Does anyone know much about the Defense and Strategic Studies major?

[BubbaCool12]

I'm looking into DSS for if or when I get into USMA. Has anyone taken this major or know someone who has, and knows more information than the West Point website provides? Is this a major I should pursue as someone who's looking into branching combat arms after graduation? Thank you for any advice.

 

[MidCakePa]

It doesn’t matter what you major in to get combat arms. Select your major based on what you’ll find stimulating and challenging and enjoyable — enough so that you’ll stick with it and slog through even when you’re in a difficult period. Which will happen quite a bit at an SA, where they’ll throw more at you than you can handle. Majoring in something you genuinely find interesting will make it easier to persevere and ultimately succeed. And success academically — plus in other areas — will put you in the best position to get your preferred branch.

 

[mesanova]

I'm looking into DSS for if or when I get into USMA. Has anyone taken this major or know someone who has, and knows more information than the West Point website provides? Is this a major I should pursue as someone who's looking into branching combat arms after graduation? Thank you for any advice.

Check out this link - lots of great articles on DSS and MWI - certainly growing in popularity with cadets:
https://www.pageturnpro.com/West-Po...West-Point-Magazine-Winter-2023/sdefault.html.
Good luck to you!

 

[Allectus]

My DS is a DSS major in his second year at West Point and he loves it. The first class deals with the domains of war (land, sea, air, etc.) and war theory—Clausewitz, Sun Tzu. The second class has taken a deep dive into individual countries and an analysis of threats and strategic policy of that country. DS really likes the classes, the instructors and his fellow classmates in the major. DSS has become a very popular major.

 

[DrMom]

One of my kids was DSS and loved it. He briefed his big capstone project to the former Secretary of the Army. Enjoyed all of the classes & learned a lot of relevant Army and strategy things.

 

[Username!!]

You'll have plenty of time to ask upperclassmen and explore majors once you get to USMA. There is Majors night to display available majors and there's plenty of upperclassmen in a company to talk too. Doesn't hurt to look ahead but it's definitely a future you problem

 

[redraider2022]

If you want to know about DSS, go to westpoint.edu or google the “USMA Redbook”. Redbook has the actual curriculum, you can see every class and elective you will take in DSS. Definitely an interesting major. Lot of people called it “Don’t Study, Sleep” because it started out as a very easy major, but the difficulty of it has recently ramped up as of late.

 

[JCSDVM1]

I'm looking into DSS for if or when I get into USMA. Has anyone taken this major or know someone who has, and knows more information than the West Point website provides? Is this a major I should pursue as someone who's looking into branching combat arms after graduation? Thank you for any advice.

DS said it stands for "Don't Study, Sleep."