SOSH Prospective Rotating Military Faculty

SOSH Prospective Rotating Military Faculty

Join Team SOSH!

Thank you for your interest in joining the faculty of the Department of Social Sciences. If you are seeking civilian (non-military) or academy professor (FA47) positions, please email our faculty hiring team to inquire about any potential searches or positions.

If you are a military officer seeking a rotating faculty position within SOSH, use the link below to initiate your application and begin the process of joining our team. This online application system is CAC-enabled and does not require a username and password. If you started an application with EAST, please ensure that all your information migrated to the  CAC-enabled TEACH system.

The officers who are in our primary zone for selection to attend graduate school (i.e., Advanced Civil Schooling) are mid-grade captains. If you are outside of our targeted year groups of YG16 to YG18 and your career timeline allows for 4 to 5 years away from the operational Army without incurring any risk to promotion, you may apply and inform the selection board of your unique timeline/career path via TEACH. We are always in search of talented officers who can enrich the faculty team through unique backgrounds. 

If accepted to join the SOSH faculty, you will pursue graduate work at a high-caliber university. The majority of our faculty earn graduate degrees in political science, international affairs, public administration (MPA), public policy (MPP), economics, finance, or business administration (MBA). Which degree you pursue depends in part on which of our three academic programs you are selected to serve in: International Affairs, American Politics, or Economics. Please take a look at the Social Sciences website, which will provide the backgrounds and graduate schools attended by current faculty. We are always willing to consider new schools and programs.

At times, the department also has positions available for direct hire candidates who already possess an appropriate advanced degree (We call this a "Direct Hire;" please see the FAQs for more information on this process). Availability of these positions varies from year to year. Application should also be submitted through the TEACH system at least 1 year in advance, though earlier is better. This allows us to be aware of your interest and background in the event that a position becomes available.

What Would I Be Teaching?

The department continually seeks talented faculty who are experts in the disciplines that comprise our majors and minors - American politics, economics, international affairs, American foundations (co-sponsored with History), terrorism studies, grand strategy - and are committed to enhancing the education and development of cadets.

Explore academic programs Review the SOSH course catalog
What Are Some Opportunities to Advance in My Career?

The Department of Social Sciences' research centers offer a robust selection of research, scholarship, collaboration, and professional development opportunities to help our faculty remain at the forefront of their disciplines.

Explore SOSH research centers

Application Packets Due by Nov. 1

Start your TEACH application (CAC-Enabled)
Learn More About Applying at West Point

Rotating military faculty consists of of active-duty captains, majors, and lieutenant colonels. An assignment to West Point as a rotating faculty member requires officers to submit an application through the CAC-enabled TEACH system. 

View requirements by degree type and timelines How to apply Frequently asked questions

Department-Specific Questions and Requirements

SOSH encourages every applicant to take the GRE and then optionally take the GMAT as a supplement. Having a strong GRE score will give you maximum flexibility for being accepted to SOSH. Though teaching in the Economics program and pursuing a MBA might be your first choice, you might be offered a position with another program (American Politics or International Affairs). To get into graduate programs for AP and IA, you will require a GRE score. 

By only submitting a GMAT score, you are limiting your odds for acceptance to SOSH by only being eligible for one degree, for which you might not be selected. Also, almost all top-tier MBA programs accept GRE scores interchangeably with GMAT scores. 

If an MBA is of interest to you, SOSH encourages you to focus your initial energy on the GRE, and once you have a score that will make you competitive for SOSH, shift your efforts towards taking the GMAT to see if you score comparatively better.  

Absolutely not! SOSH seeks officers from all backgrounds and makes a distinct effort to ensure that not all instructors come from the same colleges, commissioning sources, or branches. The department maintains a faculty with a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences, and having officers from ROTC and OCS is important for the development of cadets at USMA.

Unfortunately, our TDA slots are currently only officer billets. However, West Point as an institution has many excellent opportunities to use the knowledge and experience possessed by senior NCOs and Warrant Officers in teaching and developing cadets.

SOSH seeks a well-rounded and diverse cohort with a variety of Army and academic backgrounds. Every year, the department fields about 130 applicants, of which about 65 will have competitive files. SOSH typically accepts 12 to 14 officers from this pool. These officers demonstrate that they have the academic and military potential for exceptional performance in graduate school and as a faculty member.

Currently, SOSH does not have any openings or slots for additional IMA officers. If you are a Army Reserve Major or Lieutenant Colonel with a graduate degree from an appropriate program and possess talents that will contribute to the development of cadets, please email your resume to the department’s Faculty Hiring Officer. 

The department has 5 IMA positions and all are currently filled. However, when slots become available, SOSH looks to the list of those who have previously expressed interest to find officers who will continue to provide a cohort of IMAs with diversity of experiences. Please be aware that these slots do not come open often or regularly.

SOSH offers robust opportunities for cadet development outside the classroom. You can volunteer to escort cadets on an academic summer enrichment opportunity, mentor a cadet-run department clubs (Debate, Model UN, Domestic Affairs Forum, Investment Club, International Affairs Forum), or partner with a cadet on research outside the classroom.  Many SOSH faculty take cadets on AIADs to countries across the world, mentor cadets on sports teams, or help with cadet summer training. These opportunities are open to all interested faculty.  You should express your preferences upon your arrival to SOSH.

Follow SOSH

See what the Department of Social Sciences is up to now.

Contact Us

If you have other questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Faculty Hiring Team.

Contact SOSH
Learn More About SOSH

The mission of the Department of Social Sciences is to educate and inspire cadets through core courses and academic majors in economics and political science, interdisciplinary minors, and related cadet development activities, and to attract, develop, and employ a faculty that excels in teaching, cadet development, scholarship and outreach, to prepare cadets and faculty to serve as leaders of character who make distinguished contributions to the Army and the nation.

Learn more about the department Meet the SOSH staff and faculty
Other Opportunities

It takes a team to ensure the U.S. Military Academy at West Point can fulfill its mission to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets. There are roles for military and civilian faculty to teach cadets and for those both in and out of uniform to ensure the systems and processes required to operate a military installation and college campus are in place and running efficiently.

Commissioned officers Non-commissioned officers Civilians