ROTC Curriculum

OVERVIEW

The Army ROTC curriculum is divided into two main phases:

Basic Course (Freshman & Sophomore Years)

Covers foundational military knowledge and leadership principles through MIL 101, 102, 211, and 212. Students learn basic soldier skills, Army values, time management, and team-building—no military commitment required during this phase.

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Students who did not start ROTC as freshmen—including current upperclassmen, transfer students, and graduate students—may be eligible to take these courses concurrently with approval to remain on track for commissioning.

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Advanced Course (Junior & Senior Years)

MIL 301, 302, 411, and 412 focus on advanced leadership, tactics, and command responsibilities. Students assume leadership roles, plan and conduct training, and prepare for commissioning as Second Lieutenants. Completion of the  Basic Course or equivalent is required.

Graduate students may qualify to enter directly into the Advanced Course, depending on prior military experience or completion of Basic Camp. 

BASIC COURSE

MIL 101 (F), MIL 102 (S), MIL 211 (F), MIL 212 (S)
No military obligation required

MIL 101 & MIL 102

Prerequisite: None

100-level classes are available to all students. The curriculum is mostly about life skills focused on organization, effective communication, time management, goal setting, and other basic leadership skills that are essential for success. Basic military knowledge is mixed into the curriculum as a foundation for the ROTC experience, which include rappelling, map reading, land navigation, basic marksmanship, military customs, cultural awareness, Army rank structure, and much more. There is no commitment to the U.S. Army, unless the student is on an Army ROTC scholarship.

MIL 211 & MIL 212

Prerequisite: MIL 101 & MIL 102, or permission

200-level classes are available to all students. The curriculum emphasizes the practical application of individual skills necessary to succeed as a member of a tactical team in a field environment. Subject matter includes land navigation, introduction to tactics, first aid, operation orders, specialty teams, patrol base operations, physical fitness, and a variety of other skills.

BASIC COURSE EQUIVALENCE

Basic Camp

Permission only - Eligibility requirements apply
31-day training event at Fort Knox, KY

Credit for the Basic Course may be earned through completion of Basic Camp or Basic Training. This is usually for students with less than 6-semesters remaining to graduate who have missed the Basic Course curriculum and plan to enter the Advanced Course in the upcoming Fall semester. Students wishing to attend Basic Camp need to make arrangements early, preferably during the spring semester, due to limited availability. Contact the Scholarship and Enrollment Officer for details.

Basic Training

Veteran students from any branch of service who have completed Basic Training may be eligible for advanced placement. Contact the Scholarship and Enrollment Officer for details.

ADVANCED COURSE

MIL 301 (F), MIL 302 (S), MIL 325 (Su), MIL 411 (F), MIL 412 (S)
Prerequisites: *Permission, *Basic Course completion or credit
*Service eligibility and obligation

300-level classes are available to “contracted” students who have met the Basic Course and eligibility requirements to become an Army Officer upon graduation. This is where the rubber meets the road and a decisive point in the path to become an Army Officer.

The curriculum includes advanced training in small unit tactics, land navigation, physical fitness, and a variety of leadership skills necessary to plan and lead a tactical mission at the Squad and Platoon level. Students will be heavily immersed in leadership roles that involve responsibility, accountability, leading organized activities, leading tactical missions in a consequence-driven field environment, develop plans of action, use operation orders, and a variety of practical application experiences designed to refine leadership skills.

400-level classes are available to “contracted” Army ROTC students who have completed the 300-level courses.

Seniors in the ROTC program function as battalion staff and are responsible for planning, resourcing, and executing most of the leadership labs, special events, and other activities. Their roles are equivalent to that of Operation or Resource Managers. Event planning can be very in-depth and requires critical thinking skills that take second and third order effects into consideration. Resource planning for such things as transportation, billeting, medical support, communication plan, recovery operations, logistics, manpower management, facility resourcing, and a multitude of other areas that require leadership and oversight.

ADVANCED CAMP

Advanced Camp is scheduled during the summer between the 300- and 400-level courses.

The mission of Advanced Camp is to assess a Cadet’s potential to serve as a commissioned officer. It is the most significant training and evaluation event in ROTC. Training is complex, challenging, and rigorous and is conducted in a stressful training environment. The goal is to develop agile and adaptive leaders that solve problems and thrive in ambiguous, complex operating environments.