Courses
Army ROTC is a college elective curriculum taken along with required college classes. It prepares students with the tools, training and experiences that will provide success in any competitive environment. Along with great leadership training, Army ROTC can pay for college tuition, too. Cadets have a normal college student experience like everyone elseon campus, but when they graduate, they are commissioned as Officer in the Army.
Students who complete the four-year program take classes once or twice a week as freshmen through seniors. Cadets who enter the program having missed sophomore or junior year are called “Lateral Entry Cadets.” They require the summer Basic Camp program to substitute for their first two years of military science classes. Basic Camp is a 37-day training event held at Ft. Knox, KY, designed to introduce cadets to the Army. Basic Camp also allows second-year (Military Science II or MS II) cadets to gain squad leader experience, which provides opportunities for some MS III (rising senior) cadets to fulfill roles as platoon-level leaders. Basic Camp consists of eight regiments, or nearly 3,000 cadets. The objective is for cadets to develop leadership skills and to train them on individual and junior leader tasks to develop and reinforce Warrior Ethos and our Army Values.
Basic Camp cadets graduate the course prepared to lead at the team (3-4 cadets) and squad (9-13 cadets) level. They continue taking classes twice a week during their junior and senior years. Sophomores considering the program as juniors should contact us to determine eligibility as early as possible in the second semester of their sophomore year. Military science courses maximize hands-on practical exercises, allowing students to achieve training objectives through classroom experiences. The department uses U.S. Army National Cadet Command curriculum as the basis for each military science and leadership course. Instructors are first and foremost, current or past military service members themselves—a fact that makes an ROTC education all the more relevant to the operational army.
Military Science and Leadership
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MSCL 101 Introduction to the Army
Units: 0-0.5
DescriptionIntroduction to the personal challenges and competencies that are critical for effective leadership and communication. Learn how the personal development of life skills such as cultural understanding, goal setting, time management, stress management, and comprehensive fitness related to leadership, officership, and the Army profession. Further acquaintance with this course allows additional learning about the structure of the ROTC Basic Course program consisting of MSCL 101, 102, 201, 202, fall and spring leadership labs, and Basic Camp. Focus on developing basic knowledge and comprehension of Army leadership dimensions, attributes and core leader competencies while gaining an understanding of the ROTC program, its purpose in the Army and its advantages for the student.
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MSCL 102 Foundations of Agile and Adaptive Leadership
Units: 0-0.5
DescriptionIntroduction to the professional challenges and competencies that are needed for effective execution of the profession of arms and Army communication. Emphasis on the personal development of life skills such as critical thinking, time management, goal setting, and communication. Cadets learn the basics of the communications process and the importance of developing the essential skills to effectively communicate in the Army. Cadets will begin learning the basics of squad level tactics that will be reinforced during a weekly leadership lab facilitated by MS III Cadets (third-year, or juniors) and supervised by cadre.
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MSCL 201 Leadership and Decision Making
Units: 0-0.5
DescriptionIntroduces cadets to the personal challenges and competencies that are critical for effective leadership. Cadets learn how the personal development of life skills such as critical thinking, time management, goal setting, stress management, and comprehensive fitness relate to leadership, and the Army profession. The focus is on developing basic knowledge and comprehension of Army leadership dimensions while gaining understanding of the big picture of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, its purpose in the Army, and its advantages for the student.
PrerequisitesMSCL 101 and MSCL 102
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MSCL 202 Army Doctrine and Team Development
Units: 0-0.5
DescriptionFocuses on Army doctrine and team development. The course begins the journey to understanding and demonstration of competencies as they relate to Army doctrine. Army values, teamwork, and “warrior ethos.” Their relationship to the law of land warfare, and philosophy of military service is stressed. The ability to lead and follow is also covered through team building exercises at squad level. Students are required to apply their knowledge outside the classroom in a hands-on performance-oriented environment during a weekly lab facilitated by MS III Cadets and supervised by Cadre.
PrerequisitesMSCL 201
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MSCL 205 Foundations of American Military History
Units: 0.5
DescriptionFocuses on major military engagements from the colonial period through the current operating environment and analysis of conflicts using the Principles of War and After Action Review lessons learned. Describes the military's role in society; examines the evolution of war and the progression of military professionalism; analyzes the major wars fought by the US Army, using the principles of war; discusses the role of the US military in joint operations; discusses the role of the US Army in humanitarian operations and nation-building at home and abroad and analyzes lessons learned from military history to the Contemporary Operating Environment (COE). COE case studies give insight into the importance and practice of teamwork and tactics in real-world scenarios.
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MSCL 301 Training Management and War Fighting Functions
Units: 0-1
DescriptionCadets focus on training management and the warfighting functions. In these academically challenging courses you will study, practice, and apply the fundamentals of Training Management and how the Army operates through the Warfighting functions. At the conclusion of this course, you will be capable of planning, preparing, and executing training for a squad conducting small unit tactics. Includes a lab once per week using peer facilitation overseen by MS IVs (seniors), supervised by ROTC Cadre. This course prepares the Cadet for the demands of the mandatory 32-day ROTC Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky
PrerequisitesMSCL 202 or MSCL 204
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MSCL 302 Applied Leadership in Small Unit Operations
Units: 0-1
DescriptionCadets focus on training management and the warfighting functions. In these academically challenging courses you will study, practice, and apply the fundamentals of Training Management and how the Army operates through the Warfighting functions. At the conclusion of this course, you will be capable of planning, preparing, and executing training for a squad conducting small unit tactics. Includes a lab once per week using peer facilitation overseen by MS IVs (seniors), supervised by ROTC Cadre. This course prepares the Cadet for the demands of the mandatory 32-day ROTC Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
PrerequisitesMSCL 301
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MSCL 390 Independent Study
Units: 0.5-1
DescriptionInstruction, case studies, and book analysis that build upon leadership competencies and military skills attained in earlier Military Science and Leadership courses. Online instruction and assignments mirror the syllabus for a student's normal pre-commissioning course progression. This course is available for sophomores, fall semester juniors, and senior cadets. This course is taught by the professor of military science.
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MSCL 401 The Army Officer
Units: 0-1
DescriptionCourse focuses on development of the Army Officer. It is an academically challenging course in which you will develop knowledge and skills, and the ability to plan, resource, and assess training at the small unit level. You will also learn about Army programs that support counseling subordinates and evaluating performance, values and ethics, career planning, and legal responsibilities. At the conclusion of this course, you will be familiar with how to plan, prepare, execute, and continuously assess the conduct of training at the company or field grade officer level.
PrerequisitesMSCL 302
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MSCL 402 Company Grade Leadership
Units: 0-1
DescriptionExplores the dynamics of leading in the complex situations during Unified Land Operations. Examines the Art of Command and how to properly communicate with Non-commissioned Officers (NCOs) and soldiers. Cultural Awareness and Property Protection discusses numerous situations on how ethical decisions impact personnel and the unit mission. Through understanding of roles and responsibilities, cadets learn about how Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF), Being Ready and Resilient (R2C), and Individual and Family Readiness can assist in preparing soldiers and their families for reducing and managing stress during times of uncertainty. Places significant emphasis on preparing for Basic Officer Leader Course-B (BOLC-C) and first unit of assignment. Uses mission command case studies and scenarios in preparation for facing the complex ethical demands of serving as a commissioned officer in the United States Army. Includes identification of leader roles and responsibilities for enforcing Army policies and programs. Exploration of the dynamics of building a team prepared to handle any future operational environment and win. Examines the importance of understanding culture and how it can affect your unit and mission. Develops both oral and written communication skills by conducting a battle analysis and decision briefs..
PrerequisitesMSCL 401