Defense & Strategic Studies

Major

Defense and strategic studies gives cadets the skills to succeed anywhere. Graduates can incorporate elements of national power, civil-military relations, strategic decision-making, and theories of international relations to analyze U.S. and foreign defense strategies.

Offered by the Department of Military Instruction.

Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS) is an interdisciplinary major focused on understanding conflict, war, security, and defense by emphasizing a wide array of methodological approaches from the fields of military science, political science, international relations, economics, history, anthropology, and sociology to frame and analyze national and international security issues.

The Defense and Strategic Studies program is committed to teaching the next generation of future leaders in the Profession of Arms and as defense intellectuals in the civil sector. DSS majors are uniquely educated in the nuances of security and strategy through a rigorous interdisciplinary lens that delves deep into central issues of strategy, innovation, history, culture, the domains of war, and the elements of national power. Our cadets not only grasp the intricacies of national power and strategic decision-making on national and international scales, but they learn to apply timely knowledge to frame complex issues, develop viable and innovative solutions, and communicate effectively to diverse audiences.

Recognizing that strategy is pivotal in any competitive environment, from businesses to militaries, this program instills the analytical mindset and methodologies necessary to develop, execute, and assess impactful strategies. By exploring the moral intricacies of conflict, the dynamics of diverse cultures, and the contemporary innovations shaping defense, our cadets are prepared to lead across the spectrum of global challenges. Graduates emerge as warrior scholars, poised to excel in the Army and beyond, equipped with enhanced problem-solving, communication, and decision-making capabilities for the artful application of security and strategy.

This major offers an honors track.

Vision

DSS gives Cadets the skills to succeed anywhere. Graduates can incorporate elements of national power, civil-military relations, strategic decision-making, and theories of international relations to analyze U.S. and foreign defense strategies. Graduates are well-versed in the geographic security areas of interest to the Nation such as Africa, the South China Sea, Eastern Europe, the Arctic, the Middle East, and South America.

West Point Graduate Scholarship Program

Read an Army Futures Command Strategist’s MWI articles on preparing leaders for future war.

Read more about Defense and Strategic Studies in the West Point Association of Graduates magazine

Read the AY24-25 DSS Newsletter

Learn more about the DMI faculty and staff.

Contact the Program Director, LTC Jessica Caddell

To learn more about this area of study, visit the Department of Military Instruction.

Core Courses

Complementary Support Courses

Choose 3 from a list of 11 interdisciplinary courses from various academic departments at USMA. Course topics include cyber policy, law, applied statistics, history, anthropology, military geography, among others. You can view a full list of CSCs here.

DSS Electives

Choose 3 from a list of 12 DSS Specific Electives, including Military Innovation, Strategic and Persuasive Communication, Special Operations Theory and Practice, Irregular Warfare Theory and Practice, Domains of War, among others.

Electives

Choose 2 from a list of 40+ courses from nearly every academic departments at USMA.

Integrative Experience for the Major

Option 1: DS496 - Strategic Studies Thesis
Option 2: DS497 - Strategic Studies Capstone
Option 3: DS498 - Leadership in Future War

Degree Types:

Option 1: DSS
Option 2: DSS with Thesis
Option 3: DSS Honors with Thesis

To learn more, view the full Defense and Strategic Studies Major Curriculum.

Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD) internships provide cadets with experiential learning opportunities in various fields, implementing concepts from their education in defense and strategic studies. See other scholarship opportunities for DSS majors. Learn about Projects Day.

Honor Societies:
Golden Key - International Honour Society
Phi Kappa Phi - Oldest and Largest Collegiate Honor Society

To learn more about enrichment for this area of study, visit the Department of Military Instruction, the Modern War Institute, or the West Point Simulation Center.

Institutional Accreditation (Middle States Commission on Higher Education - MSCHE) - USMA was first accredited by MSCHE in 1949 and has been reaccredited each successive decade.

Middle States accreditation was reaffirmed in 2021 (Copy of current statement of accreditation).

The next program accreditation visit is scheduled in 2027-2028.