United States Naval Academy

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineering is the design, fabrication, testing, and improving of flight vehicles and systems. The major has two tracks: Aeronautics, emphasizing vehicles that remain within the atmosphere, and Astronautics, emphasizing vehicles that operate outside the atmosphere and the launch vehicles that get them into space.

Arabic

Arabic has been deemed a priority strategic language under the National Strategic Language Initiative. The major entails 42 credit hours: ten courses in the Arabic language and four collateral major electives taught in English covering topics related to the Arab World and Arabo-Islamic culture.

Chemistry

Chemistry is the study of the composition, structure and properties of matter. The chemistry major provides training in the discipline's traditional fields, leading to a bachelor of science degree certified by the American Chemical Society, with coursework in organic, inorganic, analytical, physical and biochemistry.

Chinese

The Chinese major allows midshipmen to develop proficiency in spoken and written Chinese (Mandarin) and in Chinese culture, past and present. The major entails 10 mandatory language courses (30 credit hours) and 4 collateral courses (12 credit hours) selected from electives on Chinese history, politics, society and culture.

Computer Engineering

Computer engineering combines fundamentals from both electrical engineering and computer science. Students take courses in circuit analysis, digital logic systems, electronics, signals and systems, data structures, programming, computer architecture, microprocessor-based systems, and computer networking.

Computer Science

Computer science is the study of the theory and application of computational algorithms and information processing in computer systems. The major provides a foundation in computer architecture, systems programming, data structures, and networks, culminating in a capstone design experience.

Cyber Operations

Cyber Operations is an interdisciplinary major that covers the entire scope of cyberspace and related operations, both technical and non-technical. It provides a foundation in computer architecture, programming, data structures, networks, database systems, information assurance, cryptography, and forensics, balanced with courses in policy, law, ethics, and human factors. It was designated a National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations in 2020.

Data Science

Data Science is an interdisciplinary field that combines the theory of data analysis with the power of today's computer systems. The major includes a core foundation rooted in computation with topics from both mathematics and computer science, and then offers electives from a variety of academic departments.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineering is the discipline of manipulating power and information in the form of electricity, including topics as diverse as wireless communications, renewable energy, electric transportation systems, instrumentation, signal processing and computational systems.

English

The English major fosters close reading, critical thinking, and clear writing through the study of literature from the past and present across the globe. The major consists of ten required courses, and students can concentrate on literary periods, genres, or creative and professional writing.

Foreign Area Studies

The Foreign Area Studies major is designed to give insight into the study of global society while focusing on selected regions, enriched through social scientific research and the investigation of humanistic endeavors. Midshipmen select a track in Cultural Studies, History, or Political Science along with a region and language.

General Engineering

General Engineering is an interdisciplinary, broadly focused engineering major. Its relatively large number of electives permits a student to seek depth in one area of interest or exposure to a variety of science and engineering disciplines, and it addresses topics on the national Fundamentals of Engineering Examination.

General Science

General science draws from subject matter offered by each of the departments in the Division of Mathematics and Science, allowing midshipmen to pursue a broad program in the physical applications of mathematics and science. The major consists of twelve courses, nine specified and three elective.

History

The History major provides an opportunity to examine the evolution of past civilizations and to develop proficiency in historical methods, writing and analysis. The major consists of ten courses beyond the core, with upper-division courses drawn from American, European, regional, naval and military, and thematic history.

Information Technology

Information technology is the use of computers and software to manage information. The major provides a foundation in computer architecture, systems programming, data structures and networks, with electives emphasizing web technology, databases, and computer security. (Not available to the Class of 2025 and beyond.).

Mathematics

Mathematics encompasses the study of quantity, shapes, symmetries, patterns and change, and is the language of science and engineering. The major has two tracks, pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, both sharing a common third class year of required courses.

Mathematics with Economics

The mathematics with economics major, formerly called the quantitative economics (SQE) major, is an interdisciplinary mathematics and economics major administered by the mathematics department. It aims to produce graduates adept at using mathematics to understand and evaluate problems in economics, culminating in a jointly taught capstone research course.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering applies principles of mechanics, the study of heat and energy, material behavior, and design to create products and systems. After fundamental courses, students concentrate in one of three areas: energy and propulsion, structures and materials, or nuclear energy, culminating in a capstone design experience.

Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering

Naval Architecture is about the design of ships, boats and submarines, while Marine Engineering involves the many support systems required to run a floating city. A successful design requires both, so they are offered as a combined major.

Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear engineering applies principles of basic sciences, engineering, and radiation physics to the design and development of nuclear power systems and other radiological applications. The major covers reactor physics, reactor design, nuclear energy conversion, and radiation engineering, culminating in a capstone design experience.

Ocean Engineering

Ocean engineering combines facets of the traditional civil and mechanical engineering disciplines to design systems and structures for operation in the marine environment. The major features four concentration areas: civil and coastal engineering, underwater engineering, environmental engineering, and ocean resource management.

Oceanography

The oceanography major is designed for the hands-on student with a strong interest in the physical and dynamic properties of the ocean and atmosphere. Majors take 13 courses in oceanography, meteorology, and applied mathematics, culminating in a faculty-mentored capstone or honors research project.

Operations Research

Operations research is the discipline of applying mathematical methods to study and analyze complex decision-making problems. Majors take courses in optimization, probability, statistics, and simulation, plus foundational courses in mathematics and computer programming, culminating in a capstone project.

Physics

Physics is the study of the natural laws that govern matter and energy, at the heart of all pure sciences, applied science, and engineering disciplines. All physics majors begin by selecting physics and then specialize by choosing one of three tracks during their second class year: physics, applied physics, or astrophysics.

Political Science

The political science major offers a full complement of undergraduate courses covering the three primary subfields of the discipline: international relations, comparative politics, and American politics. The major consists of 30 credit hours and culminates in a capstone research seminar.

Quantitative Economics

The Quantitative Economics major produces graduates who can understand, explain, and apply the core principles and quantitative methods of economics. The major consists of 42 credit hours divided into a core theory curriculum, an econometric series, electives, and a capstone research seminar.

Robotics and Control Engineering

Robotics and Control engineering is a study in automation, the design and construction of systems or devices that work by themselves with little or no direct human control. Fundamentals include sensors, actuators, feedback loops, computing, and computer programming, with first-class-year concentration in two application areas.