
3. Civilian Housing
a. WHOI Housing Website: http://www.whoi.edu/main/communityhousing
b. Contact current Navy students for real estate agent/area recommendations
Contacts
WHOI Education Coordinators:
AOPE: Julien Bonnel - jbonnel@whoi.edu 508-289-3059
PO: Jake Gebbie – ggebbie@whoi.edu 508-289-2801
Current List of JP Administration and Support
For more information, check out the Navy Student Handbook.