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FAQs about the Academic Program
Q: What is the academic program
like?
West Point advocates developing the "whole person" by providing
a dynamic and integrated curriculum that balances the physical sciences
and engineering with the humanities and social sciences. Graduates should
be able to respond effectively to a changing technological, social, political,
and economic world. The Academy instills in cadets creativity, moral awareness,
and a commitment to progressive and continuing educational growth.
Currently 42 majors are offered to cadets so they to pursue an academic
major in a discipline of their choice. The two components of the academic
program are a broad, general core program that is prescribed and an elective
program that is individually selected. West Point is accredited by The Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (215) 662-5606. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Six engineering programs – civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, environmental engineering and engineering management – are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Additionally the Computer Science Accreditation Commission (CSAC) of the Computer Sciences Accreditation Board accredits the computer science major.
Q: What is the academic
course load like?
The core curriculum is the foundation of the academic program and provides a foundation in mathematics,
basic sciences, engineering sciences, information technology, humanities, behavioral sciences, and social
sciences. This core curriculum, ranging in size from 26 to 30 courses depending on the major, represents
the essential broad base of knowledge necessary for success as a commissioned officer, while also supporting
each cadet’s choice of academic specialization. It I, in effect, the "professional major" for every cadet
since it prepares each graduate for a career as a commissioned officer in the Army.
Q: What is the student-faculty
ratio?
The student-faculty ratio at West Point is approximately 8 to 1. You not
only know your professor or instructor, but also have the opportunity to
request additional instruction when needed. Classes are small, typically
numbering 12 to 18 cadets. West Point's long tradition of daily discussion
and frequent grading remain unchanged. Army officers and civilian professors
enhance your understanding of an academic concentration. The predominantly
military faculty also helps in your professional military development.
Q: How would you describe the
faculty?
About 75 percent of the West Point faculty are military personnel who have
completed graduate work at the most respected universities in the nation.
All faculty members have their master's degrees and over 30 percent have
doctoral qualifications.
Q: How strong is the library
for research?
The USMA Library serves cadets for both academic research and recreational
reading. The library's resources include over 600,000 volumes, 1,500 current
subscriptions of academic journals and newspapers, government documents,
audiovisual materials, official USMA archives, and valuable special collections
of rare books.
Q: How is the personal computer
used in academics?
Cadets and faculty at West Point enjoy the benefits of a first class information
technology environment. With a personal computer at every desk, and everyone
connected both to a large array of powerful academic computing services
and with unlimited access to the Internet, West Point has an electronic
environment in which every course offered has integrated computer use. This
"computer thread" allows a cadet to make full use of their personal computer
in the place where most learning occurs, the barracks.
Q: Are there any other special
academic programs at West Point?
West Point has established Centers of Excellence that enhance the quality
of the academic program. These centers make full use of professional expertise
and technical resources to enrich cadet education. The centers help enhance
cadet academic performance, improve faculty teaching, promote faculty and
cadet research and provide outreach and support to the U.S. Army. Cadets
and faculty conduct research in conjunction with the academic departments
through such centers as the Center for Environmental and Geographic Sciences,
the Operations Research Center, the Photonics Research Center, the Office
of Artificial Intelligence Analysis and Evaluation, and the Information
Technology Center, as well as others.
