Military Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

About this opportunity

Arizona State University is home to four branches of the military Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC): Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps. ROTC is an elective curriculum taken along with other required college classes. Partnering world-class university training with ROTC leadership skills, ASU empowers young men and women to lead in their career fields and in service to the nation.

Thesis

Barrett students in the ROTC may pursue a thesis that incorporates or builds on their military service experiences. Commanding Officers may serve as thesis committee members along with ASU faculty on a thesis committee.

Academic Preparation

Students in ROTCs participate in specific military training courses for their program along with the required courses for their major and honors credit requirements. Leadership and personal development, which are core honors pillars, are a fundamental element of the military training curriculum. The following courses count for automatic honors credit with a grade of C or higher for Barrett students. Students will earn the amount of honors credits that the class is worth. Ex. NAV 402  (3 credits) = 3 upper division honors credits.

• AES 301 Leading People & Effective Communication I
• AES 303 Leading People and Effective Communication II
• AES 401 National Security, Leadership Responsibilities and Commissioning Preparation I
• AES 403 National Security, Leadership and Commissioning Preparation II
• MIS 301 Training Management and the Warfighting Functions
• MIS 302 Applied Leadership in Small-Unit Operations
• MIS 401 The Army Officer
• MIS 402 Company Grade Leadership
• NAV 302: Naval Ship Systems II: Weapons
• NAV 303: Evolution of Warfare
• NAV 402: Leadership and Ethics

Recommended Timeline

Students should connect with their ROTC program advisor and the Faculty Honors Advisor in their major each year to identify academic interests, goals, and start working on ideas for the honors thesis project.

Other Honors Opportunities

Experience with the ROTC is also an excellent launch pad for international programs opportunities. 

The Chinese Language Flagship Program aims to create global professionals who can work bilingually and bi-culturally in the United States and the Chinese-speaking world. ROTC students who have participated have gone on to achieve a superior level of proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and become commissioned officers and effective cross-cultural communicators in all branches of military.

Supported by the ASU Melikian Center Critical Languages Institute, Project Global Officer (Project GO), is a nationwide program training ROTC cadets in Indonesian and Russian, including immersive overseas programs in Bali and the Kyrgyz Republic.  This Department of Defense initiative is aimed improving language skills, regional expertise, and intercultural communication skills of future military officers.