Naval Science (NROTC)
The NROTC program was established to educate and train qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the United States Navy or Marine Corps. As the largest single source of Navy and Marine Corps officers, the NROTC program fills a vital need in preparing mature young adults for leadership and management positions in an increasingly technical Navy and Marine Corps. Upon successful completion of the program and graduation from Oregon State University, NROTC midshipmen receive a commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy or second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. The minimum active service requirement upon commissioning is service dependent; it is generally five years for Navy and four years for the Marines.
NROTC Scholarships
The Navy and Marine Corps offer four-year scholarships to qualified students seeking baccalaureate degrees. Students are selected through national competition, and are appointed midshipmen in the United States Naval Reserve by the Secretary of the Navy. The Navy provides uniforms, pays tuition and fees or room and board, a $250 per term book stipend, and a subsistence allowance of $250 to $400 per month depending on the student’s undergraduate status. Scholarship students are required to attend new student indoctrination before their freshman year, and summer training after freshman, sophomore, and junior year, designed to familiarize them with the warfare areas of the Navy and Marine Corps.
To qualify for a national NROTC scholarship you must be a U.S. citizen not less than 17 years old by September 1 of your first year of college and no more than 23 years old that same year. Additionally, you must be physically qualified by Navy or Marine Corps standards. Navy scholarship candidates must have a minimum SAT score of 550 verbal, 540 math (and 1100 combined) or a minimum ACT score of 22 English and 21 math (and 44 combined). Marine Corps scholarship candidates must have a minimum combined SAT score of 1000 (Math and Evidence Based Reading and Writing only), an ACT minimum composite score of 22, or a minimum Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score of 74. For more information about Naval ROTC scholarship opportunities, visit the website or contact your local Navy-Marine Corps recruiting office. For specific information about OSU NROTC or questions regarding the two-year NROTC scholarships, visit the website or call the unit at 541-737-5620 or 541-737-6289.
College Program
Students who are not awarded a national scholarship and are accepted to OSU can still participate in Naval ROTC through the College Program by applying through the OSU Department of Naval Science. College Program midshipmen participate in all aspects of the NROTC program and may be eligible for a scholarship provided they have been active in the program for a minimum of one academic term. To be competitive for a scholarship, a College Program student should not have less than a B (3.0) grade-point average, meet aptitude and physical fitness standards, and receive a favorable recommendation from the Professor of Naval Science. If selected, students receive the same benefits as national scholarship recipients.
College Program midshipmen who are not awarded a scholarship must be selected for Advanced Standing status before beginning their junior year to remain in the NROTC program. If selected for Advanced Standing, students receive a monthly subsistence allowance of $350 their junior year and $400 their senior year. College Program Advanced Standing midshipmen receive a commission upon graduation and have the same professional opportunities as scholarship midshipmen to select careers in all warfare areas of the Navy and Marine Corps. For specific information about the college program, visit the website or call the unit at 541-737-5620 or 541-737-6289.
Naval Science Minor Requirements
University students may take any Naval Science courses for credit, except for NS 002 Leadership Lab. However, such students are classified as Naval Science students only and are not enrolled in the NROTC program.
Status and Curriculum
Students enrolled in the NROTC program are not on active duty, except during summer training. Midshipmen wear uniforms for drill, select days of the week, on special occasions, and during the summer training periods.
The NROTC program of study fits into curricula leading to baccalaureate degrees. Naval Science minor scholarship students (Navy option) must complete three terms of calculus by the end of their sophomore year, three terms of calculus-based physics by the end of their junior year, as well as other NROTC-specified academic requirements, including English, American History or National Security Policy, and World Culture and Regional Studies. Naval Science minor students (USMC option) must complete NROTC-specified academic requirements, including English and American History or National Security Policy.
Captain Robert Biggs, USN (US Navy), Commanding Officer
161 Cascade Hall
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-5401
Phone: 541-737-6289
Website: http://nrotc.oregonstate.edu/
Faculty & Staff
NS 002, LEADERSHIP, 0 Credits
Provides students with basic personal and interpersonal leadership skills that can be used within and outside of a work setting. Through practice, the leadership experience help students explore motivation, decision-making, time management, power, team building, conflict, ethics, dealing with change, communication skills, and diversity issues.
NS 111, INTRO TO NAVAL SCIENCE, 3 Credits
Emphasizes the mission, organization, regulations and warfare components of the Navy and Marine Corps. Includes a discussion of the responsibilities and commitments of an officer in the Navy or Marine Corps; an overview of enlisted rank and rating structures; and a synopsis of officer designators and the training, education, ranks, promotion and career paths for each. Introduces the basic tenets of naval customs, discipline, and naval leadership, as well as ship’s nomenclature, organization, basic damage control, and basic military equipment identification.
NS 112, SEA POWER & MARITIME AFFAIR I, 3 Credits
Surveys the evolution of sea power, with an emphasis on the development of the United States as a world class sea power. Covers the period from the American Revolution up through World War I. Examines sea power via the following eight themes: foreign policy, leadership, Congress, inter-service relationships, coalitions, technology, tactics, and strategy. Creates an understanding of the historical impact of these themes on maritime warfare and has direct application to present day and future maritime warfare.
NS 113, SEA POWER & MARITIME AFFAIR II, 3 Credits
Surveys the evolution of sea power, with an emphasis on the development of the United States as a world class sea power. Covers the period from World War I to the present. Examines sea power via the following eight themes: foreign policy, leadership, Congress, inter-service relationships, coalitions, technology, tactics, and strategy. Creates an understanding of the historical impact of these themes on maritime warfare has direct application to present day and future maritime warfare.
Prerequisite: NS 112 with D- or better
NS 211, LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT, 5 Credits
Explore the principles, philosophies, and methodologies of effective Naval leadership with emphasis on moral, ethical actions with respect to the principles of authority, responsibility, and accountability as they apply to military organizations.
NS 212, NAVAL ENGINEERING, 5 Credits
Explore how concepts in physics are applied to the design of naval vessels and aircraft. Prepare students for their future role as division officers by examining topics such as maintenance, engineering documentation, and ethical issues.
Prerequisite: NS 111 with D- or better
NS 311, NAVIGATION, 5 Credits
Explore the geographic qualities of space and time within the maritime domain through an introductory treatment of navigation. Piloting, dead reckoning, voyage planning, rules of the road, external communications, case studies and relative motion problems provide a fundamental background for interpreting maritime law, management of forces, spatial and motion relationships, and handling uncertainty.
Recommended: Critical thinking, organization, and reasoning skills
NS 313, NAVAL OPERATIONS AND SEAMANSHIP, 3 Credits
Illustrates the theory of shiphandling, interpret communications, explain shipboard evolutions, and classify heavy weather. Includes case study discussions and comparisons of naval operations.
Prerequisite: NS 311 with D- or better
NS 321, EVOLUTION OF WARFARE, 5 Credits
Examines how warfare philosophies, domains, tactics and technology have either endured or changed. Affirms the fundamental human dimension of warfare, exploring the moral forces at play within warrior cultures. Through the study of history, seeks to illuminate the timeless lessons of warfare. Utilizes case study, lecture, and war gaming in order to set conditions for doctrinal training and professional refinement in subsequent training. Equips students with a strong mental foundation for leading in future conflicts.
Recommended: Critical thinking, problem-solving, and writing skills
NS 323, NAVAL SCIENCE III: MARINE CORPS OPTION, 3 Credits
Explores a fundamental understanding of the basic military skills required for completion of the commissioning course at Officer Candidate School (OCS). Examines USMC history, mission and organization, map reading, land navigation, small unit leadership and tactics, 5-paragraph order, and M16 familiarization, in order to face the environment expected during OCS.
Prerequisite: NS 321 with D- or better
NS 405, READING AND CONFERENCE, 1-16 Credits
To prepare midshipmen returning from a leave of absence from the Naval ROTC program for commissioning and entrance into the fleet.
This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
NS 411, NAVAL WEAPONS SYSTEMS, 5 Credits
Explores the theory and development of U.S. Naval weapons systems, current weapons systems types, platforms, and employment. Reviews naval weapons systems types, launch platforms, characteristics and employment.
Prerequisite: NS 111 with D- or better
NS 413, LEADERSHIP AND ETHICS, 4 Credits
Provides the academic foundation for NROTC leadership development. Provides future naval leaders with a sound moral leadership foundation for “real life” military decision making. Integrates an intellectual exploration of Western moral traditions and ethical philosophy with military leadership, core values, professional ethics, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and Navy regulations. Combining ethical theory and leadership discussions with current military events prepares students for the role and responsibilities of leadership in the naval service.
Prerequisite: NS 211 with C- or better
NS 421, FUNDAMENTALS OF MANEUVER WARFARE, 5 Credits
Provides a detailed look at broad aspects of warfare and their interactions with maneuver warfare doctrine, with a focus on the United States Marine Corps. Discusses a strong focus on leadership, as the fundamental purpose of this course is to develop the skills, knowledge, leadership background, and mindset necessary for a successful Marine Corps Officer.
Prerequisite: NS 321 with D- or better