Program Requirements

The U.S. Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program is offered at Mount St. Mary’s in partnership with the Military Science Department at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. Graduates of the program are commissioned as Army officers at the rank of second lieutenant. ROTC graduates typically serve four years active duty with the U.S. Army. Cadets may apply to serve in the Army Reserve or the Army National Guard in lieu of active duty service.

Military Science courses are designed to acquaint students with the military and its role in society, build good citizens, and prepare students for future service as Army officers. All freshman and sophomore military science classes are held on the Mount Saint Mary’s campus, while junior and senior classes alternate between the Mount and McDaniel College on a weekly basis. Freshman and sophomore Military Science courses make up the ROTC Basic Course. The Basic Course is open to all Mount students. Students can complete the first two years of ROTC without obligating themselves to military service. Junior and senior level military science courses make up the ROTC Advanced Course. The Advanced Course is open only to contracted cadets; that is, those cadets who have contractually committed to serve in the Army after receiving their degrees and subsequent commission.

Students can compete for two-, three- or four-year ROTC scholarships. ROTC scholarships currently pay full tuition and fees; $1,200 per year for books; and a monthly stipend of $420 per month during the academic year. Students may apply for an ROTC scholarship during their senior year in high school or during their freshman or sophomore year in college. All those who commission through ROTC incur a military service obligation following graduation.

All ROTC cadets attend periodic leadership laboratories designed to provide experiential learning in military skills such as rappelling, rifle marksmanship, first aid, patrolling, radio communications and water survival. ROTC cadets may receive additional leadership experience by attending one or more of the off campus, Army centric professional development courses described below. Moreover, all advanced course cadets must successfully complete the Cadet Leader Training Course (CLT) at Fort Knox KY in the summer following their junior year.

Upon graduation, newly commissioned Army officers will go on to serve as leaders in one of a variety of fields including armor, artillery, aviation, communications, corps of engineers, finance, infantry, intelligence, law enforcement (MP), logistics, medical service corps, human resources and special forces to name a few.

For more information about ROTC at the Mount, contact the Military Science Department 301-447-5350 or email admissions@msmary.edu.