Title 10Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§8592 Degree granting authority for Marine Corps University

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle C— - Navy and Marine Corps › Part PART III— - EDUCATION AND TRAINING › Chapter CHAPTER 859— - PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION SCHOOLS › § 8592

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows the President of Marine Corps University to award degrees under rules set by the Secretary of the Navy, when the university’s directors and faculty recommend the students. A degree can only be given if the Secretary of Education recommends approval under the federal policy for federal agencies and if the Marine Corps University is accredited by the proper civilian accrediting body as the Secretary of Education decides. When seeking degree-granting authority, the Secretary of Defense must send the Armed Services Committees of the Senate and House a copy of the self‑assessment questionnaire at the same time it goes to the Department of Education’s National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, and later the Secretary of Education’s recommendation and reasons. For changes to existing authority, the Secretary of Defense must report the reasons and the Secretary of Education’s view. If an accrediting agency refuses to accredit any new or existing degree, the Secretary of Defense must report why. The Secretary of the Navy must also create a board of advisors that meets the regional accreditor’s rules.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §8592

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, the President of the Marine Corps University may, upon the recommendation of the directors and faculty of the Marine Corps University, confer appropriate degrees upon graduates who meet the degree requirements.
(b)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 Marine Corps University is accredited by the appropriate civilian academic accrediting agency or organization to award the degree, as determined by the Secretary of Education.
(c)(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 Marine Corps University to award any new or existing degree.
(d)The Secretary of the Navy shall establish a board of advisors for the Marine Corps University. The Secretary shall ensure that the board is established so as to meet all requirements of the appropriate regional accrediting association.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 7102 of this title as this section. 2008—Pub. L. 110–417 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to conferral of master of military studies, master of strategic studies, and master of operational studies degrees by Marine Corps University and establishment of a board of advisors. 2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–375, § 1084(d)(31)(A), substituted “Master of Military Studies” for “Authority” in heading. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–375, § 1084(d)(31)(B), substituted “Master of Strategic Studies” for “Marine Corps War College” in heading. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–375, § 1084(d)(31)(C), substituted “Master of Operational Studies” for “Command and Staff College of the Marine Corps University” in heading. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–375, § 1084(d)(31)(D), substituted “subsections (a), (b), and (c)” for “subsections (a) and (b)”. 2003—Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 108–136 added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsecs. (c) and (d) as (d) and (e), respectively. 2001—Pub. L. 107–107, § 532(b)(3)(A), substituted “masters degrees; board of advisors” for “master of military studies” in section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–107, § 532(b)(1), substituted “upon graduates of the Command and Staff College who fulfill the requirements for that degree” for “upon graduates of the college who fulfill the requirements for the degree”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–107, § 532(a)(2), added subsec. (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (c). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–107, § 532(b)(2), substituted “subsections (a) and (b)” for “subsection (a)”. Pub. L. 107–107, § 532(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (b) as (c). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–107, § 532(c)(1), added subsec. (d).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Feb. 1, 2019, with provision for the coordination of

Amendments

and special rule for certain redesignations, see section 800 of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as a note preceding section 3001 of this title.

Effective Date

of 2008 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 110–417 applicable to any degree granting authority established, modified, or redesignated on or after Oct. 14, 2008, for an institution of professional military education referred to in such amendment, see section 543(j) of Pub. L. 110–417, set out as a note under section 2163 of this title.

Effective Date

of 2003 Amendment Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title V, § 531(b), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1472, provided that: “The authority to confer the degree of master of operational studies under section 7102(c) [now 8592(c)] of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)) may not be exercised until the Secretary of Education determines, and certifies to the President of the Marine Corps University, that the requirements established by the Command and General Staff College of the Marine Corps University for that degree are in accordance with generally applicable requirements for a degree of master of arts.” [Approval granted by Secretary of Education on Jan. 10, 2003, for Marine Corps University to award the Master’s degree in operational studies for successful completion of the School of Advanced Warfighting program.]

Effective Date

of 2001 Amendment Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 532(d), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1105, provided that: “The authority to confer the degree of master of strategic studies under section 7102(b) [now 8592(b)] of title 10, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)) may not be exercised until the Secretary of Education determines, and certifies to the President of the Marine Corps University, that the requirements established by the Marine Corps War College of the Marine Corps University for that degree are in accordance with generally applicable requirements for a degree of master of arts. Upon receipt of such a certification, the President of the University shall promptly transmit a copy of the certification to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.” [Approval granted by Secretary of Education on Aug. 8, 2001, for Marine Corps University to award the Master’s degree for successful completion of the Marine Corps War College program in strategic studies.]

Effective Date

Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title IX, § 911(b), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2828, provided that: “The authority provided by section 7102(a) [now 8592(a)] of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall become effective on the date on which the Secretary of Education determines that the requirements established by the Command and Staff College of the Marine Corps University for the degree of master of military studies are in accordance with generally applicable requirements for a degree of master of arts.” [Approval granted by Secretary of Education on Mar. 22, 1995, for Marine Corps University to award the Master of Military Studies degree through its Command and Staff College.] Board of Advisors for Marine Corps University Pub. L. 103–337,div. A, title IX, § 912, Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2828, which authorized the Secretary of the Navy to establish a board of advisors for the Marine Corps University and to ensure that the board met all requirements of the appropriate regional accrediting association, was repealed and restated in subsec. (d) of this section by Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title V, § 532(c), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1105.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 8592

Title 10Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73