When you become a part of Army ROTC, you're not just working toward a degree, but an even brighter future as a leader alongside other motivated Cadets. You'll have a college schedule like your fellow students, but you'll also receive classroom and field courses that will challenge and excite you.

Course Structure

Army ROTC courses are divided into the Basic Course and the Advanced Course.

Basic Course

The Basic Course comprises elective courses that you can participate in during your freshman and sophomore undergraduate years without any obligation to join the Army. Any student with an interest in ROTC or leadership opportunities within higher education may participate in these courses to satisfy elective course credits within their degree works. As a student in the Basic Course, you will have many opportunities to develop yourself as a future leader of your organization, your community, and your country. These courses include:

• MISC 101 Introduction to Military Science (Fall Semester Freshman Year. 2 Credits.)
• MISC 102 Basic Military Skills (Spring Semester Freshman Year. 2 Credits.)
• MISC 200 Leadership Development I (Fall Semester Sophomore Year. 3 Credits.)
• MISC 201 Leadership Development II (Spring Semester Sophomore Year. 3 Credits.)
• HIST 327 American Military History (Fall and Spring Semesters. 3 Credits.)

The Basic Course addresses military organizations, equipment, weapons, map reading, land navigation, management skills, grade structure, communications, and leadership; with no contractual obligations or commitments. Credit for the Basic Course may be granted for participation in Basic Camp, high school JROTC, or for active military service of four or more months. This is done on a case-by-case basis.

Advanced Course

The Advanced Course comprises courses that must be taken by ROTC Cadets in order to graduate and commission as a United States Army Officer. Students who decide to contract with ROTC take these courses during their junior and senior years (undergraduate) or during their two years as a graduate student. These courses are not open for non-contracted students to take as an elective for their degree works; students must be contracted within Army ROTC to commission as a United States Army Officer in order to take these courses and must take courses in sequence to fulfill prerequisite requirements. A student must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. permanent resident with eligibility to receive U.S. citizenship upon graduation.

Non-contracted student enrollment is approved on a case-by-case basis by the Department Chair only in the event that students wish to contract immediately upon enrolling in these courses. Students who are interested in contracting with ROTC can enter the Advanced Course directly as an undergraduate junior or graduate student without completing the Basic Course, given that they satisfy "Basic Course Credit" during a summer semester (either completing Basic Camp at Fort Knox, KY or graduating from U.S. Army Basic Combat Training). 

These courses include:

• MISC 301 Introduction to Team and Small Unit Operations (Fall Semester Junior Year. 3 Credits.)
• MISC 302 Introduction to Military Training Management (Spring Semester Junior Year. 3 Credits.)
• MISC 401 Military Science IV (Fall Semester Senior Year. 3 Credits.)
• MISC 402 Military Science IV (Spring Semester Senior Year. 3 Credits.)

On a case-by-case basis, students who have successfully completed the Advanced Course but require more than eight total semesters to receive their undergraduate degree may take the following courses to fulfill specific graduation requirements. Note that most students do not take these courses. These courses are not open for non-contracted ROTC students to take as an elective. Student enrollment must be approved by the Department Chair.

• MISC 498 Adaptive Leadership (Special Circumstances Only. 3 Credits.)
• MISC 499 Leadership in a Complex World (Special Circumstances Only. 3 Credits)

Army ROTC students who enter the Army ROTC Advanced Course or receive an Army ROTC scholarship must agree to complete a period of service with the Army by contracting as a Cadet within the Department of Military Science.

• You can serve full time in the Army for three years (four years for scholarship winners)
• Selected Cadets may choose to serve part time in the U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing a civilian career

Example of a Student's Academic Timeline in ROTC

Note that this academic timeline reflects commonly observed student academic alignment. Some students' timelines may deviate based on conditions listed above.

Course Outcomes

First-Year: Preparing For Success As An Army Officer

• Introduction to Army Leadership
• Army Customs and Traditions
• Military Operations and Tactics
• Goal Setting and Accomplishment
• Health and Physical Fitness

Sophomore Year: The Role Of An Officer

• Applied Leadership Theory
• Communications
• Principles of War
• Military Operations and Tactics

Junior Year: Leading Small Tactical Units

• Command and Staff Functions
• Law of War
• Weapons
• Team Dynamics and Peer Leadership
• Military Operations and Small Unit Tactics

Senior Year: Transition To Becoming An Officer

• Training the Force
• Military Justice
• Ethical Decision Making
• Personnel Management
• Cultural Awareness
• Post and Installation Support
• Military Operations and Tactics

Snapshot in History

The senior class of 2020 conducts a Staff Ride at the Pentagon. The Staff Ride is the capstone project for seniors in their last semester. It is an educational tool designed primarily for military leaders to study historical battles and campaigns directly in the field where they took place. The purpose of a Staff Ride is to analyze past military operations and decisions to glean lessons that can be applied to modern military practices. Staff Rides provide an immersive experience that helps develop critical leadership skills by allowing leaders to envision themselves in the roles of historical commanders, thereby understanding the complexities and pressures those leaders faced. Staff Rides are a valuable pedagogical tool in professional military education, facilitating a blend of historical study and practical leadership training.