Degrees & Requirements
Major / Minor
An academic major in military science is not offered at ETSU or E&H. However, an academic minor (18 credit hours) is offered at E&H and completion of the program qualifies the student for a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army. A non-commissioning option for an academic minor (18 credit hours) is offered at E&H by taking the MSCI 1200, 2100, 3100, and 4100 academic courses only and two Political Science, History, or Geography courses per the Academic Catalog.
Course Credit
Students interested in participating in the advanced phase may receive basic phase credit for having prior active or reserve component military service, three years of junior ROTC at the high school level, or for completion of ROTC Leaders Training Course (LTC).
ROTC Basic Course
Any student may enroll without obligation in the Department of Military Science’s Basic Course Classes. Those classes listed as 1200- and 2100-series classes are considered part of the Basic Course of military science. Students desiring to enter the Advanced Course of the ROTC program through the four-year program must complete all four Basic Course Classes. In certain cases, the Professor of Military Science may waive one of these class requirements.
The basic phase is designed to introduce the United States Army as an institution, the military as a profession, and to impart to all students basic leadership skills which can be used in a civilian environment as well as in the military. The basic phase includes both formal classroom instruction and field practice periods. Subject matter deals with the organization and history of the United States Army, the dynamics of leadership and management, military skills, and mountaineering.
ROTC Advanced Course
Advanced military science Cadets continue their studies in leadership and tactics with the scope of instruction expanded to include subjects such as military law, battle simulations, group dynamics, organizational management, and decision making. Advanced course contract students receive $420 per month up to a maximum of 20 months (equivalent to two academic years) and an appointment upon graduation as a Second Lieutenant. Contracted students incur a military obligation to the Active Army, the Reserve, or the National Guard. This obligation can consist of as little as three months’ active duty, with the remainder spent on Reserve, or National Guard status. Students who prefer Reserve or National Guard duty may be guaranteed that they will not be assigned to active duty except for the short period needed to complete a branch basic officer course (three- to six-months depending on the branch selected). Students interested in enrolling as a contract Cadet may contact the E&H Veteran Services and ROTC Support Technician for specific program requirements, guarantees, benefits, and military information.
Leader Development and Assessment Course
Advanced course cadets are required to attend the four-week Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, upon completion of the junior year of military science. LDAC attendance is a prerequisite to commissioning but may be delayed until completion of the senior year with the approval of the United States Army and the Professor of Military Science.
Course Sequence Requirements
To receive a commission in the United States Army through the military science program, a student must successfully complete 14 credits of courses at the basic level (1200 or 2100 courses), 19 credits at the advanced level (3100 or 4100 courses) and ROTC Advanced Camp (6 credits). Equivalency credit may be given for the basic level courses for those Cadets who are (1) veterans, (2) graduates of junior ROTC programs, or (3) graduates of the ROTC Leaders Training Course.
The following sequence will be utilized to obtain a commission as a Second Lieutenant.
Notes:
- The Chair of the Department of Military Science (ETSU Professor of Military Science) may make exceptions to this policy under unusual circumstances.
- There is no charge at E&H for Military Science (MSCI) courses at E&H and they do not count towards a course overload.