Military Science (ROTC)

U.S. Army ROTC offers a program designed to train future junior officers for leadership with instruction that complements a baccalaureate degree. The program consists of three parts: earning an academic degree in a recognized field; college courses of particular interest and value to military service; and military science courses.

ROTC Student

The objectives of the Military ROTC program curriculum include providing students with an understanding of the nature and operation of the U.S. Army, developing leadership and managerial potential, and developing students’ abilities to think creatively and to speak and write effectively.

Essential to an officer’s education are the ability to evaluate situations before making decisions; the ability to understand people and how to lead; the fundamentals of self-discipline; the standards of performance and appearance; the ability to recognize these standards in others; and, above all, a strong sense of personal integrity, honor and responsibility.

While unified by the subject matter of leadership and management, the curriculum cuts across conventional boundaries, encouraging students to relate their learning from various disciplines and to apply it to reflective thinking, goal setting and problem solving.

Basic Course

The Basic Course is normally taken by first and sophomore-year students. It introduces basic subjects such as the history of the U.S. Army, organizational structure of the Army, techniques and principles of leadership and management, and map reading.

Advanced Course

The Advanced Course is taken by juniors and seniors. Students in the Advanced Course must sign a contract with the Army, pass a qualifying medical examination and physical fitness test, and have at least a 2.0 grade-point average. Studies concentrate on basic tactical operations, military teaching principles, and advanced techniques of leadership, management, and command.

Sample Courses

Introduction to the Army and Critical Thinking I (1 credit)

MIL 101
MIL 101 introduces 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 a big picture of understanding the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program, its purpose in the Army, and its advantages for the student.

Leadership Laboratory

MIL 103
Required of all ROTC students, this 120-minute weekly laboratory stresses soldier skills, drill and ceremony, performance-oriented military instruction techniques, and practical applications of classroom theory. All students must attend the laboratory in uniform. ROTC Advanced Course students are the primary instructors using the cadet chain of command as the instructional framework. All laboratory periods are supervised by Active Duty Army cadre.

Foundations of Tactical Leadership (1 credit)

MIL 202
Study examines how to build successful teams, various methods for influencing action, effective communication in setting and achieving goals, the importance of timing the decision, creativity in the problem solving process, and obtaining team buy-in through immediate feedback.

Training Management and the Warfighting Functions

MIL 301
This is an academically challenging course were Cadets will study, practice, and apply the fundamentals of Army Leadership, Officership, Army Values and Ethics, Personal Development, and small unit tactics at the platoon level. At the conclusion of this course, Cadets will be capable of planning, coordinating, navigating, motivating and leading a squad and platoon in the execution of a mission during a classroom PE, a Leadership Lab, or during a Leader Training Exercise (LTX).

Foreign Language Training Opportunities

Army ROTC Cadets have the opportunity to apply for and participate in a vast array of language training opportunities, in particular Project Global Officer (Project GO) and The Army’s Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency (CULP) Internship program.

Project Global Officer

The Project GO program allows cadets (contracted and non-contracted) to apply to study languages over the summer at over 20 participating colleges across the country (to include our battalion’s host school, Boston University) for up to 8 credits. University fees, meal plan and dormitory rooms included! The program also has language immersion trips abroad to locations such as Shanghai, China and Rabat, Morocco as well.

Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency Internship

The CULP Program allows contracted cadets the opportunity to attend summer training abroad for several weeks of language immersion in locations such as Costa Rica, Tanzania and Korea. Talk to your MS advisor for details.

Both the Armed Forces and the world of international commerce and business need professionals who are culturally astute and competent in a foreign language. Make the most of your training time now!

Contact Information

LTC Ben Ferguson

Program Director/Professor of Military Science
617-353-4025

Jennifer Wilson

Senior Administrator, Military Science Department at Boston University
wilson12@bu.edu
617-353-4025

Helpful Resources

University HQ ROTC Information Site

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