For the Army, does it matter what academic discipline your degree is in?

2018-03-19T20:58:09-04:00

Let me introduce myself as this is my first post. My name is Quinton Shipley and I enlisted in 2017 as a 14 month senior for 11x and ship this summer. Now that is out of the way let me get to the point. I have gotten mixed answers on this. The answers I have been given from my recruiter and from my meeting with the Captain at the recruiters office. They both said without a doubt in their voice that your degree doesn't matter. So my question for you enlisted and officers is does it matter what your degree is (ex. History)? Confused on degree choices until I get this all figured out.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2018 9:08 PM

2018-03-19T21:08:56-04:00

The army is trying to steer towards STEM degrees for certain career fields especially for some of the functional areas, but for the most part your choice of degree doesn't matter as much as GPA in determining your branch choice and future career. The degree does not make the officer- it just shows the military that you posses of a certain level of independence and are capable committing to a course of instruction.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 19 at 2018 9:10 PM

2018-03-19T21:10:45-04:00

The college major should not matter except when applying for very specialized fields.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Mar 19 at 2018 9:28 PM

2018-03-19T21:28:14-04:00

I am confused on what you are asking. The only requirement for a college degree is for an officer program such as ROTC. So it does not matter while you are enlisted. I know the expectation is that if you continue on in the enlisted ranks, you should get a college degree but that is down the road. Now for ROTC, there are only a few college degrees that actually relate to an officer branch. In many cases, officers that come through ROTC will not use their major at least in their initial assignments. There are a few that translate. A computer network major would fit right in to the Signal Corps and possibly Cyber Corps. Engineering majors (especially civil engineering) fit into the Engineer Corps. What matters more than a person's major is their academic performance, physical fitness, and cadet evaluations. But again, unless you are going to do an officer program, no degree will really matter.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Mar 19 at 2018 9:42 PM

2018-03-19T21:42:49-04:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member If you want to be an Infantry officer the degree may not matter; however, all people must engage in critical thinking to solve problems. Make sure your chosen degree provides enough exposure to resolve problems using people and tools (mechanical devices).
West Point uses the philosophy of Engineering as the basis for their degree. Looking back at my career I would advocate for STEM or Engineering degree to provide the background necessary to get into specialized branches that require high technical competence.
You spoke with enlisted recruiters, you need to talk to the Officer recruiters, this is the ROTC department in any University around your location, even if you don't plan on going to school there.
If you go to the Air Force & Navy ROTC, the first question they will ask if what degree you are pursuing? If you say anything but Engineering, they will become luke warm or even stop recruiting you.
Army ROTC, if you are in Engineering then Combat Engineer, Aviation, Signal, ADA become much more open to you. We can use almost any degree, but your GPA and performance need to be as high as you can make it. The Army will compare you to thousands of other officers and there are only a so many active duty slots in Infantry and the West Point graduates will get first choice over you.
So while the degree may not matter, your choice of degree will have an impact and start to limit your options.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2018 9:47 PM

2018-03-19T21:47:33-04:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member For Cyber and Engineering, corresponding degrees count/make a difference. For basic branch officer slots, they do not. This is not to say that academic performance doesn't matter, in fact GPA is weighted heavily for OML (I'm assuming that you are RC looking at an ROTC path to commissioning-if youre asking as an enlisted kid... no class matters at all for content, GPA and credit hours are all that matters at all really)
But prioritize your concerns (50 meter targets, you will soon learn to call them). A big part of an officer OML, and a bigger part of your life as an 11X (go for 11B if you have any say in it!!!) is PT. How many perfect form Push Ups can you do in two minutes, how many perfect form Sit Ups in that same amount of time, and how fast can you run two miles consecutively? College (major, classes, GPA) doesn't matter if you're failing your PT Test, you will lose any Army scholarship there is. If you are making the first part of your career as an enlitedman as I did, ignore any advice that tells you to have less than a 270 on a PT Test, aim for a 300 as an 11 series.
Go to any army school you can, Airborne, Air Assault, Path Finder, Ranger, Master Fitness Trainer, you name it if you're eligible. Have a high PT Score and know your job.
Read A Message to Garcia, and go from there (and ask questions here).

Response by CPT Enrique M. made Mar 19 at 2018 9:49 PM

2018-03-19T21:49:12-04:00

I would say it only matters if you direct comission into a specific specialty (law, cyber, medical, to name a few) once a officer all that matters is for when you go for field grade ranks having a masters helps (or so i been told). If you are going through another comissioning source then not really.

Side note been told for us cyber/medical information that having a masters in the field helps for boards (again not confirmed )

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Mar 19 at 2018 9:50 PM

2018-03-19T21:50:42-04:00

Pick the degree that works for you. The rest will work out.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2018 10:03 PM

2018-03-19T22:03:16-04:00

Not at all. I earned a History degree and was branched Aviation.

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Mar 19 at 2018 10:18 PM

2018-03-19T22:18:21-04:00

About half the ROTC class at my college were History majors. Officially I think the policy is almost any degree from an accredited college but Theology (they look for an approved Seminary for that). But if you are enlisted and looking for OCS later (and I have served on a few OCS Boards) and you are an Engineer or something very technical or medical you will most likely be higher on their list to go.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Mar 19 at 2018 10:36 PM

2018-03-19T22:36:30-04:00

Best wishes to you in your Army journey

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Mar 19 at 2018 11:08 PM

2018-03-19T23:08:22-04:00

I chose enlisted side, 11 series with a BA in History, and a BS (incert joke here) in Business. If you plan on staying an enlisted 11B or C, it won't matter in the least.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2018 11:54 PM

2018-03-19T23:54:35-04:00

OK, I heard...indulge me on a point, if you would, most when they're in your boat, and send in questions, never do a really detailed, thorough biographical sketch, at least not in the fashion I've seem that'd seriously help get them the answers they seek, for the most part, I've found. Hobbies, reading, interests, sports, !martial arts, all that gives a flavor to a personality, in terms of knowing detail. To my way of thinking, of course what major you'd do would matter. However, Iitd greatly help to kmow what major you'd picked thus far, your interests, ambitions, which svcs you'd looked at, I gather you want Army, I got that youre going. I also saw you'd sent that into the ROTCmand Green to Gold areas here, as well as enlisted to officer, I'd seen. What college have you had thus far? Assoc? Bach? Masters? PhD? Do you want flight? What commissioned branch would you want? Would you want to try for Army commissioned or warrant? Would you want to try going interservice at all? If so, which services? Do you have any clinical interests? Technical interests, along STEM lines? Comp sci? IT? He Army direct commission cyber program? Direct commission in other svcs? The Army high school to flight school program for rotary wing flight at Ft Rucker? Be really, really detailed, list your actual science courses, economics politcap science, history, etc, with GPAs if you think it'd be OK...also, when in high school, did you do any AP coursework at all? Did you do any vocational high school training at all? Elaborate, as I'd said, OK? Remember, the more you give in here the more concrete feedback and/or suggestions you can be given, OK? I'd be most eager to hear more, anytime, by all means, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2018 11:56 PM

2018-03-19T23:56:57-04:00

And would you want to try for Tue maritime colleges, VMI, the Citadel, possibly military junior colleges? I can suggest things, however, as I'd said, I need to kmow a good deal more, I kmow others here are giving you their thoughts, try it my way, and really compose a detailed bio sketch and paste it in here, it'd really help, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 19 at 2018 11:57 PM

2018-03-19T23:57:18-04:00

Or the academies or the academymoreo schools at all?

Response by SPC Carson S. made Mar 20 at 2018 7:31 AM

2018-03-20T07:31:20-04:00

A major may give a person a leg up in some cases, but generally does not have any affect on one's military career. Having a degree does help in other areas, though, such as points for promotion.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 7:54 AM

2018-03-20T07:54:14-04:00

Quinton-Yes and no.

Ask yourself the following questions: Do you want to pursue higher advancement in the future? If so, does that include pursuing a commission? Do you plan on a military career, and if not, what do you hope to ultimately do in civilian life? Would that future career be in the public or private sector?

Back "in the day", I can assure you that the prevailing guidance for young officer candidates was to choose a degree you could get a high GPA in, regardless of focus of study. Why? Since many commissioning programs (Academy, some ROTC variants) are scholarships, and require a min. GPA, not to mention, are competitive for service assignment...it behooved the hopeful second lieutenant or ensign to concentrate on the "here and now".

That's mostly changed over the years as it "seems" to be steadily getting more difficult to make twenty years, and the competition in the civilian sector is getting steeper.

My advice is to select a degree that gives you the best options post-military. A History degree (mine) won't do you much good unless you plan on pursuing advanced degrees and staying in academia. You could end up being an archaeologist, a professor, or a writer. A degree in a "hard science" such as chemistry, engineering, mathematics may open the doors to project management or engineering. You may also consider business degrees, law, etc...anything that can be a gateway to a "professional" career.

As an officer of Infantry (sounds like your goal), none of the above will matter half as much as how well you learn what the Army will teach you. You need a degree of some sort to become an officer, and you likely want to consider a master's degree at some point, but what will influence your evaluations (we call 'em FITREPs in the Navy) most will be your competency in the field. Sadly; and I hope some of my peers here on RP will back me up on this...what may make an excellent field officer, doesn't always get recognized in the civilian world.

When it comes to picking a degree...don't worry too much about how it's going to influence your immediate or short term future...worry more about how it will influence you when you leave active service. I didn't, and ended up going from being a Division Officer to manual labor for under $9/hr despite having a degree from Annapolis. I managed to get "back up", but it was a long, hard, risky climb.

Best of luck and best wishes!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 8:30 AM

2018-03-20T08:30:46-04:00

As many have already said, major does not matter unless you are looking to get a professional degree, i.e. medical, dental, law, etc., and even then it does not necessarily matter. I attended BOLC with a certified and licensed chiropractor. He completed his four year undergrad degree and then another four years of medical school. After which he took the exam that allowed him to be certified and professionally recognized as a chiropractor. Due to some paperwork snafu while processing, the Army branched him HR and would not let him change branches until he served a specific amount of time. Needless to say he wasn't real happy with the Army but it benefited his platoon members greatly because after every ruck march, field exercise, or other event we would all line up to get re-aligned for free.

Response by COL Dana Hampton made Mar 20 at 2018 12:20 PM

2018-03-20T12:20:57-04:00

I earned 2 majors (History and Political Science) while in college before commissioning in the Field Artillery through ROTC. Specialty branch like Chemical Corps, Medical Corps, Legal, may require specific degrees and/or post graduate education and licenses. For combat arms, particularly, college majors are not as important as is learning these 3 skills.

1. Learn to read. By that I mean learn to seek out information. Be an avid consumer of facts. Read opinions this differ. Challenge yourself and your mind to grow through reading. To this day, I still make it my goal to read 1-2 books per month.

2. Learn to write. The ability to communicate thoughts, ideas and concepts through the written word is an art. Being able to effectively write clearly and concisely will serve you well regardless your career field.

3. Learn to critically think. Challenge your assumptions and prejudices while sifting volumes of information throughout your life long learning efforts. Learning how to distill information to its more important points is hard and greatly beneficial work!

All that said, while in college, make sure you get the best educational experience you can for yourself. It's a gift you give yourself. It will reward you many times over while serving and after you've hung the uniform in the closet for the last time.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 1:55 PM

2018-03-20T13:55:58-04:00

For enlisted - it doesn't matter. It only matters to you in what you want to do with it when you get out of the Army.

Response by SSG Jessica Bautista made Mar 20 at 2018 9:14 PM

2018-03-20T21:14:28-04:00

We had a medical platoon leader with a degree in music of some sort. It truly does not matter.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2018 11:40 PM

2018-03-20T23:40:43-04:00

The degree doesn't matter. I branched my first choice, Infantry, after getting my degree in bacteriology. I used to joke when asked how that degree helped me as an infantryman, and I would say because it taught me to look closely at the small things that make a big difference. But the real value of the college education is usually how it develops your analytical skills, your problem solving skills and your communication skills. These directly apply to an officers responsibilities. That's why the particular degree is not as important as the education you get in the process.

My advice would be to get a degree in a subject area that interests you and you could see yourself possibly working in after the Army. If you enjoy the field, you are more likely to do well in it, and doing well is important for competing in precommissioning programs. Also, should you end up staying in and becoming a field grade officer (major) you will need to compete to go to grad school.

But the most important reason, IMO, to get a degree in something you like is that while you may be "certain" now that you want to become an officer and make the Army a career, you never know what the future holds. You may decide to get out. Or one bad exit on a parachute jump may damage a knee and you will have to leave. (If you're going Infantry, get your ass to Airborne School). ;) So you just never know what twists and turns will happen and if you have to fall back on your degree area as a career, it's best to have it in something you enjoy.

Good luck.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 22 at 2018 4:49 PM

2018-03-22T16:49:30-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schaum%27s_Outlines

This is the Wikipedia page on the Schaum's outlines, go through it thoroughly, and look them all up, esp on algebra, geometry, trig, prcalcl, and cal, as well as genl chem, and both calc based and non calc based physics, OK? Let's start there, remember, there is no such thing as precalc, howecer the term is used, in place of trigonometry tpwhich is why I use it Jerez though I know the word to ne a complete misnomer, I assure you, OK? Start with this first....

Bad title - Wikipedia

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 22 at 2018 4:57 PM

2018-03-22T16:57:48-04:00

https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Deviants-Pre-Calculus-Vol-1/dp/B000VE4UGA

These are also quite good, though their level varies, you'll find them quite useful, once again , all college bookstores stock the!, or you should ne able to get them on interlibrary loan, they are useful, do look at them, OK? There are numerous titles, research the whole series, trust !e, tpyoull find them well worth the time to look into, I assure you...they're not as formal as the Schaum's and REA texts, howecer, they are of value, I've used tje!m !any times...

Amazon.com: Standard Deviants: Pre-Calculus, Vol. 1: Standard Deviants, Cerebellum Corporation:...

Amazon.com: Standard Deviants: Pre-Calculus, Vol. 1: Standard Deviants, Cerebellum Corporation: Movies & TV

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 22 at 2018 5:39 PM

2018-03-22T17:39:31-04:00

Ok, You do not have to be a physicist to be a grunt, math helps if you go FA, mechanical En is great for AR- short of going Logistics or 1 of the specialty fields, you could have a degree in Russian poetry and nobody would care. The requirements are for A degree.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 22 at 2018 7:19 PM

2018-03-22T19:19:09-04:00

As you've likely observed by now, I deal in specifics, not vagueries...I do that to help, because I do, I assure you, know what I'm doing, I can help you, but you have to help me help you, by giving !e what I need to help you, OK?

Response by LTC Meloni Beauchamp made Mar 23 at 2018 1:06 PM

2018-03-23T13:06:14-04:00

I attend a dinner with commissioning cadets and midshipmen/Marine Corps options every year and the Army degrees are all over the place, but a lot of them are going National Guard. The others on the other-hand are getting hard core STEM type degrees, nuclear physics, etc. They are active duty and getting branched as the pilots and nuclear subs and of course other things. So while it doesn't matter specifically, a tougher degree may spark more opportunities.

Response by LTC Meloni Beauchamp made Mar 23 at 2018 1:08 PM

2018-03-23T13:08:21-04:00

Response by SSgt Pete Vargas Mas made Apr 2 at 2018 7:03 PM

2018-04-02T19:03:23-04:00

Former USAF SSgt (Communications) here. The military doesn't give a c.rap what your degree is in, as long as you have one. The only exceptions are jobs that cannot be done without a degree, such as lawyer, doctor, nurse, etc. I used to work with a Sgt who had a degree in Physics. He got out, and his wife (BS in Biology) joined as an officer. The USAF made her a 2LT and sent her to a missile silo in North Dakota. There is no logic at all to most things the military does. Just remember, the needs of the military comes first, so if you show up to the MEPS station with a BS in History of Underwater Basketweaving, and they need Supply Officers that day, welcome to Logistics.

Response by CMSgt Steve Pennington made Apr 8 at 2018 1:36 AM

2018-04-08T01:36:35-04:00

I was a History Major, so, as we say, I had no marketable skill. However, it was what I wanted to study and still do. My 2 careers (both very rewarding) did not depend on my degree. My answer to the original question is Socratic, does your career path (choice) depend on your education, such as Law, CPA, Engineer, or just possessing a degree? If you know your life goals in a particular discipline, pursue it. If not study what interests you. Hint, one of the finest Officers I ever served under was an Anthro. Major.

Response by CPT Larry Hudson made Apr 11 at 2018 12:46 PM

2018-04-11T12:46:28-04:00

Have found most career oriented soldiers have obtained political science degrees. Don’t know why but seems most popular

Response by SSG Carmelo Rodriguez made Apr 16 at 2018 7:31 AM

2018-04-16T07:31:26-04:00

My brother, I have met a lot of educated idiots both in a list and officer. Like the major said indirectly A degree just shows that you can learn. Unless you were going to major in something specialized any degree will do. But consider your future you may want to go into intelligence enforcement or some other specialized w A degree just shows that you can learn. Unless you were going to major in something specialized any degree will do. Consider your future you may want to go into intelligence enforcement or some other specialized fields. Look at your military professions match a degree to one of them .

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2018 11:06 AM

2018-04-16T11:06:57-04:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member as long as it is from an accredited school with a recognized degree (ask the ROTC folks for the list, and it's long) you are good. Heck once you get a Master's Degree in the Army you are good for promotion on the officer side of the house regardless if it was underwater basket weaving or rocket science. While a degree might help you in a certain branch you may not be selected for that branch, but once you are in a branch remember even if you are an Engineer and get an Engineering degree the "Big Army" does not care about that on most promotion boards as there is probably only one Engineer on the promotion board. The rest of the people just care that you have a degree and potential. The type of degree might help you get a type of job though, but not always.

Response by SFC James Pritchert made Apr 16 at 2018 11:29 AM

2018-04-16T11:29:08-04:00

As someone approaching their final retirement and in their 60s, I can confidently tell you that your degree will not matter in the military or in business or in most any occupation. You have a degree? Excellent what is your level of experience? Who do you know? What have you accomplished?

Response by MSG Michael McEleney made Apr 21 at 2018 6:01 PM

2018-04-21T18:01:14-04:00

Unless you’re a Physician, Nurse, Attornet, or chaplain, it probably doesn’t matter what your degree is.

Response by PO3 Eugene Rizzardi made May 27 at 2018 3:56 PM

2018-05-27T15:56:50-04:00

My degree was in commercial art(graphic art) it did not matter to anyone what I had, it what I was now. A Seamen recruit. This was back in the early 70's though

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made May 27 at 2018 4:53 PM

2018-05-27T16:53:43-04:00

My husband had a BS/MS in History. Mine was in Psychology. We both went into logistics (different fields). Some career fields require a degree in that area: Engineering for one, but oftentimes it doesn't matter.

Response by SP5 Geoffrey Vannerson made Jun 1 at 2018 9:33 AM

2018-06-01T09:33:05-04:00

I would have to agree, with the exception that if you are going in as a doctor you might want to have studied medicine! It is probably more helpful if your degree matches an MOS; however, it is not necessary. You can have a mechanical engineering degree, doesn't mean you have to work in motor-pool, or build bridges or build structures. Degrees are more of a military commitment to studies.

Response by LTC Michael Hrycak made Jun 5 at 2018 10:11 PM

2018-06-05T22:11:45-04:00

For the purpose of commissioning the Army wants a bachelor's degree. But, what you study will discipline you and that will start your development for what you will do in the future, both military and civilian. Your quality of life may also be enriched with a degree in a an academic discipline that coincides with your needs and desires, as you will eventually face life outside of military and civilian professions. Many of the opinions are accurate, and experience will always resound truthfully. I believe that once you are approaching field grade, then your degree will dictate what you may potentially want to develop in further, i.e. graduate or professional schooling. In summary, look at least one if not two levels up in your career and life.

Response by PO1 Gregory Allen made Jun 15 at 2018 11:14 PM

2018-06-15T23:14:09-04:00

The best Chief Engineer I ever worked for was an English major, so no, it does not matter, except, as others have said, in very specialized disciplines.

Response by LtCol George Carlson made Jun 16 at 2018 11:10 PM

2018-06-16T23:10:20-04:00

This is a Marine officer perspective, so you can discount it totally if you wish. Clearly, every military officer has to have the aptitude to learn to lead and manage both people and things. The first person you need to manage is yourself and learning to organize, budget time, and set priorities is usually reflected in your college performance. That's a foundation. However, that said, there is a reason that the oldest college of engineering in the US is West Point. Technical, mathematical ability and reasoning is so involved in so much of what military officers do that a STEM background is helpful. Is it essential? Depends on you. If you have studiously avoided math past plane geometry in high school because it confused the daylights out of you it may be a hinderance. While much of the hands-on technical stuff has been taken over by tables, charts, and technology, having some foggy notion of what the answer should be (hey LT! Was that 10 pounds of C4 or 10,000?). Might help you find out that your finger slipped on the table or you forgot the decimal point of the calculator.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 17 at 2020 10:50 AM

2020-02-17T10:50:29-05:00

Doesn’t as long as it’s accredited

Response by Landrew Usoalii S. made Feb 17 at 2020 7:48 PM

2020-02-17T19:48:29-05:00

1- Are you trying to go Green to Gold?
2- What is your goal as a Marine?
4- Is your MOS 0311?