About The Academy

Since its founding two centuries ago, the Military Academy has accomplished its mission by developing cadets in four critical areas: intellectual, physical, military, and moral-ethical - a four-year process called the "West Point Experience." Specific developmental goals are addressed through several fully coordinated and integrated programs.

A challenging Academic Program that consists of a core of 31 courses provides a balanced education in the arts and sciences. This core curriculum establishes the foundation for elective courses that permit cadets to explore in greater depth a field of study or an optional major. All cadets receive a Bachelor of Science degree, which is designed specifically to meet the intellectual requirements of a commissioned officer in today's Army.

The Physical Program at West Point includes both physical education classes and competitive athletics. Every cadet participates in an intercollegiate, club or intramural level sport each semester. This rigorous physical program contributes to the mental and physical fitness that is required for service as an officer in the Army.

Cadets learn basic military skills, including leadership, through a demanding Military Program which begins on their first day at West Point. Most military training takes place during the summer, with new cadets undergoing Cadet Basic Training - or Beast Barracks - the first year, followed by Cadet Field Training at nearby Camp Buckner the second year. Cadets spend their third and fourth summers serving in active Army units around the world; attending advanced training courses such as airborne, air assault or northern warfare; or training the first and second year cadets as members of the leadership cadre. Military training is combined with military science instruction to provide a solid military foundation for officership.

Moral-ethical development occurs throughout the formal programs as well as a host of activities and experiences available at the Military Academy. These include formal instruction in the important values of the military profession, voluntary religious programs, interaction with staff and faculty role models, and a vigorous guest speaker program. The foundation of the ethical code at West Point is found in the Academy's motto, "Duty, Honor, Country." Cadets also develop ethically by adhering to the Cadet Honor Code, which states "A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do."

Admission is open to all young men and women, and is extremely competitive. Candidates must receive a nomination from a member of Congress or from the Department of the Army. They are then evaluated on their academic, physical and leadership potential. Those candidates who are fully qualified receive appointments to the Academy.

The life of a cadet is demanding, but leisure time does permit recreational activities such as golf, skiing, sailing, and ice-skating, Intramural clubs include a cadet radio station, orienteering, rock climbing, and Big Brother-Big Sister. A wide variety of religious activities are available to cadets from virtually all religious backgrounds.

From the day of its founding on March 16, 1802, West Point has grown in its size and stature, but it remains committed to the task of producing commissioned leaders of character for America's Army. Today, the Academy graduates more than 900 new officers annually, which represents approximately 25 percent of the new lieutenants required by the Army each year. The student body, or Corps of Cadets, numbers 4,000, of whom approximately 15 percent are women. (See West Point History)

A favorite expression at West Point is that "much-of the history we teach was made by people we taught." Great leaders such as Grant and Lee, Pershing and MacArthur, Eisenhower and Patton, Westmoreland and Schwarzkopf are among the more than 50,000 graduates of the Military Academy. Countless others have served society in the fields of medicine, law, business, politics, and science following their careers in uniform. (See Notable Graduates)

The United States Military Academy is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. USMA was first accredited by Middle States in 1949 and has been reaccredited each successive decade. The last Middle States accreditation site visit occurred in 1999. The next site visit is scheduled to occur during AY10. Information on Middle States, their standards for accreditation, and member institutions is available at: http://www.msche.org/.

At the United States Military Academy programs in Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Management, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Systems Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET and the program in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202- 4012 – telephone: (410) 347-7700. Information on ABET, Inc., its criteria for accrediting programs, and a listing of accredited programs are available at:http://www.abet.org/.

Ever mindful of its rich heritage, West Point continues to prepare its graduates to serve as commissioned leaders of character in America's 21st Century Army. Guided by its timeless motto, Duty, Honor, Country, the Military Academy provides the Army and the Nation with Soldier-Scholars throughout its third century of service.

USMA FACTS

Firsties show off their class rings on Ring Weekend

Location
The Academy is located approximately 50 miles north of New York City on the Hudson River. The campus and central post area comprise only a small portion of the nearly 16,000 acre reservation.

Admission
To be considered for admission to West Point, a candidate must be at least 17 but not yet 23 years old on July 1st of the year of admission, be unmarried, and have no legal obligation to support children. Candidates must be qualified academically, medically, and physically, and must receive a nomination from an approved source, such as a member of Congress.

Corps of Cadets
The 4,000 members of the Corps of Cadets represent every state in the U.S. and several foreign countries. About 1,200 New Cadets enter the Academy on Reception Day each year (about July 1st).

Classes
In addition to a core curriculum, balanced in the arts and sciences, and a required five-course engineering sequence, cadets may select from 31 fields of study and 19 optional majors. Classes are small, usually fewer than 18, and the faculty-to-student ratio is 1:8.

Activities
Over 100 extracurricular activities are available, including religious, hobby, and sports clubs.

Graduation
Upon graduation, cadets are awarded Bachelor of Science degrees and commissions in the U.S. Army. They serve on active duty for a minimum of five years. West Point graduates have served our country in a variety of capacities over the last 200 years, as military leaders, engineers, explorers on land and in space, and as leaders in business and government.