Starfleet Academy

Facts

• Military academy for Starfleet officers
• Motto: "Ex Astris, Scientia" ("From the Stars, Knowledge")
• Academy operations and disciplinary procedures led by Superintendent of the Academy (TNG: "The First Duty", "Journey's End")
• Day-to-day cadet management and direction led by Commandant of the Academy (TNG: "Coming of Age"; DS9: "Paradise Lost")
  • Both positions filled by flag ranks only
• Main campus in San Francisco, United States of America, Earth
  • Headquarters at the Presidio, training facilities south of Sausilito (Star Trek)
  • Campus facilities
    • Academy Central Union (TNG Novel: A Time to Be Born)
      • Sarek Lecture Hall (TNG Novel: A Time to Be Born)
        • Largest Academy lecture hall (TNG Novel: A Time to Be Born)
    • Preparatory Center (TNG Novel: A Time to Be Born)
      • Located in domed building within northeast quadrant (TNG Novel: A Time to Be Born)
• Annex campuses established on various Federation worlds
  • Especially common in more distant areas where regular relocation to Earth is infeasible, but even core worlds may have annex campuses depending on available resources
  • Known annex campus locations
    • Relva VII (TNG: "Coming of Age")
    • Miracht (DS9 Novel: Ascendance)
• Academy keeps both civilian and Starfleet instructors
  • Starfleet Academy instructors

General Operations

Entrance process

• No specific age requirement given the varying maturation rates of different species, but especially young entrants with respect to their species require approval by the Academy board
  • See Wesley taking the entrance exam at age 15, "Coming of Age", for example
• Sponsorship by command-level officer optional, but provides waiving of certain requirements (VAN Novel: Reap the Whirlwind; TOS: "The Apple"; VOY: "Tattoo")
  • Individuals who are not Federation citizens require sponsorship by a command-level officer (DS9: "Heart of Stone")
  • Difference presumptive given that reference to sponsorship into Academy mentioned throughout 23rd, 24th century for Human officers, implying it aids in process for some but is required for non-Federation citizens
• Various preparatory institutes established on Federation worlds (VOY Novel: Mosaic)
  • Such institutes offer general education oriented as early as age 12 (VOY Novel: Mosaic)
    • Oriented towards Academy preparation, but provides a broad enough educational program that many enter their children in such courses with no plans of eventual Starfleet membership
  • Top-performing students offered slots at Starfleet Academy upon graduation, waiving other requirements (VOY Novel: Mosaic)
• Starfleet Academy Preparatory Program, six-week course, is offered every year to all qualifying applicants as preparation for entrance exam (DS9: "Facets"; TNG Novel: A Time to Be Born; possibly referenced in TNG: "Coming of Age")
  • On-campus program held in Preparatory Center (TNG Novel: A Time to Be Born)
• Entrance exam offered annually at all campuses following completion of the program (TNG: "Coming of Age")
  • Completion of the program not required to take the exam (TNG: "Coming of Age")
  • If not passed, but the applicant's score is still above a certain threshold, it may be retaken the following year
• Standardly a four-year process from acceptance to graduation as Ensign, but this schedule can be delayed or accelerated by circumstance
• Those in training known alternatively as "cadet" or "midshipman"

Academy Experience

• Academy runs on a two-semester schedule
  • Fall semester spans November to March
    • Wesley taking entrance exam in June 2364, "Coming of Age"; judging by below Nog example this would potentially fit entry into Fall semester (if a bit early) were he to have passed
  • Spring semester spans April to August
    • Nog prepping for exam December 2371, "Facets", in Academy by April 2372, "Homefront"
  • Cadets can begin training in either term
• All cadets given a copy of the Starfleet Survival Guide upon their entry (TOS Novel: Errand of Vengeance: Killing Blow)
• Training focused in specific service branch after first year
  • Command track offers general training in all branches in addition to command-focused training at Starfleet Command School (VOY: "Parallax")
    • Also includes courses in diplomacy in the event of first contact scenarios or other cases where a starship commanding officer will be required to represent the Federation
  • Medical track includes both research and field training
  • Science track focused on a particular field; program equivalent to an accelerated Masters program
    • Also provides post-graduate study for doctoral research (DIS Novel: The Way to the Stars)
• On-campus residency required in first, second year, optional in third or fourth year (VOY Novel: Mosaic)

Required Courses

• Diversity awareness (TTN Novel: Taking Wing)
  • Focused largely on deconstructing biological and cultural stereotypes to allow for better cross-species interactions (TTN Novel: Taking Wing)
    • Presumably, more basic gender/sexual identity/racial diversity awareness training isn't included by default but is available as needed
• Basic training
  • Includes low-resolution holographic piloting simulations by mid-24th century (SCE Short Story: "Wildfire, Book 2")
• Post-traumatic Psychology courses required for all members (DS9 Novel: Avatar, Book One)
  • Instructs on coping methods for traumatic situations and scenarios (DS9 Novel: Avatar, Book One)

Graduation

• Graduation and commencement ceremony in mid-September (TNG: "The First Duty")
  • Second smaller ceremony occurs in mid-May for those completing their program in the first semester
  • Commencement ceremony includes a commencement speech from an invited speaker (Novel: Articles of the Federation)
• Graduates granted the rank of Ensign (Various)
  • New ensigns usually receive first assignment within days if not weeks

Post-Graduation Programs

• Advanced Tactical Training (TNG: "Preemptive Strike"; TOS Novel: Ex Machina)
  • One-year program giving high-level tactical instruction beyond the basic combat requirements needed for security service
    • Program known to be held at main campus, Tellar annex campus (TOS: Ex Machina; DS9 Novel: "Ascendance")
  • Includes field instruction, leading and directing teams, more advanced combat techniques, detailed briefings on foreign powers, starship operations and security
  • Requirement before being allowed assignment as chief of security or chief tactical officer
• Bridge Officer's Test (TNG: "Thine Own Self")
  • Multi-stage test to demonstrate command suitability
  • No officer outside the command track may take command of a starship outside an emergency situation without having passed this test
  • Likely required to achieve Commander rank for those on starship duty
  • Can be given by any command crew officer

Starfleet Law Academy

• Standardly a three-year program equivalent to civilian law school (VAN Novel: Open Secrets)

Starfleet Medical Academy

• Name via "Rivals"'
• Standardly a four-year program equivalent to civilian medical school, offered to those progressing along the medical branch
• Can also be entered directly by civilians from pre-med on approval of the Academy board
  • McCoy known to have attended Ole Miss, seems not to have attended Starfleet Academy by "The Ultimate Computer"
• Entrants are granted the rank of lieutenant, junior grade upon graduation (DS9: "Emissary")
• Includes a one-year field residency