Military Science

Students desiring to expand the scope of their education, while preparing for a dynamic and rewarding career as an officer in the United States Army, Active Duty, National Guard or Army Reserve, choose the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program (ROTC) as an adjunct to their chosen field of study. With courses dealing in a wide range of subjects from leadership to tactics, taught both indoors and out, the Army ROTC program produces over 5,000 second lieutenants each year across the nation.

The Army ROTC program consists of a basic course and an advanced course. Students desiring to see what the program is like may enroll in up to 13 hours of military science with no commitment to the United States Army. During this basic course, emphasis is placed upon leadership, war gaming, individual skills, problem-solving, rappelling and land navigation. All lower-division ROTC courses are open to the entire University community regardless of year in school.

Students committing themselves to a commission in the United States Army are required to enroll in the Army ROTC advanced course upon completion of the basic course or equivalent. The advanced course consists of 12 hours of academic work taken during the junior and senior year. In addition, participation in a five-week summer camp is mandatory. The advanced course emphasizes further development of leadership skills, offensive and defensive tactics, physical conditioning, ethics, military law, professional and basic military knowledge and skills. Additionally, advanced course students are responsible for use of required military skills as they act as assistant instructors during laboratory periods, plan leadership laboratories, plan and conduct field training exercises and are responsible for coordinating and supervising departmental extracurricular activities. In addition there are several students who join Army ROTC in the simultaneous Membership Program in which they are both students in the ROTC and members of the Army Reserve or Oklahoma National Guard. This provides tremendous experience and economic benefit.

All advanced course students must satisfy directed professional military education (PME) requirements prior to receiving a commission. Commissioning through ROTC consists of two essential parts—a baccalaureate degree and completion of the advanced course requirements to include an upper-division military history course.

Students interested in the Department of Military Science are encouraged to visit with departmental faculty members at any time for further information concerning departmental course offerings and class sequence. A number of two-and three-year scholarships are available through the department. Prior enrollment in military science is not a prerequisite for departmental scholarship application.