--- kind: "section" citation: "10 U.S.C. § 2163" title: "10" title_heading: "Armed Forces" number: "2163" heading: "Degree granting authority for National Defense University" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/2163" units: - "Subtitle A — General Military Law" - "Part III — Training and Education" - "Chapter 108 — Department of Defense Schools" --- # §2163. Degree granting authority for National Defense University - (a) **Authority.—** Under regulations prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, the President of the National Defense University may, upon the recommendation of the faculty of the National Defense University, 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](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Education has recommended approval of the degree in accordance with the Federal Policy Governing Granting of Academic Degrees by Federal [Agencies](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3); and - (2) the National Defense University is accredited by the appropriate civilian academic accrediting [agency](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3) or organization to award the degree, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Education. - (c) **Congressional Notification Requirements.—** - (1) When seeking to establish degree granting authority under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) 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](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3), at the time the assessment is submitted to the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Education’s National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity; and - (B) the subsequent recommendations and rationale of the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Education regarding the establishment of the degree granting authority. - (2) Upon any modification or redesignation of existing degree granting authority, the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) 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](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Education on the proposed modification or redesignation. - (3) The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) 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](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3) or organization not to accredit the National Defense University to award any new or existing degree. ## Source credit (Added Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title IX, § 922(a), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1730; amended Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V, § 521(a), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3239; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title V, § 526(a), (b)(1), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 104, 105; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, § 543(b)(1), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4457.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 2008—Pub. L. 110–417 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to conferral of master of science and master of arts degrees by National Defense University. Pub. L. 110–181, § 526(b)(1), substituted “National Defense University: master’s degree programs” for “National Defense University: master of science degrees” in section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–181, § 526(a)(1), inserted “or master of arts” after “master of science”. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 110–181, § 526(a)(2), added par. (4). 2006—Pub. L. 109–163 amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “(a) National War College Degree.—The President of the National Defense University, upon the recommendation of the faculty and commandant of the National War College, may confer the degree of master of science of national security strategy upon graduates of the National War College who fulfill the requirements for the degree. “(b) ICAF Degree.—The President of the National Defense University, upon the recommendation of the faculty and commandant of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, may confer the degree of master of science of national resource strategy upon graduates of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces who fulfill the requirements for the degree. “(c) Regulations.—The authority provided by subsections (a) and (b) shall be exercised under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.” ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, § 543(j), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4465, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 2161, 4314, 4321, 7048, 7101, 7102, 9314, and 9317 of this title] shall apply to any degree granting authority established, modified, or redesignated on or after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 14, 2008] for an institution of professional military education referred to in such amendments.” Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title V, § 526(c), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 105, provided that: “Paragraph (4) of section 2163(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) of this section, applies with respect to any person who becomes a graduate of the National Defense University on or after September 6, 2006, and fulfills the requirements of the program referred to in such paragraph (4).” ### Effective Date of 2006 Amendment Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V, § 521(c), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3240, provided that: “Paragraph (3) of section 2163(b) of title 10, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a), shall take effect for degrees awarded after May 2005.”