Naval Science
CAPTAIN MICHAEL L. WITHERSPOON
Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Science
The mission of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps is to develop NROTC students mentally, morally, and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty; to commission college graduates as naval officers who possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the naval service, and have a potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship, and government. All NROTC programs are open to qualified applicants.
To be eligible for enrollment as a midshipman, an applicant must be a United States citizen; have no moral obligations or personal convictions that will prevent bearing of arms, and supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; meet age requirements of at least 17 years on or before 1 September of the year of enrollment and less than 27 years on 30 June of the year an applicant expects to graduate; meet physical requirements for the NROTC Program; and be accepted for admission as a full-time student at Auburn University. Applicants with prior or current active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces may be granted age waivers equal to the number of months served, not to exceed 36 months. Those granted the maximum age waiver must be less than 30 years of age on 30 June of the year they expect to graduate.
NROTC Programs
Four-Year NROTC Navy-Marine Corps Scholarship
Entrance into the Navy-Marine Corps Scholarship Program is via nationwide competition. Applicants typically apply during their senior year of high school, but anyone who meets eligibility requirements and has completed less than 30 semester hours of college credit may apply. Qualifications for enrollment, applications, and information bulletins are available at https://www.nrotc.navy.mil, high schools, colleges, recruiting stations, and the Auburn NROTC Unit, located on the second floor of W. F. Nichols Center. The Department of the Navy pays tuition, fees, $375 per semester for textbooks, and provides a monthly stipend. Freshmen on scholarship receive $250, sophomores $300, juniors $350, and seniors $400 per month. The NROTC program divides degrees into three Tiers with Tier I containing engineering majors, Tier II remaining technical majors, and Tier III liberal arts (for a complete list, see the Auburn NROTC home page). Tiers do not apply to Marine Options. Although the program emphasizes engineering and science majors, students may enroll in any Auburn University major leading to a baccalaureate degree. In addition to the requirements of their major, scholarship students must complete 24 semester hours (21 for Marine Options) of Naval Science courses, calculus I and II (Navy option only), calculus-based physics I and II (Navy option only), a military history/national security policy course and a world cultures course. Summer activities include two at-sea training cruises and one summer period of career orientation lasting approximately four weeks. Marine Option students participate in a six-week officer candidates school, in Quantico, VA, in lieu of the second at-sea training cruise. Successful completion of the ROTC program leads to a commission as an Ensign, U.S. Navy or Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps.
College Program
The College Program is a non-scholarship option that offers a two- or three-year program. There is no calculus or physics requirement and no preference for technical majors. Interested students should apply directly to the Auburn NROTC Unit during their senior year of high school. Those already at Auburn should apply the spring of their freshman year for the three-year program or the spring of their sophomore year for the two-year program (two year not available for Marine options). College Program students will complete Naval Science and other university courses, a few specific university courses, and attend one summer training session at sea for Navy Option midshipmen or Quantico, VA, for Marine Option midshipmen. Upon graduation, College Program midshipmen may be commissioned as Ensigns, U.S. Navy or Second Lieutenants, U.S. Marine Corps.
Uniforms, Naval Science textbooks, and equipment necessary for the NROTC Program are furnished in all programs.
Active Duty Service Requirements upon Graduation
Active-duty service requirements for scholarship midshipmen vary depending on the warfare area they enter. The basic requirement is eight years, five of which must be on active duty. The remaining three years may be completed on active duty or in the reserves. Specific requirements per warfare community are as follows:
- Surface and Submarine Warfare - 8 years total, at least 5 on active duty
- Naval Aviator (Navy and Marine pilot) - 8 years active duty after qualification as a Naval Aviator
- Naval Flight Officer (Navy and Marine non-pilot aviators) - 6 years active duty after qualification as a Naval Flight Officer
- Marines and Nurse Corps - 8 years total, at least 4 on active duty
Curriculum
The Naval Science curriculum consists of one 3-credit class per semester for eight semesters. In addition, all NROTC students attend one 1-credit Naval Science laboratory class period. Naval Science subjects are listed in this Bulletin. Naval Science course hours are considered part of the normal load, which is defined as 15 to 18 credits per semester.
Naval Science Minor
The Department of Naval Science offers a minor to any student, regardless of NROTC affiliation, who completes 15 semester hours of Naval Science, nine semester hours must be courses numbered 3000 or above. The following courses qualify:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NAVS 1010 | Introduction to Naval Science | 3 |
| NAVS 1020 | Seapower and Maritime Affairs | 3 |
| NAVS 2010 | Leadership and Management | 3 |
| NAVS 2060 | Navigation 1 | 3 |
| NAVS 3030 | Evolution of Warfare 2 | 3 |
| NAVS 3050 | Naval Ship Systems I (Engineering) 1 | 3 |
| NAVS 3060 | Naval Ship Systems II Weapons 1 | 3 |
| NAVS 4020 | Leadership and Ethics | 3 |
| NAVS 4030 | Fundamentals of Maneuver Warfare 2 | 3 |
| NAVS 4050 | Naval Operation and Seamanship 1 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Navy Option Only
- 2
Marine Option Only