War Studies Major

William the Conquerer statue in Falaise, France | Photo by Maxwell Andrews on Unsplash

War Studies

Major

Cadets pursuing War Studies major will learn how wars are fought and won, how and when military force can most effectively supplement tools, such as diplomacy and economic measures, to achieve national objectives, and how the experience of war affects societies and institutions.

Offered by the Department of History and War Studies

“Whoever wishes to master the art of war,” wrote Frederick the Great, “must study it continuously.” War Studies majors at West Point read extensively and think deeply about the phenomenon of war and the conduct of war. They employ a discipline-specific Clausewitzian methodology that combines historical knowledge with theoretical understanding to foster the development of wisdom and sound judgment about war. Cadets also have an opportunity to examine their subject of study through the lenses of multiple individual disciplines, from English and philosophy to law and psychology. 

War Studies majors devote themselves to learning about how wars are fought and won, how and when military force can most effectively supplement other tools (such as diplomacy and economic measures) to achieve national objectives, and how the experience of war affects societies and institutions. They appreciate how all wars have enough in common to allow for useful generalization and how each war has specific characteristics and contexts requiring individual consideration. 

Cadets develop analytical and communication skills, as well as insights and instincts that prepare them to make the maximum contribution to military action when fighting is needed and to plan and prepare in peacetime for future combat. They gain a foundation of knowledge, understanding, and analytical techniques that will enable them to continue to refine their study of war over a lifetime of continuous intellectual development so that when the time comes, they will be ready to exercise high command or advise military and political leaders charged with directing war and shaping a better peace.
 
Beyond the basic major, War Studies students may choose tracks for a thesis, capstone or honors degree. 

To learn more about this major, visit the Department of History & War Studies.

The War Studies major includes 4 required courses and 9 optional courses. It also offers an honors track.

Curriculum Requirements

IT/CYBER Requirement

Cadets in this major will satisfy the IT/CYBER requirement through CY305/355. This also satisfies the STEM Depth requirement.

  • CY305 - CYBER FOUNDATIONS
  • CY355 - CYBER FOUNDATIONS - COMPUTING

Core Engineering Sequence

  • Cadets may choose any approved three-course Engineering Sequence.

Writing in the Major

Cadets satisfy the West Point Writing Program requirement by completing writing requirements in the core curriculum and one of the following two courses in the major.

  • WS358 - STRATEGY AND GENERALSHIP
  • WS385 - WAR AND ITS THEORISTS

Required Courses

Cornerstone Course

  • WS301 - INTRODUCTION TO WAR STUDIES

Foundational Courses

  • Foundation - Past (choose 1)
    • WS358 - STRATEGY AND GENERALSHIP
    • WS385 - WAR AND ITS THEORISTS
  • Foundation - Present
    • WS370 - U.S. STRATEGY AND POLICY
  • Foundation - Future
    • WS398 - FUTURE WAR

Concentration

Cadets will select one concentration from a choice of three. Within their concentration, they will select five electives from up to 33 courses. Cadets must include courses from at least two different disciplines among their five concentration courses.

  • Warfare and Operations
  • Strategic Studies
  • War, Society, and Institutions

Complementary Support Courses

Cadets will select one of six specializations. Within their specialization, they will take three complementary support courses in categories with up to 35 choices. All prerequisites must be completed before taking a course from this list.

  • Regional and Cultural Studies
  • American Society and Institutions
  • Adaptation and Innovation
  • Conflict Analysis and Resolution
  • Unconventional and Gray-Zone Warfare
  • Data Analysis and Modeling

Capstone Requirement - Integrative Experience

  • WS495 - Methods & Capstone War Studies

Science Depth (choose 1)

  • CH102 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
  • CH275 - BIOLOGY
  • PH202 - PHYSICS II
  • PH252 - ADVANCED PHYSICS II
  • PH275 - PHYSICS II: SPACE


 For more information, view the full War Studies Major curriculum.

Cadets in this major have the opportunity to participate in a range of immersive activities through the Department of History & War Studies (HWS), including summer internships through the U.S. Army War College and with the Joint Staff History Office. Activities include Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD) opportunities, staff rides, and local trips to bring cadets to places where history happened, at home and abroad. 

Majors may also publish their work in the West Point Undergraduate Historical Review and work with the department’s academic centers.

Honor Society:

To learn more about enrichment for this area of study, visit the Department of History & War Studies, Center for Oral History, Digital History Center, or Resnick Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.