US Code

Public Law 119-83 (04/13/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 7421

Degree granting authority for United States Army War College

(a)

Authority .—

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Army, the Commandant of the United States Army War College may, upon the recommendation of the faculty and dean of the college, confer appropriate degrees upon graduates who meet the degree requirements.
(b)

Limitation .—

A degree may not be conferred under this section unless—
(1)
the Secretary of Education has recommended approval of the degree in accordance with the Federal Policy Governing Granting of Academic Degrees by Federal Agencies; and
(2)
the United States Army War College is accredited by the appropriate civilian academic accrediting agency or organization to award the degree, as determined by the Secretary of Education.
(c)

Congressional Notification Requirements .—

(1)
When seeking to establish degree granting authority under this section, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives—
(A)
a copy of the self assessment questionnaire required by the Federal Policy Governing Granting of Academic Degrees by Federal Agencies, at the time the assessment is submitted to the Department of Education’s National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity; and
(B)
the subsequent recommendations and rationale of the Secretary of Education regarding the establishment of the degree granting authority.
(2)
Upon any modification or redesignation of existing degree granting authority, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing the rationale for the proposed modification or redesignation and any subsequent recommendation of the Secretary of Education on the proposed modification or redesignation.
(3)
The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing an explanation of any action by the appropriate academic accrediting agency or organization not to accredit the United States Army War College to award any new or existing degree.

Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title V, § 542(a)113 Stat. 607 Pub. L. 110–417122 Stat. 4459 Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 808(c)(1)132 Stat. 1839 (Added , , , § 4321; amended , [div. A], title V, § 543(d)(1), , ; renumbered § 7421, , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

section 8721 of this titleA prior section 7421 was renumbered .

Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041 70A Stat. 459 Pub. L. 94–258, title II, § 201(7)90 Stat. 309 Pub. L. 96–513, title V, § 513(32)(A)94 Stat. 2933 Pub. L. 98–525, title XIV, § 1405(52)98 Stat. 2625 Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, § 1502(a)(2)110 Stat. 502 Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, § 1067(1)113 Stat. 774 Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [div. C, title XXXIV, § 3402(a)]114 Stat. 1654 Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [div. C, title XXXIV, § 3402(c)]114 Stat. 1654 A prior section 7426, acts , ; , , ; , (B), , ; , , ; , , ; , , , related to cooperative or unit plans affecting Naval Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1, prior to repeal by , , , 1654A–484. , , , 1654A–484, provided that the repeal of section 7426 would not affect the validity of contracts in effect under that section on the day before , and that no such contracts could be extended or renewed on or after .

Prior sections 7427 to 7430 were renumbered sections 8727 to 8730 of this title, respectively.

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–232section 4321 of this title2018— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 110–4172008— amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Army, the Commandant of the United States Army War College, upon the recommendation of the faculty and dean of the college, may confer the degree of master of strategic studies upon graduates of the college who have fulfilled the requirements for that degree.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–232section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232section 3001 of this titleAmendment by effective , with provision for the coordination of amendments and special rule for certain redesignations, see , set out as a note preceding .

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–417section 543(j) of Pub. L. 110–417section 2163 of this titleAmendment by applicable to any degree granting authority established, modified, or redesignated on or after , for an institution of professional military education referred to in such amendment, see , set out as a note under .

Organization of Army War College

Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title V, § 559B139 Stat. 881

“The Secretary of the Army shall—
“(1)
incorporate the Army War College into the Army University; and
“(2)
direct the head of the Army War College to report to the head of the Army University.”
, , , provided that: