The request to establish a minor in Military Science

Note: Deletions are strikethroughs.  Insertions are underlined.

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The Department of Military Science—also known as the Army ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) Department—offers qualified students the opportunity to obtain a commission as an officer in the United States Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard while they are earning a college degree. The ROTC Program provides world class leadership training opportunities applicable in corporate, executive, and government leadership positions.  This program will develop confident, responsible, self-disciplined leaders through leader development plans, self assessments and peer assessments.  This opportunity is open to both men and women. Students may pursue either a four-year or a two-year program of Military Science instruction leading to a commission as an Army Second Lieutenant.  The Military Science Department also offers a Minor in Military Science open to those students who are admitted into Army ROTC. 

The Programis divided into two parts: the Basic Course and the Advanced Course with a lateral entry option (the Two-Year Program).

TheBasic Course is usually taken during the first and second years, and covers such subjects as management principles, national defense, military history, and leadership development.  Enrollment in the Basic Course can begin in any term in the first and second years. No military commitment is incurred for participation in the Basic Course. After completing the Basic Course, students who have demonstrated the potential to become officers and who have met the physical and scholastic standards for commissioning are eligible to enroll in the Advanced Course. Students pursuing a military commission receive Basic Course credit by completing Military Science 1000 and 2000 level courses; attending the Leaders Training Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky; or by completion of Military Basic Training.

The Two-year Commissioning Program is designed for Juniors who did not take ROTC during the first two years of college and want to pursue a military commission. To enter the two-year program, students must attend a fully-paid, four-week, Leadership Training Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky, during the summer between the second and third years or completion of Basic Training. After successfully completing the Leadership Training Course, students who meet scholastic requirements may enroll in the Advanced Course.

TheAdvanced Course is taken during the last two years. It includes instruction in organization and management, principles of training management, tactics, ethics and professionalism, further leadership development, and physical fitness training. During the summer between their third and fourth years, Advanced Course students pursuing a military commissionwill attend a fully-paid, four-week, Leadership Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis, WA. This course gives students the chance to put into practice the leadership theories and principles, and military skills learned in the classroom, and introduces them to how the Army functions in a field environment. Advanced Course students must complete Military Science 3000 and 4000 level courses and one 3-credit hour American military history class.  Students not pursuing a military commission would receive the same credited class and lab hours but would not participate in the following:  physical fitness program, field training exercises, the Leader Development and Assessment Course, or other incentive programs. Completion of the advanced course results in a Military Science Minor.

The Military Science Minor:

The minor is open only to students who are admitted into the ROTC program and who are pursuing a commission as an officer in the United States Army.  A minor in Military Science provides expertise in leadership, ethics, professionalism, briefing techniques, national security issues, American history, team-building, military law, as well as written and oral communication skills.  Experience gained through this minor would be an advantage to any student interested in future government employment.

This minor in Military Science provides students with an opportunity to study leadership in a contemporary operational environment with a focus on military involvement in political decisions. This minor recognizes that the academic study of Military Science is intrinsically linked to political and international relations with focus on particular aspects of leadership.  In addition to taking courses in Military Science, students participating in this minor would select a course pertaining to military history related topics that impact the social, economic and political environment.

A minor in Military Science consists of a minimum of 19 credit hours, 16 hours at the 3000 level and above within the department and one American military history related course. Thecumulative grade-point average (GPA) for all courses used toward the minor must be 2.0 or greater, with no individual course grade lower than a C.

Core Required Courses for Minor (16 hours):

Elective American military history related courses (3 Hours):

*Other courses that do not appear on this list, may be approved by the department chair if they pertain to military history.