Military Science centers on the theory and application of leadership and management fundamentals. It also includes professional subject knowledge, physical training, small unit tactics, and basic military skills. The program sponsors the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), leading to duty as a commissioned officer in the active Army, Reserves, or National Guard.

The program is a part of the United States Army Cadet Command. Some classes and activities are conducted on the Lafayette campus under the auspices of the Steel Battalion ROTC program, which is headquartered at Lehigh University. Junior and senior level classes are taught at Lehigh.

Any student may take ROTC classes any semester without military obligation. To be eligible for commissioning as an officer, however, a student must have at least two years until graduation upon entry into ROTC. ROTC non-scholarship students incur no military obligation until their junior year. Students continuing in ROTC beyond their sophomore year may sign a contractual agreement leading to a commission as a second lieutenant in one of more than 20 branches of the active Army or Reserve Forces upon graduation. All juniors and seniors receive tax-free monthly stipends of $450 to $500 during the school year.

ROTC scholarships are available for full tuition and fees and are available to first-year students, sophomores, and juniors. Selection is based upon academic merit and extracurricular activities. ROTC participation is required and all recipients incur a military obligation.

For more information about ROTC, call the Lehigh Valley ROTC headquarters at (610) 758-3272 or consult http://www.lehigh.edu/~inmil/.