Army ROTC Course Descriptions

Goals: To develop student leadership, ethics and personal skills; reinforce a students sense of honor and personal responsibility; enhance communication and decision making skills; and increase awareness of national defense issues. Students are required to participate in physical training and enroll in a leadership laboratory. MS 100 & MS 101 satisfy a portion of core graduation requirements. Students interested in receiving their commission as an Army officer must complete either the Four-Year or the Two-Year program.

Four-Year Program

Complete the Basic and Advanced course listed below. Students take one course and participate in a leadership laboratory each semester. Attend Leadership Development and Assessment Course, a five week leadership course conducted at Fort Lewis, Washington during the summer between junior and senior year. Complete an approved course or show proficiency in each of the following areas: human behavior, computer literacy, mathematical reasoning, and written communications

FRESHMAN YEAR (MS I)-Fall Semester
• MS 100 Introduction to Military Science I . . . . . . 1
• MS 100 Leadership Lab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

SPRING SEMESTER
• MS 101 Introduction to Military Science II . . . . . .1
• MS 101 Leadership Lab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

SOPHOMORE YEAR (MS II)-Fall Semester
• MS 200 Perspectives in Leadership I . . . . . .  . . . . .2
• MS 200 Perspectives in Leadership Lab . . . . . . .. . .0

SPRING SEMESTER
• MS 201 Perspectives in Leadership II . . . . . . . . ... .3
• MS 201 Perspectives in Leadership Lab . . . . . . .. . .0

JUNIOR YEAR (MS III)-Fall Semester
• MS 300 Military Leadership Development . . . . . . ..3
• MS 300 Military Leadership Development Lab . ... ..0

SPRING SEMESTER
• MS 301 Advanced Leadership Development . . .. . . ..3
• MS 301 Advanced Leadership Development Lab . . . .0
• ADVANCED CAMP (5-weeks, Summer)

MS 302 Advanced Leadership Practicum . . . . . . . . .6
SENIOR YEAR (MS IV)-Fall Semester
• MS 400 Seminar: Leadership & Management . . . . . .3
• MS 400 Leadership & Management Lab . . . . . . .. . .0
  
SPRING SEMESTER
• MS 401 Advanced Seminar: Leadership &

Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... .3
• MS 401 Advanced Leadership & Management

Lab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
COMMISSIONED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . .25

Two-Year Program

Attend Leader's Training Course, a paid, no obligation, five week Army internship conducted at Fort Knox, Kentucky during the summer between sophomore and junior year. Attendance of the Leader's Training Course satisfies required freshman and sophomore classes (Basic Course requirements). Students attending Leader's Training Course may receive up to seven credit hours towards graduation requirements. Successful completion of Basic Training also satisfies this requirement. Complete all of the Advanced Courses listed below. This requires students to take on class and Leadership Laboratory each semester. Attend , a five week course conducted at Fort Lewis, Washington during the summer between junior and senior year. Complete an approved course or show proficiency in each of the following areas: human behavior, computer literacy, mathematical reasoning, and written communications.

Successful completion of at least 54 semester hours required prior to enrollment. (For Truman students who did not take ROTC during their freshmen and sophomore years, and transfer students)*



• *Leaders Training Course (4 weeks Summer) . . . . . . . . . . . 7

JUNIOR YEAR, FALL SEMESTER
• MS 300 Military Leadership Development . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
• MS 300 Military Leadership Development Lab . . . . . . . . . 0

SPRING SEMESTER
• MS 301 Advanced Leadership Development . . . . . . . . . . . 3
• MS 301 Advanced Leadership Development Lab . . . . . . . .0
• ADVANCED CAMP (5-weeks, Summer)

MS 302 Advanced Leadership Practicum . . . . . . . .. . . . . .6
THIRD SEMESTER
• MS 400 Seminar: Leadership & Management . . . . . . . . . . 3
• MS 400 Leadership & Management Lab . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

FOURTH SEMESTER
• MS 401 Advanced Seminar: Leadership &

Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
• MS 401 Advanced Leadership & Management

Lab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

COMMISSIONED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

A Written Communication Skills Course is designed to promote writing effectiveness. Recommended courses: Advanced English Composition, Creative Writing, Business Writing OR Scientific Writing & Languages, Writing for Mass Communicating. Alternate Courses: Linguistics, Logic, other courses with Professor of Military Science’s permission.

A Human Behavior Course helps in order to gain knowledge of human and societal development as a basis for understanding of the human aspects of command, military operations and training, and combat and training developments. Recommended courses are: General Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Ethics. Alternate courses with Professor of Military Science’s permission.

Provides an overview of the mission and roles of the US Army, the Reserve Officers Training Corps, the National Guard, the Army Reserves, and the Department of Defense in support of the Constitution. Emphasis is also given on developing a personal physical fitness program. This course along with MS101 fulfills the Personal Well-Being as an Essential Skill requirement.

Teaches students the principles of war, basic small unit tactics, basic map reading, and treatment of hot and cold weather injuries. Basic leadership principles are also emphasized. This course along with MS100 fulfills the Personal Well-Being as an Essential Skill requirement.

Ranger Challenge is the national ROTC "Varsity" team competition that tests mental and physical endurance and teamwork. Ranger Challenge offers eight weeks of training covering eight separate events. The events are the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), orienteering, one-rope bridge, weapon assembly/disassembly, grenade assault course, weapons firing, small unit patrolling, and a 10 kilometer road march. Students will train 14.5 hours per week and four of the eight weekends, in preparation for the final Ranger Challenge competition. This course is only offered during the fall semester.

Emphasis is on developing leadership skills and self-confidence. Students learn and practice leadership techniques and study communications skills, human behavior, motivation, ethics, counseling, and general principles of organizational and individual leadership. Students also study American Military History from the French and Indian War to the War of 1812. MS 201

Emphasis is on the continued practice and refinement of leadership skills. Students also learn effective military writing and speaking. Small unit tactics and American Military History from the War of 1812 to the Mexican-American War are also studied. This course is [WRITING ENHANCED] and counts as one of the two writing enhanced courses that must be taken, as outlined in the Liberal Studies Program.

Leadership Practicum in management decision-making and problem solving in small group situations. Emphasis is placed on basic military leadership, tactical and technical skills development. The mandatory labs enables students to apply military skills learned in prior classes and leadership labs in preparation for Advanced Camp. Map reading and military communications practical exercises are also conducted. The military aspects of the Civil War through the Spanish-American War are also studied.

Students learn the leader's role in directing and coordination individual and small unit efforts to execute offensive and defensive tactical missions. Tactics, combat support and troop leading procedures are also studied, as well as the American involvement in World War I.

A five-week practical training exercise in a field training environment at a military installation to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate leadership capabilities. Required for all cadets prior to being commissioned. Sucessful completion of the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), Land Navigation Course, rifle marksmanship, and leadership performance evaluation is required for practicum credit. Students are paid for this experience.

MS 303 Theory, History and Doctrine of War
3 credit hours

MS 303 serves as an introduction to the study of military theory, history and doctrine for future Army Officers.  Students will be challenged to synthesize a selection of military classics theories of recognized and enduring significance, study battles from a historically contextualized tactical, operational and strategic perspective, and understand the foundational doctrine of the U.S. Army and Joint Armed Forces of the United States. MS 303 is also designed to satisfy the US Army Cadet Command’s military history pre-commissioning professional military education requirement IAW TRADOC Reg 350-13.   

Students learn the "Staff Ride" methodology and develop critical thinking, briefing and writing skills used in a formal analysis of a military battle. This course satisfies the mandatory Profession Military Education requirement.

Advanced leadership skills, counseling, personell management, command and staff functions, training management, written and oral communications, and military skills are emphasized. The US Army Role in World War II and Korea are also examined. Students also serve as primary leaders within the Bulldog Battalion.

The capstone Military Science experience is designed to assist students with the transition to duty in the Active Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard. Emphasis is placed on professional and personal ethics, personal finance planning, the military logistical system, and Military Law. The US Army involvement in Vietnam, Desert Storm and the future role of the US Army in support of national policy are also studied.