NROTC UNIT (NROTCU) Vanderbilt
University is located on the corner of Edgehill and 19th Avenue South
in Nashville, TN across the street from the Vanderbilt Peabody
campus. This unit also hosts students from Tennessee State
University and Belmont University NROTC students.
NROTC emphasizes academic excellence
and professional development in preparing our midshipmen for the
challenges and demands they will face as junior officers in the fleet.
Through a rigorous curriculum consisting of naval science classes,
weekly professional labs, and summer training with fleet units around
the world, midshipmen acquire the skills and knowledge required to
become an Ensign in the United States Navy or Second Lieutenant in the
United States Marine Corps. With vast support from various
organizations and campus resources, the midshipmen at Vanderbilt
University are well equipped to succeed.
Midshipmen at Vanderbilt are heavily
involved in many activities including color guard, drill team, the
Semper Fi Society, community service, and various club and intramural
sports. Midshipmen also participate in sail training on Percy Priest
Lake, earning required sailing qualifications and competing in local
regattas.
NROTCU Vanderbilt University
consists of about 80 midshipmen. Approximately 25% of the midshipmen
are female, and 10% of the midshipmen are Marine Option students.
The NROTC Program at Vanderbilt
Challenging academic courses and
experience-building events prepare midshipmen for the opportunity to
serve their country, receive an education, and begin their career in
the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. NROTC
develops the ablest leaders possible by building upon the academic
strength of Vanderbilt and providing essential military and leadership
education.
Students participate in the NROTC
unit in either the scholarship program, the college program, or the
naval science program. Scholarship students take the prescribed
naval science course each semester, participate weekly in naval science
lab, and engage in a four-week summer training program after each
academic year. The college program is identical to the scholarship
program except that students only participate in summer training upon
completion of their junior academic year. Any Vanderbilt student
may take any or all of the naval science courses without participating
in naval science lab or summer training.
Scholarship students receive full
tuition, fees, textbooks, uniforms, and a monthly stipend of $250 in
their freshman year, increasing by $50 each subsequent
year. Vanderbilt also provides scholarship students with a $6,000
per year stipend toward room and board. College program students
are provided with uniforms, textbooks for naval science courses, and,
upon commencement of their junior year, a monthly stipend of $350 and
$400 their senior year.
Naval Science courses cover naval
engineering systems, sea power in history, naval weapons systems,
navigation, naval operations, leadership, and management. Each class
meets three hours per week. In addition, a two and one-half hour naval
science lab is conducted each Thursday afternoon.
Scholarships
Students can earn scholarships in
several ways. Four-year scholarships are determined by national
competition among high school seniors and graduates. Based on the
national ranking, students may be awarded a scholarship that covers
full tuition. The application process begins as early as the spring
semester of the student's junior year, but no later than 1 January of
the year prior to admission. College program students can be nominated
for three-, two-, and one-year scholarships by the NROTC unit. These
nominations are based on the students' academic and military
performance at the college level. Sophomores not enrolled in the
college program are eligible to apply for the two-year NROTC
scholarship. This is a national competition and application is made
through the NROTC unit. Those selected will attend a six-week naval
orientation program during the summer prior to joining the NROTC unit
in their junior year.
Service Obligation
After their freshman year,
scholarship students incur a service obligation of five years of active
duty and four years in the inactive reserve. College program
students incur a four-year active duty commitment upon commencing their
junior year.
Summer Training
Prior to their sophomore year,
scholarship midshipmen participate in Career Orientation and Training
for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID). In each of four weeks, midshipmen are
exposed to naval aviation, surface warfare, submarine warfare, and
Marine Corps ground operations. Prior to their junior year,
scholarship midshipmen serve aboard a U.S. Navy ship or submarine in
various locations around the globe for a period of about four weeks.
All scholarship and college program midshipmen are required to
participate in their first class cruise prior to the final academic
year. In lieu of first class cruise, Marine option midshipmen
participate in "Bulldog," a six week training course conducted at the
Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA. Completion of
Bulldog is a prerequisite to commissioning as a Second Lieutenant.
Course Credit
During the four-year program, NROTC
students are required to complete a maximum of eight courses (24 hours)
of naval science. Academic credit awarded varies by school and is
outlined below.
College of Arts and Science: NS 231
may be taken for academic credit as professional hours. NS 241 may be
taken for academic credit as professional hours by NROTC students;
Business Administration 247 (Sociology 247) or Business Administration
248 may be taken in lieu of NS 241. History 131 may be taken as part of
the NROTC requirement. All other naval science hours are earned in
excess of the 120 hours required for the B.A. or B.S. degree.
School of Engineering. History 131
may be counted as social science elective. Courses NS 121, 231 and 241
may be counted as open electives. Management of Technology 227 or 246
(technical electives) or Business Administration/Sociology 247 (social
science elective) or Business Administration 248 may be substituted for
NS 241. Mechanical Engineering 220a with a reading supplement may be
substituted for NS 121. Use of electives varies by major.
Peabody College. Courses NS 231 and 241 and History 131 are acceptable as electives. Business Administration/Sociology 247, Business Administration 248, or Human Resources 1100, 1200, 1300, or 2700 may be taken in lieu of NS 241.
Naval Science Courses
Freshman Year
NS 100: Naval Orientation
HIST 131: Sea Power in History
Sophomore Year
NS 241: Organization and Management
NS 231: Navigation
Junior Year
NS 121: Naval Engineering Systems
NS 130: Naval Weapon Systems
Senior Year
NS 232: Naval Operations
NS 242: Leadership Seminar
The Marine option courses listed below are taught in the fall, rotating
on a yearly basis. They are taken in the junior and senior year in lieu
of those prescribed above.
NS 231m: Evolution of Warfare
NS 241m: Amphibious Warfare
In addition to Vanderbilt's graduation requirements, Navy midshipmen
are required to complete one semester of third world history, one year
of college level calculus, and one year of calculus-based physics.
Marine option midshipmen are required to take courses in national
security policy and American military policy.
To Be One of Us
Review basic eligibility requirements and application procedures on the
NROTC website , or visit your local Navy recruiter or call
1-800-USA-NAVY. For specific information about NROTC at Vanderbilt
University, contact Vandy's recruiting officer at 1-800-288-0118.