Command and General Staff College Foundation News Spring 2021 - 22

CGSC announces new master's degree program
Students in the Command and General Staff Officer
Course Class of 2021 have the opportunity to earn a
new degree when they graduate this June. Earlier this
fiscal year, the Command and General Staff College gained
approval from federal and academic accreditation bodies to
award a master of operational studies degree.
The master of operational studies is a professional
graduate degree with emphasis on the knowledge, skills
and attributes essential for officers at the higher tactical and
operational levels of conflict. The college will continue to
award the master of military art and science degree that was
first authorized in 1974.
" The major differences for those who seek the MMAS
are courses in research methods, the writing of a thesis and
the comprehensive oral examination, " said Dr. Jim Martin,
dean of academics for CGSC and Army University. " If the
MMAS is a research degree, the master's in operational
studies is a practitioner's degree. "
The coursework is the same for all students in residence
at Fort Leavenworth. The master of operational studies
program allows CGSOC students to gain a degree without
having to write a thesis, Martin explained.
In 2011, after the creation of similar graduate programs
throughout DoD, the statutory language was changed to
reflect the broader authority used in other schools. CGSC
deliberately moved to use this new authority to expand its
degree portfolio, Martin said. In 2017, the college requested
permission to change the names of the degrees granted at
the School of Advanced Military Studies from the MMAS
to the master of arts in military operations (MAMO)
and the master of arts in strategic studies (MASS), more
appropriate names for the curriculum taught.
Since 2014, based on guidance from the Army chief of
staff concerning rigor in professional military education,
the college has sought to improve the curriculum and
assessment processes in CGSOC. A comprehensive
examination with both a written and oral component was
added to the course to better assess learning for all students.
Based on a change in the Army's strategic plan, the second
trimester of CGSOC was modified to focus on large-scale
combat operations, and during this major curricular change,
the rigor of the course increased significantly.
The course now places more emphasis on direct assessment
of learning and an improved overall assessment program.
This year, the writing requirements for CGSOC students
were significantly upgraded, specifically to improve the
writing assessments for students completing the program.

PHOTO BY DAN NEAL/ARMYU PUBLIC AFFAIRS

by Harry Sarles, Army University Public Affairs

Dr. Jim Martin, dean of academics for CGSC and Army University, presents
an MMAS diploma to a graduating student at the 2019 CGSOC graduation.

All U.S. resident students enrolled in CGSOC are
automatically enrolled in the master of operational studies
degree program. They can opt out to pursue an MMAS or
other graduate degree program. International students in
CGSOC can participate in the degree program if they meet
the requirements as outlined in the student bulletin.
About 10-15 percent of resident CGSOC students have
chosen to pursue the MMAS since its inception in 1974.
Numerous other civilian graduate degree programs are
available to students. All of these programs accept some
amount of transfer credit from CGSOC to be used toward
overall degree requirements. These degrees are available
on post and in the local community and, based on common
educational practice, many will accept six hours of graduate
credit from CGSOC students even as the student completes
the master of operational studies degree program. In the
first full year of the new program, some students will earn
both the master of operational studies degree and a civilian
graduate degree during their year at Fort Leavenworth.
CGSC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission,
which previously authorized the college to grant three
different master's degrees - the MMAS, the MAMO
and the MASS. The HLC-accredited bachelor of arts
in leadership and workforce development program is
conducted in coordination with the U.S. Army Sergeants
Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas.
Eligibility for the master of operational studies degree
has been extended to graduates of the CGSOC Class of
2020. The college is contacting the graduates of that class
to explain how they can apply for award of the degree.

For more information about CGSC master's degrees:
https://usacac.army.mil/organizations/cace/cgsc/CGSCDegreePrograms

22 - CGSC FOUNDATION NEWS | www.cgscfoundation.org


https://usacac.army.mil/organizations/cace/cgsc/CGSCDegreePrograms http://www.cgscfoundation.org

Command and General Staff College Foundation News Spring 2021

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