Curriculum
Important Announcement
As a result of fiscal year 2008 budget cuts, APPEL has had to cancel most of our courses for the remainder of this fiscal year. We are hoping we’ll be able to meet the needs of our customers at the centers and offer a full curriculum in fiscal year 2009. Some centers are utilizing their own funding to offer APPEL courses this year. APPEL fully supports this but in order to maintain proper records and standardization of curriculum it is important that each training center make their arrangements through our prime contractor, ASRC. If you want to fund and schedule an APPEL course please contact, Katherine Thomas.
Our Curriculum
Curriculum lies at the heart of The Academy’s approach to building program/project and engineering capability at NASA. The courses are designed using project management and systems engineering competency models and focus on what the participants will need to enhance their own capabilities, knowledge and skills. We utilize best practices and NASA subject matter experts to ensure the best training available is provided to NASA’s practitioners. In addition, an integral component of the courses is pre- and post-assessments, which are designed to help practitioners identify their own strengths, the depth of their knowledge, any knowledge gaps, and knowledge gain. APPEL offers a curriculum with a world-class reputation that develops both technical skills and the leadership ability necessary to respond with speed and vision to a constantly changing landscape.
The curriculum consists of a core curriculum and a wide array of in-depth courses. The courses combine with outside-the-classroom development experiences to reinforce learning and provide an additional means of obtaining requisite skills.
NASA APPEL is a Registered Education Provider of the Project Management Institute (PMI), the premier comprehensive continuing education program related to the field of project management. This means APPEL is approved to offer project management training, which counts towards the requirements for PMI’s Continuing Certification Requirements Program. Participants who attend registered PMI approved APPEL courses can earn Professional Development Units (PDU’s).
+ Click here to see a list of APPEL’s PMI registered
courses and the number of assigned PDUs.
Core Curriculum
The core curriculum provides fundamental knowledge for NASA’s technical workforce. The completion of the core courses in a logical sequence is necessary to ensure that the appropriate level of knowledge is available for performance at a particular time in an individual's career and that later courses build on knowledge gained from earlier courses. Core courses are delivered at the Wallops Flight Facility and at the Centers. Dates and locations can be found on the Agency Master Schedule.
Foundations of Aerospace at NASA
"The APPEL Foundations course equipped me with a top-level understanding of flight and the many aspects of aeronautics. I am now more educated in aeronautics and feel comfortable discussing the subject."
The Foundations of Aerospace at NASA course is designed for new hires, both technical and non-technical, within their first year of employment at NASA or for those employees that began work at NASA within the last five years. The overall objective of this two-week Foundations curriculum is to immerse new NASA hires into the meaning of working at NASA and to make them aware of the principles of technical excellence. The two weeks focuses on providing participants with the big picture overview of NASA, its Governance model and operations, communication and team participation skills, and basic concepts of aeronautics and astronautics.
Project Management and Systems Engineering
The PM&SE course is designed for NASA project practitioners and systems engineers prior to or in the first year of entry into project, systems engineering or functional supervisory positions. This three-week course is intended to enhance proficiency in applying project management and systems engineering processes/practices over the project life cycle. Like the Foundations course, this course is taken in two segments, with the first two weeks focusing on defining and implementing system projects and the third week providing insight on how to manage and lead project and technical teams.
Advanced Project Management and Advanced Systems Engineering
The APM&ASE course is designed for technical professionals who have had prior experience in projects or systems at a supervisory level. This 4-day course will focus on critical elements of leading and managing a project life cycle in a complex and dynamic environment. This includes the formulation and implementation of integrated systems and organization architectures, acquisition strategy within an environment of multiple and complex interfaces, extensive review and oversight, and approaches to identify and mitigate technical and other risks such as changing requirements and unanticipated budget reductions.
Executive
The Executive course is designed to develop a cadre of highly qualified project leaders and to position them for future project management and engineering leadership roles. This course provides the opportunity for participants to assess past high visibility executive decisions to help build their own leadership and strategic thinking skills. Participants for this three-day course must be invited and approved by the Office of the Chief Engineer.
In-depth Courses
"Thanks to APPEL I now know how to develop system models/use case scenarios and system requirements from our stakeholders (customers) need."
APPEL sponsors in-depth courses in both program/project management and systems engineering. These courses are made available to the NASA Field Centers and teams as they communicate their needs to APPEL. Participants are encouraged to augment their development by participating in these in-depth course offerings and other development offerings as shown in the Agency Training Master Schedule. If you are interested in an elective course, contact your Center Training Office responsible for the APPEL curriculum.
Relationship of the Core Curriculum to the In-depth Courses
The core curriculum is intended to develop and enhance the essential skills and knowledge necessary to perform successfully in NASA’s project environment. It has been designed to develop these knowledge and skills using a tactical approach that provides the appropriate level of training commensurate with an individual’s professional development. The APPEL in-depth courses are comprised of an extensive array of courses in various project management and systems engineering topics that provide more in-depth skills and knowledge in various specialized areas. These in-depth courses can augment the knowledge and skills gained in the core curriculum and further support the development of NASA employees. You should discuss with your manager how you can use both components of the APPEL PM&SE program to enhance your development.
Continuous Improvement
All elements of the Core Curriculum and In-depth Courses will be assessed for value-added changes. APPEL has established a comprehensive evaluation system to continuously assess the quality of its programs. The process engages participants, peers, instructors, and subject matter experts to provide feedback and a Configuration Control Board to ensure that the suggested improvements are assessed and implemented. Evaluating the quality and results of this curriculum and providing for its continuous improvement is a high priority of the APPEL team.
