US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 8591

Degree granting authority for Naval War College

(a)

Authority .—

Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, the President of the Naval War College may, upon the recommendation of the faculty of the Naval War College components, 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 Naval 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 Naval War College to award any new or existing degree.

Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title IX, § 912(a)104 Stat. 1626Pub. L. 110–417122 Stat. 4461Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 807(c)(2)132 Stat. 1836(Added , , , § 7101; amended , [div. A], title V, § 543(f)(1), , ; renumbered § 8591, , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–232section 7101 of this title2018— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 110–4172008— amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

Authority“(a) .—Upon the recommendation of the faculty of the Naval War College, the President of the college may confer the degree of master of arts in national security and strategic studies upon graduates of the college who fulfill the requirements for the degree.

Regulations“(b) .—The authority provided by subsection (a) shall be exercised under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy.

Naval War College Defined“(c) .—In this section, the term ‘Naval War College’ means the College of Naval Warfare and the College of Naval Command and Staff.”

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 .