Military Science and Leadership Minor /Army ROTC Program

Undergraduate Programs

Description

Military Science and Leadership enables students/cadets to compete for a commission as an officer in the United States Army, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard. The four-year Army ROTC curriculum develops the student's leadership, managerial and organizational abilities. Leadership skills acquired through ROTC and the practical application of skills provided in the program transfer easily to civilian career goals. ROTC graduates traditionally enter industrial and business career fields with a significant competitive edge.

The program consists of two parts: the basic course and the advanced course. The basic course usually occurs the first year and sophomore year and students incur no military obligation. After completing the basic course, students may contract in the advanced course. In order to enroll, students must also sign a contract with the United States Army. Additionally, students with military basic training experience may receive advanced placement credit into the ROTC advanced course. The advanced course must be taken after students receive academic junior status. All Cadets receive uniforms and the necessary textbooks for military science classes.

Minors

 Program Locations Total Credits
Military Science Minor
  • Mankato
 26

Policies & Faculty

Policies

GPA Policy. Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 ("C") in the courses taken from the Military Science and Leadership department in order to meet graduation and/or commissioning requirements. Must be a U.S. citizen.

P/N Grading Policy. No classes offered by the Military Science and Leadership Department consist of P/N grades.

Leadership Laboratories. All contracted Cadets are required to attend (1) two hour Leadership Laboratory each week. Specifics are outlined in each course syllabus. A weekend field training exercise is also conducted each semester.

Basic Camp. Contracted students need to attend Basic Camp if they have never attended Basic Training. Basic Camp is a four-week fully funded course at Fort Knox, Kentucky that students will attend after either their freshman year (4-year and 3-year Advanced Designee Scholarship recipients) or after their sophomore year (3 year and 2 year Advanced Designee Scholarship recipients). This course will cover many of the basic Soldier skills covered at Basic Training. Students who successfully complete the course are awarded the Basic Camp completion ribbon

Advanced Camp. During the summer between the junior and senior years, Cadets attend a five week leadership course at Fort Knox, KY. Cadets receive a stipend for this training; travel, room, board, uniforms, and medical care are also included. Students experience leadership positions, lead other ROTC Cadets through a number of challenging situations, build both stamina and self-confidence, and train in a number of areas to include land navigation, tactics, physical training, and drill and ceremony.

MILITARY SCIENCE/ARMY ROTC

University credit is awarded for the courses in the program, however, the Military Science program is not an academic major. Students must complete an academic major in another area in addition to the Military Science requirements. An academic minor in Military Science is available, however, the minor is limited to ROTC Cadets who have contracted with the United States Army.

4-YEAR PROGRAM

  • HIST 478 American in Vietnam (4) OR
  • MSL 252 The Evolution of American Warfare (3)
  • MSL 101 Intro to the Army & Critical Thinking (1)
  • MSL 102 Leadership & Decision Making (1)
  • MSL 201 Leadership & Decision Making (2)
  • MSL 202 Army doctrine & Team Development (2)
  • MSL 301 Training Management & the Warfighting Function (3)
  • MSL 302 Applied Leadership in Small Unit Operations (3)
  • MSL 401 The Army Officer (3)
  • MSL 402 Company Grade Leadership (3)

2-YEAR PROGRAM

  • HIST 478 American in Vietnam (4) OR MSL 252 The Evolution of American Warfare (3)
  • MSL 301 Training Management & the Warfighting Function (3)
  • MSL 302 Applied Leadership in Small Unit Operations (3)
  • MSL 401 The Army Officer (3)
  • MSL 402 Company Grade Leadership (3)

Contact Information

316 Wiecking Center

(507) 389-6226
(507) 389-6229
FAX (507) 389-5836
https://ed.mnsu.edu/academic-programs/military-science-and-leadership-minor-army-rotc-program/

Faculty

Chair
  • LTC Brian Schlesier
Faculty

100 Level

Credits: 1

Introduces Cadets to the personal challenges and competencies critical for effective leadership. Cadets learn how the personal development of life skills such as critical thinking, time management, goal setting, stress management, and comprehensive fitness relate to leadership, and the Army profession.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1

Cadets will learn how Army ethics and values shape the Army and the specific ways that these ethics are inculcated into Army culture. Cadets can expect to explore the seven Army Values, Warrior Ethos, explore the Profession of Arms, Army Leadership and critical communication

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1

This class is the associated leadership lab for the MSL classes. It is the hands-on portion where individual and collective military tasks are practiced and leadership lessons are applied. Students must be enrolled in ROTC to take this course.

Prerequisites: none

200 Level

Credits: 2

Explores the dimensions of creative and innovative tactical leadership strategies and styles by examining team dynamics and two historical leadership theories that form the basis of the Army leadership framework. Aspects of personal motivation and team building are practiced planning, executing and assessing team exercises.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2

Examines the challenges of leading teams in the complex operational environment. The course highlights dimensions of terrain analysis, patrolling, and operation orders. Further study of the theoretical basis of the Army Leadership Requirements Model explores the dynamics of adaptive leadership in the context of military operations. Cadets develop greater self awareness as they assess their own leadership styles and practice communication and team building skills.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1

This class is open to all students. Please note, this is a physically demanding class. It is a comprehensive fitness program based on the latest military fitness techniques and principles. Students participate in and learn the components of an effective physical fitness program, with emphasis on the development of an individual fitness program and the role of exercise and fitness in one's life. In addition, students will achieve the highest standards of physical fitness in preparation for the Army Physical Fitness Test. This class is a pre-requisite for MSL 403.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-11

Credits: 2

Study examines how to build successful teams, various methods for influencing action, effective communication in setting and achieving goals, the importance of timing decisions, creativity in the problem solving process, and obtaining team buy-in through immediate feedback.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course is designed to provide an overview of American Military history from the Revolutionary War to the present, with emphasis on the post World War I era. It examines the cause, conduct, consequences, and historical threads of military conflict.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05

Credits: 3

This course is devoted to the study and practical application of the Army profession and Army leadership development through first-hand service with real Army units on actual Army installations. Qualified cadets compete for selection to attend one of 23 separate Army courses. Note selection is very competitive and each Army-sactioned course is very rigourous. Once selected, cadets hone their leadership and individual skills during two to four weeks of training and education. Possible courses include Airborne school, Air Assault school, Leader's Training Course, and Cadet Troop Leader Training. Prereq: Limited to cadets enrolled in Army ROTC

Prerequisites: Limited to Cadets enrolled in Army ROTC

Credits: 1-8

Department chair approval required.

Prerequisites: none

300 Level

Credits: 3

Cadets will study, practice, and apply the fundamentals of Army Leadership, Officership, Army Values and Ethics, Personal Development, and small unit tactics at the platoon level. At the conclusion of this course, Cadets will be capable of planning, coordinating, navigating, motivating and leading a squad and platoon in the execution of a mission during a classroom PE, a Leadership Lab, or during a Leader Training Exercise (LTX).

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Continuation of MSL 301 course.

Prerequisites: MSL 301

Credits: 3

This course is a rigorous and demanding 32-day internship held at Fort Lewis, WA and is designed to develop and evaluate leadership ability and determine preparedness to become commissioned Army officers. Cadets train in physically and mentally challenging situations and undergo testing on a variety of skills and topics. Pre-req: Limited to cadets contracted with the US Army

Prerequisites: Limited to Cadets contracted with the US Army.

400 Level

Credits: 3

An advanced course that places primary emphasis on Officership with our MS IV cadets who are our educational main effort; MS 401 and 402 together refine and ultimately completes the Cadet-to-commissioned officer transition. In MS 401 Mission Command and ethics is stressed along to assist the Cadet in further embracing their future role as an Army officer.

Prerequisites: MSL 301, MSL 302

Credits: 3

The culmination of a four-year sequential, progressive, challenging developmental leadership experience. It is during this final semester that the Cadet is undergoing final preparation for the duties and responsibilities of a commissioned officer along with their integration into the Army. The emphasis is placed on critical knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies skills newly commissioned officers.

Prerequisites: MSL 301, MSL 302

Credits: 1

Students plan, organize and lead individual and team oriented physical conditioning activities. These activities are geared toward the physical development and instruction of underclassmen. MSL 403 students also administer fitness tests to underclassmen which measure the cardiovascular endurance and upper and lower body strengths. MSL 403 students are required to successfully pass the Army Physical Fitness Test prior to the end of the semester. Limited to ROTC cadets who executed an enlistment contract with the U.S. Army.

Prerequisites: MSL 210

Credits: 3

Students will develop cultural awareness and foreign language proficiency skills through a one-month summer overseas immersion experience to one of 42 different countries. Internship will expose the student to culture and will intensify language study, which helps produce commissioned officers who possess the right blend of language and cultural skills required to support global operations in the 21st Century. Internship will focus on one of three immersion opportunities: military-to-military exchange, governmental or English Instruction. (MUST ME A REGISTERED ROTC CADET TO PARTICIPATE)

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Gold

Credits: 1-8

Department chair approval required. Limited to ROTC cadets who executed an enlistment contract with the U.S. Army.

Prerequisites: none