Undergraduate minor: military science
The Military Science Program is synonymous with the Iowa Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). It gives students who wish to serve on active or reserve status in the U.S. Army the opportunity to earn commissions as Army officers. It also administers merit scholarships from the United States government to qualified students.
Although the Military Science Program does not offer degrees, students can earn a minor in military science. ROTC courses provide education in the military's role and instruction in leadership and management. The program's courses are an essential part of the University of Iowa ROTC program.
Military science courses are open to all students. Course credit that counts toward graduation varies by college. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may count up to 20 s.h. earned in military science courses toward graduation.
Undergraduate and Graduate Programs
Basic Course
The ROTC Basic Course is designed primarily for first- and second-year students. It provides the fundamentals of leadership and management and introduces the roles of the military as influenced by national and foreign policy. Students incur no obligation to the military for participation in the Basic Course.
The following four courses satisfy the Basic Course requirement.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MILS:1010 | Leadership and Personal Development MSL101 | 1 |
| MILS:1020 | Introduction to Tactical Leadership MSL102 | 1 |
| MILS:2010 | Innovative Team Leadership MSL201 | 2 |
| MILS:2020 | Foundations of Tactical Leadership MSL202 | 2 |
Students can take Basic Course requirements over a one- or two-year period or during Basic Camp, held at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Students with prior military training normally are exempt from the Basic Course and Basic Camp requirements.
Basic Camp takes place in the summer, typically between a cadet's first and second years. Similar to basic training, Basic Camp trains cadets on many basic soldier skills ensuring cadets across the country have the same foundation of knowledge to be successful with the remainder of their Army ROTC training.
Advanced Course
The ROTC Advanced Course is for cadets who wish to pursue a commission as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduation. It is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Most cadets in the Advanced Course incur an obligation to the Army that can be satisfied in the Active Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard.
To enter the Advanced Course, students must satisfy the Basic Course requirement, earn at least 54 s.h., and have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00. In order to become U.S. Army officers, cadets must complete the Advanced Camp, held at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Cadets normally attend Advanced Camp during the summer between their third and fourth years.
The following courses are the academic requirements for completion of the Advanced Course.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MILS:3010 | Adaptive Tactical Leadership MSL301 | 3 |
| MILS:3020 | Leadership in Changing Environments MSL302 | 3 |
| MILS:4010 | Developing Adaptive Leaders MSL401 | 3 |
| MILS:4020 | Leadership in a Complex World MSL402 | 3 |
Additional Coursework
Cadets whose aim is a commission must satisfy a Professional Military Education (PME) requirement. They must complete at least one course in military history from the following list. Cadets may use other courses to meet the additional coursework requirement, with the military science professor's approval.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HIST:1261 | American History to 1877 | 3 |
| HIST:1262 | American History 1877-Present | 3 |
| HIST:3271 | American Revolutionary Period | 3 |
Scholarship Opportunities
The Military Science Program offers two-, three-, and four-year ROTC scholarships for students who enter the ROTC program. These scholarships pay full tuition at the University of Iowa, an allotment for books and supplies each semester, mandatory educational fees, and a tax-free monthly stipend during the academic year. The tax-free monthly stipend is provided to non-scholarship cadets who enter a contractual agreement with ROTC to serve in the Army. Additional financial assistance may be provided through scholarships.