This website will be updated as information becomes available.
Please check back for updates.

History of the Online Master's Program (OLMP)

In April 2006, the Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff authorized Air University to design, build and launch an online master's degree program. Launched in 2007, this program provides Air Force majors and civilian equivalents an educational opportunity to meet the needs of our service while also accommodating today's high operations tempo. The OLMP has a proven track record, garnering praise from students and instructors alike. Additionally, it has been reviewed and approved by both regional and joint accreditation teams.

In August 2009, the Air Force decided to leverage the success of the existing OLMP to offer more tailored professional education opportunities and expand those opportunities to mid-level captains under a new “concentration” construct. Within this construct, seven of the existing OLMP courses (21 credit hours) will become the core curriculum required of all students. For captains enrolled in the expanded program, other 12 credit-hour concentrations, which examine specific educational/professional areas in more depth, are being developed. The first new concentration to be implemented, the “leadership concentration,” includes four leadership courses specifically designed to meet the developmental needs of captains.

OLMP Concentrations

Joint Warfare Concentration (Open to majors, major-selects and civilian equivalents)

Previously referred to as the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) OLMP, this concentration mirrors the ACSC resident program's learning outcomes through asynchronous, online interaction between faculty and students. The academic program consists of 11 eight-week courses (7 core courses, and 4 concentration courses) for a total of 33 semester hour’s credit. Students graduating from the joint warfare concentration will receive intermediate level PME (non-resident) and JPME Phase 1 credit along with the master’s degree.

Courses

NOTE: This is a separate program from ACSC's traditional distance learning, non-master's program (NMP - previously called the correspondence course), and not an addendum to it. Course credits will not be transferred from the NMP to the OLMP. Officers may elect to take whichever program meets their particular needs best, based on eligibility requirements.

Benefits

JPME Credit - Graduates receive JPME Phase I credit. Phase I emphasizes the fundamentals of joint force organization, planning, and operations. It also serves as the foundation for follow-on study at the Phase II level.

IDE Credit - Graduates may earn Air Force Intermediate Developmental Education (IDE) credit upon successful completion of this program.

Accredited Master's Degree - Air University (AU) is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Thus, all graduates with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better earn an accredited Master's in Military Operational Art and Science degree (the same degree awarded to ACSC's resident students) and will receive a diploma.

Eligibility

Military - O-4 selects and 0-4s on active duty, non-extended active duty, Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard. Individuals with either a Master's Degree or who have completed IDE, to include ACSC, may apply. However, individuals that have completed both a Master's Degree and IDE are not eligible.

Civilian - Federal civil service employees with at least 2 years civil service and a bachelor's degree, and are in the grade of GS-12 or NSPS pay band 2.

Application Instructions

If you meet the eligibility criteria and wish to apply, follow the steps below:

Military - Prior to applying for the OLMP, you need to ensure your military records accurately reflect your current educational level. Refer to the Air Force Personnel Center Website, Education and Training link, to do so. You must confirm that the education level data accurately reflects all college degrees you have earned. If it does not, contact AFIT/RRC at DSN 785-6234 and select option 6 to have this information updated.

You also need to be sure that you can log into the AF Portal, either with a user ID and password or your CAC.

Steps to Apply

• Got to the AU Portal (Note: you will be directed to the Air Force Portal for authentication if not already logged in)
• Create a new account by clicking under the red bar.
• Select the "Distance Learning" link at the left side of the web page and then choose, "Online Master’s Degree Program (OLMP)", then chose “Apply.”
• Under “Step 1- Select  a Curriculum”, select the “OLMP - Joint Warfare Concentration”, then select “Check Eligibility.”
• Step 2, click “Next” and fill out any required missing information and click “Save.”
• Step 3, click “Submit Application.”
• Shortly after submitting your application, you will receive an E-mail confirming receipt of your application

Civilians - Scan and E-mail a completed AF Form 4059 to the AFPC/DPIF Leadership Development group box (can be found in the global) no later than the date identified in the current ACSC Nomination Call (contact your local civilian personnel office for this information).

Do not apply directly to ACSC. If selected for the program, you will be notified by AFPC/DPIFA with instructions for applying with the school. If you have any questions, please contact AFPC/DPIFA at DSN 665-2524 (210-565-2524) or contact your functional Career Field Team (CFT).

Civilian Program Quotas - Anticipate 150 Air Force civilian quotas per year.

We prefer you contact us by E-mail, but a telephone call is also fine for simple and quick questions. Please use the E-mail addresses or telephone numbers listed below:

Personnel are available to answer the phones from 0730 - 1630 Central Time, Monday - Friday.

Personnel are available to answer the phones from 0700 - 1630 Central Time, Monday - Friday. Most phone requests for service will require an E-mail confirmation for tracking and recording purposes.

Please use phone option numbers above to direct your call to the type of support desired. The following numbers connect to our call management system:

Fax Numbers

Should you need to fax anything to us, please include a fax coversheet with details of the faxed communications and contact information and send to: :

Leadership Concentration (open to eligible captains)

NOTICE: The schedule of application submission for the leadership concentration is:
4 Jan 2010 to 18 Jan 2010 for Spring B 2010 Term
1 Feb 2010 to 15 Feb 2010 for Summer A 2010 Term

The new leadership concentration is specifically designed to prepare captains for the leadership responsibilities they will face as they progress through their careers in the USAF. The academic program structure remains unchanged: 11 courses with 7 core courses, and 4 concentration courses for a total of 33 semester hour’s credit. Students graduating from the leadership concentration will not receive IDE or Joint PME credit, but will receive a Master of Military Operational Art and Science degree.

Courses

Benefits

Accredited Master's Degree - AU is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Thus, all graduates with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better earn an accredited Master of Military Operational Art and Science degree and will receive a diploma.

Eligibility

Military - Active Duty USAF O-3s who:

• Have Total Active Federal Commission Service between 6 to 7 yrs (CY 2002 and CY 2003)
• Completed SOS
• Do not have a master’s degree

Civilian - At this time civilians are not eligible for this program.

Application Instructions

Captains will have an opportunity to apply for admission each eight-week term. Due to resource and programmatic constraints, space is limited and not all who apply may get selected. Application windows for the OLMP Leadership Concentration are: 4 Jan 2010 to 18 Jan 2010  for Spring B 2010 Term and 1 Feb 2010 to 15 Feb 2010 for Summer A 2010 Term. Eligible students can apply for admission through the AU portal (see below). Students will be notified within 7 days after the application window closes if they are selected.  Spring B 2010 Classes begin 1 Mar 2010 and Summer A 2010 classes begin on 3 May 2010.

More information on the application process will be provided as it becomes available. Please check back for updates.

If you meet the eligibility criteria and wish to apply, follow the steps below:

Steps to Apply

• Go to the AU Portal (Note: you will be directed to the Air Force Portal for authentication if not already logged in).
• Create a new account by clicking under the red bar.
• Select the "Distance Learning" link at the left side of the web page and then choose, "Online Master’s Degree Program (OLMP)",  then chose “Apply.”
• Under “Step 1 - Select  a Curriculum”, select the “OLMP - Leadership Concentration” and the application form will appear.
• Step 2, click “Next” and fill out any required missing information and click “Save.”
• Step 3, click “Submit Application.”
• Shortly after submitting your application, you will receive an E-mail confirming receipt of your application

Course Materials

The majority of course material is available online at no charge to the student.  However, some courses may require students to purchase books from public sources at their own expense. They are not available for purchase directly from AU. 

System Requirements

• organize and manage files and folders in the operating system of choice
• receive and submit electronic course materials
• use a word-processing program effectively
• use a spreadsheet program for grade book purposes effectively
• send and receive e-mail (including attachments)
• download and execute files from the Internet

Technical Requirements
Blackboard ® (Bb) Learning Management System is the platform ACSC employs to host its OLMP.  The technical requirements to access the Bb system using an Apple® or Microsoft Windows®-based PC are as follows: 

Browsers needed for Blackboard 8.0

Microsoft® Internet Explorer® Web Browsers

Mozilla® Firefox and Netscape® Navigator Web Browsers

Apple® Safari® Web Browsers

The web browser and associated plug-ins can be downloaded from the Internet at no cost.  Links are provided in the Student Orientation Course.

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