Reserve Officers Training Corps (Army ROTC)

Department of Military Science

Military science offers opportunities to develop confidence, self-esteem, and leadership skills to succeed in college and beyond. It is an academic curriculum that supplements a student's major and is designed to prepare qualified, high potential students for service as commissioned officers in the United States Army and its reserve components (the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard).

The Military Science program is composed of a two-year Basic Course, a five-week Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC), and a two-year Advanced Course. Non-scholarship students enrolling only in freshman and sophomore level classes incur no obligation to serve in the military after graduation. Further, these classes satisfy the UCR physical education activity course requirement and can be used for elective credit.

Upon completion of the requirements for the baccalaureate degree and Military Science training requirements, students are commissioned second lieutenants. Further, highly qualified commissionees who desire graduate or professional schooling prior to fulfilling their service obligation may apply for an educational delay.

Four-year, three-year, and two-year programs are offered. Each program includes the option for qualified students to benefit from a full tuition and fees scholarship.

Four-Year Program

The four-year program is divided into two portions, each consisting of four classes normally taken in sequence. The first is the Basic Course, which is usually completed during the freshman and sophomore years. The second portion of the four-year program is called the Advanced Course; it is normally completed during the junior and senior years. To enroll in this Advanced Course, students must successfully complete the Basic Course (or be given equivalent credit by the Professor of Military Science), be of good moral character, have a minimum of two years remaining as a full-time student, have a minimum GPA of 2.0, and be physically qualified. A paid and highly adventurous five-week training session between the junior and senior years is a critically important part of the Advanced Course. All Advanced Course students (both scholarship and non-scholarship) receive a monthly $300-Fr, $350-Sph, $450-Jr, $500-Sr allowance while participating (full-time) in on-campus instruction. This allowance can be collected up to 10 months each year.

Two-Year Program

The two-year program is designed for students who either transfer into Texas Wesleyan University or elect to begin pursuing a commission in the fall of their junior year. It includes a paid four-week summer training session between the sophomore and junior years and the Advanced Course described under the four-year program. Application for the two-year program is normally made during the second semester of the sophomore year. However, the two-year program is also open to juniors and seniors planning attendance at graduate school. The monthly cash allowance for students in the two-year program is the same as for other students in the Advanced Course. Numerous full tuition and fees scholarships are available for qualified two-year program applicants.

Scholarships

Four-year, three-year, and two-year scholarships are available to qualified applicants. Scholarships are available not to exceed $20,000 annually. Scholarships can be applied toward tuition and mandatory fees and provide an allowance for books.

Four-Year Scholarships. High school students wishing to compete for a four-year scholarship should apply during the spring of their junior year. Outstanding candidates can be notified of their selection as early as November of their senior year. Students who wait until their senior year to apply must apply early. Completed applications must be received at the evaluation center before January 28th of the student's senior year in high school.

Three-Year Scholarships. Freshman students enrolled at Texas Wesleyan University or students planning to transfer into Texas Wesleyan University at the beginning of their sophomore year may apply for three-year scholarships. Students applying for the three-year scholarship must have at least 27 semester hours’ credit at the beginning of the sophomore year and meet the other specified eligibility criteria.

Two-Year Scholarships. Any student, presently enrolled or planning to transfer to Texas Wesleyan University, who will have 54 semester hours completed by the beginning of the next fall semester, may apply for a two-year scholarship. To validate their scholarships, recipients will be required to satisfactorily complete a paid four-week summer training session prior to entering school in the fall semester.

Tuition Assistance. The Financial Aid Office can provide further information.

Waivers. Part or all of the Basic Course may be waived for veterans with acceptable active duty service. Students transferring from a military academy or military junior college may also receive a waiver for the Basic Course.

Graduate Studies

Upon application, Military Science graduates may be granted a delay before entering active duty for a period of two or three years from the date of their commission. Authorized purposes are attending medical school, or law school. In some cases, the delay may exceed three years. A number of salaried and fully funded graduate programs are also available to top academic performers and all medical school applicants who complete the Army ROTC curriculum.

Leadership Laboratory

Every Military Science student is required to participate in the weekly Leadership Lab in addition to the scheduled class periods. The lab meets every Thursday, 3:30 p.m.5:20 p.m. during the semester and provides leadership training, military skills and tactical training, and drill and ceremonies instruction. Leadership experience is gained by students managing, leading, and teaching other students within the framework of the cadet battalion. All leadership positions are filled by upper-class cadets who are responsible for planning and executing each lab period under the guidance of seasoned Army officers and noncommissioned officers.

Curriculum

The curriculum consists of the Basic Course and the Advanced Course described previously under the Four-Year Program and further described below.

Pass/No Credit Option. Military Science classes may not be taken on the pass/no credit basis.

Basic Course. The Basic Course should include Military Science 1141, 1181, 2242, and 2292. Leadership Lab 1101 is required for all courses listed below.

Advanced Course. The Advanced Course consists of the four courses listed under the course descriptions in this catalog 3353, 3363, 4353, and 4363 and the five-week summer Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) held between the junior and senior years. Leadership Lab 1101 is required for all courses.