The ROTC program is built into your regular course work.
The main focus of ROTC is management and leadership skills development with increasing responsibilities as you progress through the program.
A typical cadet takes 1-4 credits of ROTC per semester.
The ROTC program itself can be taken on a four, three, or two-year basis.
The first two years are considered the Basic Course and the last two years are considered the Advanced Course.
Your status as a cadet determines the length of time you need to complete your ROTC requirements.
Even though ROTC is not an academic major field, the department does offer a minor in Military Science.
This year serves as the cadets' first introduction to the Army. The primary goals of these classes are to build and increase self-confidence and introduce the military and U.S. Army to the cadets/students. Foundations of Officership is the first course, offered in the fall semester. Basic Leadership, taken in the second semester, is a continuation of the topics taught in the first semester of the program. Additionally, the course will focus and teach effective leadership principles. These MS I classes meet for one hour a week with a two-hour leadership lab Wednesday afternoons. During each semester, cadets have the opportunity to attend a field training exercise. Both the fall and the spring FTX are conducted at Camp Ripley, MN in conjunction with other Army ROTC universities and colleges from Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. MS I and MS II level students may participate in these FTXs with no obligation to the military, unless they are 3 or 4-year scholarship cadets. There is no military obligation associated with taking the MS I courses, unless you are an ROTC Scholarship cadet.
Second-year cadets take the two-credit Individual Leadership Studies in the fall and Leadership & Teamwork in the spring. These also include the Wednesday afternoon leadership lab. These classes meet for two hours a week. Both classes focus on the fundamentals of leadership and how they are contrasted between military and civilian use. Second-year cadets may also attend the field training exercises at Camp Ripley each semester as part of the course. There is no military obligation to take these MS II courses either. Cadets with three or four-year ROTC scholarships are required to take these courses.
This is a five-week paid summer internship, usually taken between the sophomore and junior years. It is located at Ft. Knox, KY. Housing, food, clothing, and transportation are covered by the military. This is for students who have NOT completed the first two years of ROTC or have not previously completed military basic training. This qualifies the student to enter the ROTC Advanced Course.
The third year marks the beginning of the Advanced Course. While non-scholarship cadets may take the first two years with no military obligation, third-and fourth-year students must sign a contract incurring a military obligation to serve full-time (Active Duty) or part-time (National Guard or Reserve) once commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Cadets may be eligible for the Advanced Course if the following criteria are met:
Cadets who enroll must have academic junior, senior, or graduate student status with four semesters remaining before graduation. It is possible to enroll in ROTC as a senior with follow on to graduate school. The cadet and his academic adviser will complete an academic planning sheet prior to enrolling in the program to ensure timely completion of the ROTC program and all degree requirements.
During the fall semester, cadets take a three-credit course that meets Wednesday afternoons for three hours called Leadership & Problem Solving. This course consists of a series of practical opportunities to lead small groups, receive personal assessment, and develop skills necessary for military leadership. Students will study defensive tactics and apply those during lab periods and field training exercises. To take this course, students must sign a contract with Cadet Command and accept a period of service in the Army. The spring ROTC course, Leadership & Ethics meets during the same time for the same amount of hours. This course is an extension of Leadership & Problem Solving. This is also limited to students who sign a contract with Cadet Command. Both courses also require attendance at the Wednesday afternoon Leadership Labs each week.
Cadets enrolled in the MS III series are assigned rotating leadership positions within the Maverick Battalion and are evaluated on their performance and leadership abilities while in those positions. Third-year cadets practice briefing operations orders, executing small-unit tactics, leading and participating in physical training, and preparing for successful performance at the Leader Development Assessment Course during the summer following the third year. Attendance at the LDAC is mandatory.
The Leader Development Assessment Course (LDAC) is a paid five-week leadership course conducted at Fort Lewis, Washington, typically during the summer between the junior and senior year. At LDAC, cadets take on various leadership roles and are evaluated on their performance and leadership abilities in those positions. Cadets also participate in adventure training, to include, but not limited to: confidence and obstacle courses, rappelling, water safety, weapons firing, and patrolling. Cadets must attend this course to earn an Army commission.
This is the final year of the ROTC program and the main focus is towards preparing cadets to become successful lieutenants in the Army upon graduation and commissioning. Senior cadets apply for their branches (career field) of interest in the fall and receive branching results from the ROTC selection board in winter. Cadets are assigned cadet battalion staff positions and are responsible for evaluating MS III cadets and executing training operations and missions. During the fall of their senior year, cadets take Leadership & Management, a three-credit course that meets once a week for three hours. The spring ROTC course is called Officership, and it is also a three-credit course that meets once a week for three hours. Both courses also require attendance at the weekly leadership laboratory. The Professor of Military Science (PMS), chair of the Military Science & Leadership Department, teaches the MS IV classes. Upon successful completion of the ROTC program and graduation with a bachelors degree, cadets will receive a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
