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Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110

§8548 Degree Granting Authority for United States Naval Postgraduate School

Title 10 › Subtitle C — Navy and Marine Corps › PART III — EDUCATION AND TRAINING › CHAPTER 855 — UNITED STATES NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL › § 8548

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President of the Naval Postgraduate School can award degrees to students who meet the school's requirements, when the faculty recommends it and the Navy Secretary's rules are followed. A degree can only be awarded if the Secretary of Education recommends approval under the federal policy for federal agencies granting degrees, and if the school is accredited by the civilian accreditor the Secretary of Education says is appropriate. When the school seeks degree‑granting authority, the Secretary of Defense must send the Armed Services Committees in the Senate and House the school's self‑assessment given to the Department of Education's advisory committee and the Secretary of Education's recommendation and reasons. For any change to degree authority, the Secretary of Defense must report the rationale and the Secretary of Education's view. The Secretary of Defense must also report and explain any accreditor decision not to accredit a degree.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §8548

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Authority.—
Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, the President of the Naval Postgraduate School may, upon the recommendation of the faculty of the Naval Postgraduate School, 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 Postgraduate School 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 Postgraduate School to award any new or existing degree.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 704734 U.S.C. 1076f.Dec. 7, 1945, ch. 559, 59 Stat. 603; July 31, 1947, ch. 420, § 7, 61 Stat. 706. In subsection (a) the words “of science” are omitted as surplusage since the curriculum is in engineering and related fields. In subsection (b) the words “from time to time” are omitted as surplusage.

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 8548 was renumbered section 9218 of this title.

Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–232 renumbered section 7048 of this title as this section. 2008—Pub. L. 110–417 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “(a) The President of the Naval Postgraduate School, under

Regulations

prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, may confer on any qualified graduate a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctor’s degree in engineering or a related field. “(b) A degree may not be conferred under this section unless the curriculum leading to that degree is accredited by the appropriate professional authority.” 2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–375 substituted “President” for “Superintendent”. 1992—Pub. L. 102–484 renumbered section 7047 of this title as this section.

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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 8548

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110