Course of Instruction | Programs Available | Course Descriptions
Chair: Lieutenant Colonel Richard O. King Jr.
Faculty: Major Teresa M. Feliciano and Major Paul Lohmann
The Department of Military Science at Sam Houston State University is administratively aligned with the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) classes are offered on an elective basis. Students may take the lower-division courses and summer Army training such as Airborne School without obligation for military service. Students who desire to pursue upper-division courses may complete the ROTC program and compete for commissions as officers in the U. S. Army, Army Reserves, or Army National Guard. A minor in military science is offered.
A. General. There are two leadership-training programs available. They are the No-Obligation Program (Basic Course) and the Army Commissioning Program (Advance Course).
1. No-Obligation Program (Basic Course). The lower-division (100 and 200 level) courses offered by the department are open to all students without obligation for present or future military service. These courses provide instruction in basic leadership and endurance skills that are applicable to any future profession. These courses are generally taken during the freshman and sophomore years and satisfy university kinesiology requirements. Students attending the no-obligation course may also participate (at no obligation) in summer professional development training to include Airborne, Air Assault, Northern Warfare, and Mountain Warfare training.
a. AIRBORNE TRAINING. This physically demanding school is scheduled during the summer over a three-week period at Fort Benning, Georgia. Students who successfully complete this school are qualified as Army parachutists and are awarded Army Paratrooper Wings. This training is offered to any student enrolled in Military Science, although available seats are limited.
b. AIR ASSAULT TRAINING. This training is offered to any student enrolled in Military Science, although available seats are limited. This physically demanding school scheduled during the summer consists of ten days of training which includes a twelve mile road march, an obstacle course, classes in aircraft safety and familiarization, rappelling, rigging, and sling-loading. Air Assault school is offered at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii and Fort Drum, New York. This training is offered to any student enrolled in Military Science, although available seats are limited.
c. NORTHERN WARFARE SCHOOL. This is a two-week course conducted at Fort Greeley, Alaska. It consists of physically and mentally demanding training emphasizing movement in mountainous terrain, on glaciers and in in-land waterways. This training is offered to any student enrolled in Military Science, although available seats are limited.
d. MOUNTAIN WARFARE SCHOOL. This is a two-week course conducted at Jericho, Vermont. This training is both physically and mentally challenging with emphasis placed on movement in mountainous terrain. This training is offered to any student enrolled in Military Science, although available seats are limited.
2. Army Commissioning Program (Advance Course). This program is divided into two-year and four-year commissioning plans.
a. Two-Year Compression Commissioning Plan.
(1) Upperclassmen and Graduate Students. Students who have already completed a portion of their university program remain eligible to pursue a commission as an officer in the U.S. Army, Army Reserves or Army National Guard. This program is offered to students who have no prior military or military equivalent training and have approximately 60 course hours remaining prior to receiving an undergraduate or graduate degree. To qualify, students first attend a five-week summer Leadership Training Course (LTC) at a military installation. The government pays all travel expenses, furnishes room, board, and clothing, and pays students a salary of approximately $750.00. Moreover, students are eligible to compete for two-year scholarships. The university awards students four credit hours for this training. After successfully completing the LTC students may enroll in upper-division Military Science courses and receive a monthly allowance of $450.00 for juniors and $500.00 for seniors.
(2) Veterans. Student veterans, National Guard and Army Reserve members who have completed some military training and service may start the ROTC program at the upper-division level, if they are otherwise qualified for a commission and approved by the Professor of Military Science (PMS). National Guard and Army Reserve members may remain in the Guard or Reserve under the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP).Enrolled juniors receive a monthly allowance of $450.00 and $500.00 per month for seniors, which is in addition to any pay and entitlements provided by the Guard or Reserve.
(3) Professional Military Education (PME) Component. The United States Army mandates that Army ROTC students pursuing a commission as an Army officer complete certain Professional Military Education (PME) requirements in order to be commissioned. The PME consists of a baccalaureate degree and the completion of at least one undergraduate course from each of the following designated fields of study: written communications, military history, and computer literacy. Students desiring to pursue a minor in Military Science, and/or a course of instruction which will satisfy the requirements for a commission in the U.S. Army, are cautioned to seek advisement from the PMS in order to ensure that these special requirements are satisfied.
b. Four-Year Progression Commissioning Plan.
(1) Lower-Division Courses (Basic Course). Under the four-year commissioning plan, lower-division military science courses are required prior to taking upper-division military science courses and to compete for a commission as a military officer. Nevertheless, these courses remain open to all students without obligation for present or future military service. These courses provide instruction in basic leadership and endurance skills that are applicable to any future profession. Army scholarship students will receive a monthly allowance of $300.00 as freshman and $350.00 per month as sophomores. These courses satisfy university kinesiology requirements (KIN 215).
(2) Upper-Division Courses (Advance Course). The upper-division (300 and 400 level) courses offered by the department are normally taken during the junior and senior years or while pursuing graduate work and prepare students to be commissioned as officers in the United States Army. Enrollment in upper-division courses incurs the obligation to accept a commission after graduation and serve in the U.S. Army Reserves, the Army National Guard, or the Active Army. Students enrolled in upperdivision courses receive a monthly subsistence allowance of $450.00 as a junior and $500.00 as a senior. Students are required to attend a National Advanced Leaders Course during the summer between their junior and senior years. The government pays all travel expenses, furnishes room, board, and clothing, and pays students a salary of approximately $750.00. The university awards students four credit hours for the training. Lower-division military science courses are required prior to enrolling in upper-division courses if pursuing the four-year commissioning plan.
(3) Professional Military Education (PME) Component. The United States Army mandates that Army ROTC students pursuing a commission as an Army officer complete certain Professional Military Education (PME) requirements in order to be commissioned. The PME consists of a baccalaureate degree and the completion of at least one undergraduate course from each of the following designated fields of study: written communications, military history, and computer literacy. Courses in management and national security studies are recommended but not required for commissioning. Students desiring to pursue a minor in Military Science, and/or a course of instruction which will satisfy the requirements for a commission in the U.S. Army, are cautioned to seek advisement from the PMS in order to ensure that these special requirements are satisfied.
B. Army ROTC Scholarships. The United States Army offers on a competitive basis several two, three, and four-year scholarships awarded annually by the Department of Military Science. These scholarships pay full tuition and fees and provide $900.00 for books and supplies. Scholarship and non-scholarship contract students receive a subsistence allowance of $300.00, $350.00, $450.00, and $500.00 per month for freshman, sophomore, juniors, and seniors respectively for up to ten months per year. Seven other private scholarships are awarded annually to students enrolled in Military Science courses. All students are encouraged to contact the Department of Military Science for an application.
C. Tuition Rates. In-state rates for fees and tuition are given to out-of-state students that have agreed to accept a commission in the U.S. Army, Army Reserves, or Army National Guard.
D. Academic Substitution. Limited course substitution is available with permission of both the PMS and the department chair concerned.
E. Academic Minor. Students may seek a minor in Military Science with the approval of the dean of the college in which the student pursues his/her major. Requirements are eighteen hours of advanced Military Science and six hours from the Professional Military Education (PME) component courses listed below.
MSL 111 Applied Leadership Laboratory I. A practical laboratory of applied leadership and skills that is required for each 100- level Military Science Basic Course. Activities include rappelling, preliminary and advanced rifle marksmanship, first aid, field leadership reaction course and physical conditioning. Concurrent enrollment in MS 111 and MS 121/122 are accepted substitutes for activity kinesiology. Three hours per week. Credit 1.
MSL 121 Foundations of Officership. An introduction to the United States Army, its heritage, mission, organization, goals and leadership doctrine. Two hours per week. Credit 2.
MSL 122 Basic Leadership. Seminar and practical application with primary focus on interpersonal communication, leadership and management of small teams/groups: professionalism and ethics are discussed. Two hours per week. Credit 2.
MSL 211 Applied Leadership Laboratory II. A practical laboratory of applied skills and leadership. Activities include rappelling, rifle marksmanship, basic land navigation, and fundamentals of tactics. Concurrent enrollment in MS 211 and MS 221/222 are accepted substitutes for activity kinesiology. Three hours per week. Credit 1.
MSL 221 Individual Leadership Studies. Instruction is basic in scope and includes leadership, land navigation, written and oral communications, methods of instruction, and first aid. Two hours per week plus Applied Leadership Lab II. Credit 2.
MSL 222 Leadership and Teamwork. An in-depth study of leadership types, temperaments and styles, oral and written communications, radio and wire communications and career development. Two hours per week plus Applied Leadership Lab II. Credit 2.
MSL 240 Leaders’ Training Course. An optional five-week leadership intern program conducted during June and July at Fort Knox, Kentucky, consisting of basic leadership and adventure-type training. This course is for the student who is considering enrollment in the ROTC Advanced Course, but who does not have credit for the Basic Course. The Army provides transportation, room, board, and clothing. The student is paid approximately $750.00 for the six week period and is eligible to compete for a two-year Army ROTC scholarship. No service obligation is incurred. Credit 4.
MSL 311 Applied Leadership Laboratory. A practical application laboratory, which is planned by the MSIV (senior) students, executed by the MSIV (senior) students, and supervised by department staff and faculty. Activities include: safety/first aid, drill and ceremony, land navigation, rappelling, rifle marksmanship, and tactics. This class is required for contracted cadets enrolled in the MS 330, 331, 461, or 462 classes. Three hours per week. Credit 1.
MSL 330 Leadership and Problem Solving. A study of military leadership utilizing light infantry organization and doctrine. Emphasis is placed on contemporary trends in leadership and management as well as on individual, team and squad military skills. Practical application for oral presentation, communication, written communications and land navigation. Three lecture hours per week plus Applied Leadership Lab. Credit 3.
MSL 331 Leadership and Ethics. An application of military leadership utilizing light infantry organization and doctrine. Emphasis is placed on execution of individual tasks and effectiveness in leading small units in tactical and administrative functions in preparation for Camp Adventure at Ft. Lewis, Washington, during the summer. Three lecture hours per week plus Applied Leadership Lab, and pre-camp preparation. Credit 3.
MSL 340 National Advanced Leadership Camp (NALC). A required six-week course during June and July of practical and theoretical instruction at an Army training center. Normally attended between the junior and senior years with transportation, room and board expenses paid by the Army. Advanced Camp cadets are paid approximately $750 for the six-week period. Credit 4.
MSL 430 Special Topics in Military Science. Independent concentrated study on an individual basis on current topics in Military Science. Performance will be based on oral presentation, written tests and research papers. Times to be arranged with PMS. Credit 3.
MSL 431 Leadership and Management. An introduction to basic military staff procedures to include: command and staff organizations and function; the military writing style and procedures; and oral presentations using the military briefing style. Additionally, the course will survey professional ethics and values and how they relate to the professional Army officer. Three lecture hours per week plus Applied Leadership Lab. Credit 3.
MSL 432 Officership. An introduction to a variety of systems and programs that will assist the student’s transition from Cadet to Lieutenant. This course includes an introduction to battalion and company level training management and logistics; the Officer Professional Management System (OPMS); officer and noncommissioned officer evaluation reporting system (OER, NCOER); financial planning and personal affairs for the military officer; a lieutenant’s first assignment in the Army; and the Military Justice System. Three lecture hours per week plus Applied Leadership Lab. Credit 3.