Academics - Department of Defense Management
The Department of Defense Management offers graduate programs and certificates for both resident and non-resident learners. These curriculum offer 21st-century education tailored to deliver relevant content and skills for defense management professionals in an expedited format that meets warrior-scholars where they are.
Degree programs
- Resident students can make the most out of a 12-month course of study that minimizes time spent away from the operational field.
- Non-resident students complete the same rigorous education while continuing to perform at their primary assignment/duty station over the course of 24 months.
- Both paths conclude with a focused final project that delivers tangible outcomes for the defense management community.
Certificates provide modular paths to building knowledge and skills when and where they're needed. They can be added on to degree programs or taken as standalone offerings.
Follow the links below to learn more about the paths you can take to keep your knoweldge and skills in synch with the latest research on defense management and warfighting effectiveness.
Resident Programs
Non-resident Programs
Graduation Rates: 2020-2024
Graduation Rates 2020-2024
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents |
99% |
94% | 98% | 94% | 92% |
Distance learning |
67% | 78% | 78% | 62% | 47%* |
The rates reflect On-Time graduation and Late Graduation numbers.
* This number reflects only On-Time graduation rates due to the time limit. Rate will be updated as data become available.
Final Projects
Students completing a degree program in the Department of Defense Management complete one of the following three options to satisfy degree requirements:
- Innovation capstone
- Students completing an Innovation Capstone Project work as part of a multifunctional faculty/student team to develop solutions proposed by an operational problem “owner.” Teams will create minimum viable products that can range from policy solutions to technology transitioned into current or future programs of record. They will also deliver a report summarizing their research, methodology, and findings.
Learn more about the Innovation Capstone.
- Students completing an Innovation Capstone Project work as part of a multifunctional faculty/student team to develop solutions proposed by an operational problem “owner.” Teams will create minimum viable products that can range from policy solutions to technology transitioned into current or future programs of record. They will also deliver a report summarizing their research, methodology, and findings.
- Research thesis
- Over 6 months, students work with two thesis advisors to produce new knowledge on a known challenge or opportunity in defense management. Students conduct original research, a review of the literature, analysis of findings, and demonstrate the operational impact of their findings in a scholarly thesis. The writing and editing process is supported by the Acquisition Research Program.
- Over 6 months, students work with two thesis advisors to produce new knowledge on a known challenge or opportunity in defense management. Students conduct original research, a review of the literature, analysis of findings, and demonstrate the operational impact of their findings in a scholarly thesis. The writing and editing process is supported by the Acquisition Research Program.
- Case study
- Students conduct a detailed analysis of a real-life case study presenting a challenge for defense management professionals.
Recent Student Research
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