Military Science

Return to: USC Price School of Public Policy  

Physical Education Building 110
(213) 740-1854

Administration

Eric Polk (Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army)

Faculty

Professor/Commander: Eric Polk (Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army)

The Department of Military Science offers professional training leading to a commission in the Active Army, Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard upon graduation. Through the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program (AROTC), cadets may qualify for scholarships covering full tuition, fees, a monthly stipend and a book allowance. Scholarships are also available for Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty. Instruction focuses on leadership development and the practical application of military skills to produce America’s future leaders. MS 101  and MS 102  are open to students who are not enrolled in the program but have an interest in leadership, management, military history or military training. Enrollment in the Army ROTC program is open to qualified full-time students.

Scholarship Program

Most Army ROTC cadets at USC are funded through Army scholarships, which are merit-based and not contingent upon financial need. These scholarships support both Active Duty and Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty, covering full tuition, mandatory fees and a book stipend. Available to students across all majors, scholarships are competitively awarded to qualified candidates for periods of two, three or four years, depending on the student’s academic status and degree program. Please refer to Tuition and Fees  for additional scholarship information.

Enrolled Cadets

Contracted scholarship and non-scholarship cadets can receive a monthly stipend. Contracted scholarship cadets receive an annual book allowance. All enrolled scholarship and non-scholarship cadets receive uniforms and military science textbooks from the department.

Four-Year Program

The four-year military science curriculum is designed to be part of the student’s undergraduate degree program. In the freshman and sophomore years, students receive foundational instruction in warfare theory, military history, leadership principles and basic military skills. The curriculum advances in the junior and senior years, where cadets engage in a professional development program that focuses on enhanced leadership and management training, military justice and advanced military skills.

Three-Year Program

The three-year program is available to qualified sophomore undergraduate students. Students may compress the first two years of the ROTC program by enrolling in two ROTC classes per semester during their sophomore year, or by applying to Basic Camp over the summer to fulfill the freshmen and sophomore year curriculum requirements. Scholarships, awarded competitively, are available to students, including transfers, who have three years left to complete their undergraduate degrees. Once accepted, students will follow the curriculum outlined in the four-year program.

Two-Year Program

The two-year program is open to juniors, seniors and graduate students who have two remaining years of academic study. This program also welcomes veterans and transfer students who have achieved junior academic status and meet the enrollment criteria. Eligible students can earn credits for the first two years of the ROTC curriculum through the Army ROTC Basic Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, or previous participation in Junior ROTC (JROTC). Upon acceptance, students engage in the upper-level military science curriculum as outlined for juniors and seniors in the four-year program.

Field Training

Besides the classroom instruction, cadets will have ample opportunity to demonstrate their military and leadership skills during practical application in a field environment throughout the academic year and during the summer, as required. They will enhance their physical fitness during designated morning training sessions, participate in weekly leadership laboratories, and partake in a tactical training exercise each semester at a nearby military installation. Moreover, qualified cadets will attend a 35-day paid Army ROTC Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, following the summer of their junior year.   

Adventure Training

Qualified cadets may also participate in specialized training programs, including Airborne School, Air Assault School (featuring helicopter rappelling), Cadet Troop Leadership Training (with placements in Army units globally), Northern Warfare School (focusing on Arctic survival), Combat Diver School and Mountain Warfare School.