Military Leadership, Bachelor of Science (733)
Program Coordinator
Emma M. Brittenham, emma.brittenham@wku.edu
The major in military leadership creates well-prepared, well-educated, culturally aware, dynamic leaders through interdisciplinary coursework, internships, Army training and schools, community involvement, and various leadership opportunities. The military leadership program spans up to eight semesters, during which the student is mentored and developed using emphasis on team and leadership skills training. In addition to military science courses, the student selects nine credit hours from political science, psychology, management, communications, geography, sociology, and history. With the completion of additional requirements, students may also be able to earn a certificate in organizational leadership.
Although the program prepares students to be eligible for commission in the U.S. Army, program graduates are not required to seek commissions. In addition to prospective officers, non-commissioned officers and veterans may also be admitted to the major in military leadership.
Program admission requirements for those seeking a commission are:
- Be a citizen of the United States or an alien in a category approved by the Department of the Army. Approval must be granted prior to enrollment.
- Be at least 17 years of age at the time of enrollment and not reach 30 years of age at the time of commissioning in the U.S. Army (this may be waived).
- Be medically qualified in accordance with standards prescribed by the Department of the Army.
- Have a minimum overall academic grade point average of 2.0.
- Be recommended by the Professor of Military Science (department chair).
- Execute a written agreement with the government to complete the two-year advanced course of training, attend Advanced Course (AC), agree in writing to accept appointment as a commissioned officer in the Army Reserve, and service a prescribed tour of active or reserve service component duty as a commissioned officer.
Upon completion of the program, the student will be eligible to receive a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.
Program admission requirements for those with prior military service or those who are currently serving as non-commissioned officers not seeking a commission are:
- Be a citizen of the United States or an alien in a category approved by the Department of the Army. Approval must be granted prior to enrollment.
- Be medically qualified in accordance with standards prescribed by the Department of the Army.
- Have a minimum overall academic grade point average of 2.0.
- Be recommended by the Professor of Military Science (department chair).
Simultaneous Membership Program
This program is designed to allow selected members of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve to enroll in the Advanced Army ROTC Program. These students serve in their units as officer trainees while completing the advanced course of instruction. Upon completion of the advanced course and college graduation, they are commissioned as Second Lieutenants. Please contact Brandon Smith at Brandon.Smith@wku.edu or call (270) 745-6054.
Financial Assistance Program
Army ROTC offers a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to outstanding young men and women who are interested in the Army as a profession. Scholarships may be awarded for periods of two, three, or four years. Four-year scholarships are awarded to selected high school applicants who plan to attend a university hosting Army ROTC. Applicants must apply prior to the deadline during their senior year in high school. Contact the Recruiting Officer for the deadline.
Two- and three-year scholarships are awarded to university sophomores or freshmen who desire to earn an officer’s commission. Each scholarship provides tuition, textbooks, classroom supplies, and laboratory fees in addition to tax-free allowances of $420 per month. Budget dependent, four-year scholarship recipients may receive room and board scholarships from the University. Two- and three-year scholarship recipients may receive room scholarships from the University.
Applicants are not required to be enrolled in the ROTC program to apply. Competition is very keen and is open nationwide. Students wishing to apply for these scholarships must submit a completed application to the Department of Military Science and Leadership.
Program Requirements (36-42 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Courses | ||
| Select one of the following options: 1 | 7-10 | |
| Introduction to the Army and Mountaineering and Foundations of Army Leadership and Army Leadership and Ethics and Team Building and Army Doctrine | ||
| Introduction to Military Life and Military Science Practicum (Leader’s Training Course) | ||
| Advanced Courses 1 | ||
| MIL 301 | Army Training Management and Warfighting Functions | 3 |
| MIL 302 | Applied Tactical Army Leadership | 4 |
| MIL 401 | Professional Leadership Skills | 3 |
| MIL 402 | Role of the Army Officer | 4 |
| MIL 410 | Military Science Practicum (Leadership Development and Assessment Course) | 3-6 |
| or LEAD 400 | Practicum in Leadership | |
| Restricted Elective | ||
| HIST 299 | Introduction to Military History | 3 |
| or HIST 494 | U S Military History | |
| Electives | ||
| Select 9 hours of electives with advisor approval from the following list; at least two disciplines must be represented: | 9 | |
| Issues in Cross-Cultural Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Motivation and Emotion | ||
| International Politics | ||
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | ||
| Political Terrorism | ||
| U S Foreign Policy | ||
| Politics of Developing Nations | ||
| Government and Politics of the Middle East | ||
| Government and Politics in East Asia | ||
| Government and Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe | ||
| African Government and Politics | ||
| Theories of War and Peace in International Relations | ||
| Effective Listening | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Advanced Intercultural Communication | ||
| Organization and Management | ||
| Management of Organizational Conflict | ||
| Introduction to Leadership Studies | ||
| Practicum in Leadership | ||
| Hitler and Nazi Germany | ||
| Rise and Decline of Communism | ||
| Race and Ethnic Relations | ||
| Social Institutions: Race, Class, and Gender | ||
| Diversity in American Society | ||
| Geography of Europe | ||
| Geography of East Asia | ||
| Total Hours | 36-42 | |
- 1
Students must take the following courses in sequential order unless authorized by the PMS.
A second major or minor is required. Students are encouraged to choose a second major related to their intended career objectives.
Finish in Four Plan
Finish in Four Plan may vary pending participation in LTC and LDAC:
- LTC - only required for students working towards a U.S. Army Commission and wanting to waiver the Basic Course MIL requirements
- LDAC - only required for students who are working towards a commission in the U.S. Army
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| MIL 101 | 2 | MIL 102 | 2 | ||
| ENG 100 | 3 | COMM 145 | 3 | ||
| HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 | MATH 109 or MATH 116 | 3 | ||
| Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 | Colonnade: Literary Studies | 3 | ||
| Colonnade: Natural & Physical Science | 3 | Colonnade: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | ||
| General University Elective | 2 | ||||
| 14 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| MIL 201 | 3 | MIL 202 | 3 | MIL 209 | 1 |
| ENG 300 or COMM 200 | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 | Leaders Training Course (LTC) at Ft Knox | 6 |
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | ||
| Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences with lab | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | ||
| Colonnade: Connections (Social and Cultural) | 3 | World Language (if needed) OR 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | 7 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| MIL 301 | 3 | MIL 302 | 4 | MIL 410 (LDAC) | 6 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 | HIST 299 | 3 | ||
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | Military Leadership Elective | 3 | ||
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | ||
| General University Elective | 3 | General University Elective (ONLY needed if took MIL 209 and MIL 210) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 13 | 6 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| MIL 401 | 3 | MIL 402 | 4 | ||
| Military Leadership Elective | 3 | LEAD 400 (if MIL 410 not taken) | 1-6 | ||
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | ||
| 2nd Major/Minor Course | 3 | General University Elective | 1 | ||
| General University Elective | 1 | Military Leadership Elective | 3 | ||
| 13 | 17 | ||||
| Total Hours 131 | |||||