Academics

Basic Courses

The Military Science Basic Courses are open to students and can be taken with no obligation to the military. In some circumstances, students may need approval from the Professor of Military Science in order to register for these classes.

Overview

Leadership development is the centerpiece of the Army ROTC Military Science curriculum, which challenges our Cadets to become adaptive and agile critical thinkers able to solve complex problems with multiple outcomes under constrained availability of time and resources.

In addition to the in-class academic work, Army ROTC requires all commissioning Cadets to complete Advanced Camp, our capstone training experience located at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. This 31-day course develops and strengthens Cadets’ intangible leadership attributes. Roughly 6,400 Cadets attend this course for the leader development training focusing on readiness, combined arms maneuvers, and sustained counter insurgency operations.

Cadets may volunteer to attend additional training during the summer called Cadet Professional Development Training (CPDT), which provides challenging experiences through internships at numerous Army units, including senior level Army Headquarters, Army laboratories, Cyber Command, and more. In many cases, Cadets participating in CPDT complete functional training through Army schools, such as Airborne School and Air Assault School. Cadets participating in all summer training activities are considered on active duty for professional development and receive pay and benefits.

Military Science I (freshmen year)

Endstate: The Military Science I Course produces a Cadet who accepts the Army as a Values-based organization and embraces the scholar-athlete-warrior ethos; who is familiar with individual roles and responsibilities in support of team efforts and problem solving processes in military and non-military situations; who demonstrates oral and written communications skills, understands resilience and develops a commitment to learning.

MSC 101: Introduction to Leadership

Fall Term: 1 Semester Hour

This class focuses on introduction to the Army and critical thinking. It introduces Cadets to the Army and the Profession of Arms. Students will examine the Army Profession and what it means to be a professional in the U.S. Army. The overall focus is on developing basic knowledge and comprehension of the Army Leadership Requirements Model while gaining a complete understanding of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, its purpose in the Army, and its advantages for the student. Cadets also learn how resiliency and fitness supports their development as an Army leader.

MSC 102: Introduction to Leadership

Spring Term: 1 Semester Hour

This class 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, and stress management relate to leadership, and the Army profession. Cadets learn the basics of the communications process and the importance for leader’s to develop the essential skills to effectively communicate in the Army.

Military Science I courses will cover the following topics:

• Introduction to leadership - Values, attributes, skills, and actions
• Personal development - Time management, stress management, health and fitness, goal setting, and communications
• Field work - Orienteering, map reading, land navigation, and basic tactics
• Officership and the Army profession

*Section 4 is taught on Illinois Wesleyan University's Campus

Military Science II (sophomore year)

Endstate: The Military Science II Course produces a Cadet grounded in foundational leadership doctrine and skills by following and leading small units to achieve assigned missions; who comprehends critical thinking and problem solving using TLPs; who comprehends the value of diversity and understands the officer’s role in leading change; and understands the fundamentals of the Army as a profession.

MSC 111: Applied Leadership I

Fall Term: 2 Semester Hours

This class focuses on leadership and decision making. The course adds depth to the Cadets understanding of the Adaptability Army Learning Area. The outcomes are demonstrated through Critical and Creative Thinking and the ability to apply Troop Leading Procedures (TLP) to apply Innovative Solutions to Problems. The Army Profession is also stressed through leadership forums and a leadership self-assessment. Students are then required to apply their knowledge outside the classroom in a hands-on performance-oriented environment during Leadership Labs. Includes a weekly lab facilitated by Cadets and supervised by Cadre.

MSC 112: Applied Leadership II

Spring Term: 2 Semester Hours

This class focuses on Army doctrine and team development. The course begins the journey to understand and demonstrate competencies as they relate to Army doctrine. Army Values, Teamwork, and Warrior Ethos and their relationship to the Law of Land Warfare and philosophy of military service are also stressed. The ability to lead and follow is also covered through Team Building exercises in small units up to squad level. Students are then required to apply their knowledge outside the classroom in a hands-on performance-oriented environment during Leadership Labs. Includes a weekly lab facilitated by Cadets and supervised by Cadre.

Military Science II courses will cover the following topics:

• Foundations of leadership - Team building, situational leadership, adaptive leadership, and leadership analysis
• Personal development - Briefings, interpersonal communication, effective writing, and advanced time management
• Field work - Advanced map reading, terrain analysis, route planning, problem solving, battle drills, and offensive operations
• Army values - Ethics and consideration of others

Military Science II courses will cover the following topics:

• Foundations of leadership - Team building, situational leadership, adaptive leadership, and leadership analysis
• Personal development - Briefings, interpersonal communication, effective writing, and advanced time management
• Field work - Advanced map reading, terrain analysis, route planning, problem solving, battle drills, and offensive operations
• Army values - Ethics and consideration of others

Advanced Courses

Students must complete all of the Military Science Basic Courses or have constructive credit (completion of Basic Camp or Military Basic Training) for the basic courses before enrolling in the Advanced Courses. Per U.S. Code, Title 10, section 2104, students must be contracted in order to be in the Advance Courses. Students have until the last add/drop date of the fall semester of their Military Science III year to contract. Students who fail to contract by that time must drop the Military Science class. Conditional Contracts are only authorized for students who are in the fall semester Military Science III class and are pending waiver results.

Military Science III (junior year)

Endstate: The Military Science III Course produces a Cadet who possesses enhanced individual and collective skills including leader competencies; effectively leads formations at the squad and platoon level in a variety of military and non-military mission context scenarios; effective at receiving and giving peer evaluations; who is committed and disciplined ethically, academically, physically, and socially.

MSC 220: Advanced Leadership & Tactics I

Fall Term: 3 Semester Hours

This class focuses on training management and the warfighting functions. It is an academically challenging course were you will study, practice, and apply the fundamentals of Training Management and how the Army operates through the Warfighting functions. At the conclusion of this course, you will be capable of planning, preparing, and executing training for a squad conducting small unit tactics. Includes a lab per week using peer facilitation overseen by MS IV Cadets, supervised by ROTC Cadre.

MSC 221: Advanced Leadership & Tactics II

Spring Term: 3 Semester Hours

This class focuses on applied leadership in small unit operations. It is an academically challenging course were you will study, practice, and apply the fundamentals of direct level leadership and small unit tactics at the platoon level. At the conclusion of this course, you will be capable of planning, coordinating, navigating, motivating and leading a platoon in the execution of a mission. Successful completion of this course will help prepare you for the ROTC Cadet Leader Course (CLC), which you will attend in the summer at Fort Knox, KY. Includes a lab per week using peer facilitation overseen by MS IV Cadets, supervised by ROTC Cadre.

Military Science III courses will cover the following topics:

• Adaptive team leadership - Team dynamics, developing future leaders, leadership styles, and behavior
• Personal development - Effective communications and stress management
• Field work - Advanced map reading, intelligence preparation of the battlefield, troop leading procedures, and squad tactics
• Army values - Ethics and warrior ethos

Military Science IV (senior year)

Endstate: The MSL IV Course produces an Officer who has a self-authored professional identity; thrives in operationally ambiguous environments; is a moral exemplar and is prepared to be an Army leader, skilled critical thinker, problem solver, and team builder; skilled oral and written communicator committed to the Army ethic and profession; who has advanced interpersonal skill, knowledge of training management, and understands Army Doctrine; is culturally aware and displays characteristics of a lifelong learner.

MSC 240: Advanced Applied Leadership I

Fall Term: 3 Semester Hours

This class focuses on development of the Army Officer. It is an academically challenging course were you will develop knowledge, skills, and abilities to plan, resources, and assess training at the small unit level. You will also learn about Army programs that support counseling subordinates and evaluating performance, values and ethics, career planning, and legal responsibilities. At the conclusion of this course, you will be familiar with how to plan, prepare, execute, and continuously assess the conduct of training at the company or field grade officer level. Includes a lab per week, and supervised by ROTC Cadre.

MSC 241: Advanced Applied Leadership II

Spring Term: 3 Semester Hours

This class is an academically challenging course were you will develop knowledge, skills, and abilities required of junior officers pertaining to the Army in Unified Land Operations and Company Grade Officer roles and responsibilities. This course includes reading assignments, homework assignments, small group assignments, briefings, case studies, practical exercises, a mid-term exam, and an Oral Practicum as the final exam. The Oral Practicum explores your knowledge of how you will be prepared for the 20 Army Warfighting Challenges (AWFC) covered throughout the ROTC Advanced Course. Successful completion of this course will assist in preparing you for your Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) and is a mandatory requirement for commissioning. Includes a lab per week, and supervised by ROTC Cadre.

Military Science IV courses will cover the following topics:

• Developmental and adaptive leadership - Physical fitness programs and effective communications
• Careers in the Army - Training, risk management process, counseling, evaluation reports, and career management
• Field work - Military decision making process, organization for combat, military history, and supply and logistics
• Military professional ethics - Ethical decision making, ode of conduct, rules of engagement, and cultural awareness

Military History Commissioning Requirement

• Illinois State University; HIS 278: United States Military History (Offered in the Fall Term Only-3 Semester Hours)
• Bradley University; HIS 326: Modern Military Forces and Institutions (Offered in the Spring Term Only-3 Semester Hours)
• Illinois Wesleyan University does not offer a military history course that meets the commissioning requirement. IWU Cadets complete the requirement via BlackBoard.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records.

Military Service Withdrawal and School Attendance/Course Examination Procedure

Enlisted members of the university student body should familiarize themselves with the university's procedure for military service withdrawal and school attendance/course examinations.

"The faculty and administrative officials shall make available to the service member an opportunity to make up any examination he or she has missed because of his or her military service."