About the Department
The mission of the Department of BSL is to educate cadets in the leader-development, social, psychological, and management sciences in preparation for careers as commissioned leaders of character, inspiring in them the values of Duty, Honor, Country.
The department's vision is to be the world's preeminent academic department focused on leader development.
Majors
A unifying theme crosses all majors within BLS is the fundamental understanding of human behavior, both as individuals and in groups. This underlying basis ensures that every program of study in the department has direct and immediate relevance to the lives of our graduates during their careers as Army officers and beyond.
Research
The West Point Leadership Center develops and inspires cadets as leaders of character through several margin of excellence programs and initiatives.
Internships
BSL offers a variety of international and domestic summer enrichment internship programs for cadets. Known throughout the academy as Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD), these opportunities are carefully selected to ensure they create excellent opportunities for cadets to practice the skills they learn in the classroom and employ their leadership skills in new and often challenging circumstances.
Honor Societies
Eligible cadets may choose to join an international honor society in psychology (Psi Chi), sociology (Alpha Kappa Delta), or the National Leadership Honor Society (Omicron Delta Kappa).
COL Archie L. Bates III
Acting Department Head
Professor, U.S. Military Academy
COL Archie Bates is an Academy Professor and acting head of the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at West Point. He graduated from West Point in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in management. He also holds a Master of Science in national security strategy from the National War College and a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park.
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