What We Teach  

The Department of Military Science provides a program of leadership development which prepares college men and women for service as officers in the United States Army. After graduation, they serve as commissioned officers on active duty, or as an officer in an Army Reserve unit. To accomplish this, the department does the following:

•     Prepares cadets to be commissioned as Second Lieutenants through a curriculum which develops leadership and management skills, and provides opportunities to utilize these skills in a variety of practical applications.
•     Provides an understanding of how to lead and influence small organizations, with a strong emphasis on personal integrity, ethical decision making, goal setting, and mission accomplishment.
•    Offers adventure training, such as rappelling, land-navigation, marksmanship, and, for selected students, airborne and air assault training and the opportunity to serve with active army units, worldwide, during the summer.
•     In conjunction with the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, provides programs and experiences which increase self-confidence, self-discipline, physical stamina, poise, and other attributes essential to the development of a leader of character--one who is prepared to serve the nation or the commonwealth both in or out of uniform.

       The curriculum and leader development programs of the Department of Military Science are mentally and physically challenging. Cadets learn individual soldier skills and undergo physical conditioning, beginning in the freshman year. On-campus instruction is done both in the classroom and in the field environment. Field trips expand the general knowledge of cadets and provide opportunities for practical leadership experience. Summer leadership evaluations occur between the junior and senior years at Fort Lewis, Washington.

    Army ROTC offers the conventional four-year program where a student enters as a freshman. A three-year program for sophomores is also available. Additionally, a two-year program is offered for students who have been unable to participate as freshmen and sophomores. Placement credit may be requested by students with ROTC or JROTC experience, students currently serving in the Army Reserve or National Guard, or those who have had active military service.

For more information about the different levels of Military Science classes, MS I, MS II, MS III, and MS IV years click on the respective links above.

Membership in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets is a prerequisite for all ROTC classes. The cost of cadet uniforms is paid by a special Army uniform allowance provided to each enrolled cadet.

Minor in Leadership

Satisfactory completion of the 18 credit military science curriculum earns each cadet a minor (concentration) in leadership. Virginia Tech is the first land-grant university in the nation to recognize the military science curricula with the award of a leadership concentration.