The information on this page pertains to program requirements for students who matriculated in the 2024-2025 academic year. View requirements for previous catalog years here.
The Military Studies program is designed for students interested in learning about military skills and careers. The mission of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs is threefold. First, students are developed mentally, morally, and physically in order to make them strong leaders. Second, a desire for development in mind and character is instilled in students so they may assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship, and government. Finally, students are imbued with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty in order to graduate with a basic professional background and motivation toward their careers.
Army ROTC is an elective curriculum you take along with your required college classes. It gives you the tools, training and experiences that will help you succeed in any competitive environment. Along with great leadership training, Army ROTC can pay for your college tuition. Because Army ROTC is an elective, you can participate your freshman and sophomore years without any obligation to join the Army. When you graduate, you will be commissioned as an Officer in the Army.
Those who succeed in the Army ROTC program are students who excel and want something more out of the college experience. Generally, these students are scholars who keep their grades up, athletes who are physically strong, and leaders who have a great desire to learn.
Enrolling in the Army ROTC Basic Course does NOT involve a commitment of service to the Army unless you have received an ROTC Scholarship.
Drake University students can receive a minor in military studies by completing 18 hours of specialized coursework in military studies. The minor is not restricted to ROTC participants; any Drake student may participate in this curriculum. In particular, individuals interested in public service careers, media students who may want to report on military matters, or individuals who may come into contact with the military through business associations may benefit from this program.
The military science minor includes 12 hours from a combination of either the Army or Air Force ROTC program and 6 credit hours from non-ROTC courses on related military topics. Completion of the minor in military studies is not contingent upon a commission in the Armed Forces being tendered.
The following non-ROTC courses are currently approved for the military minor:
| Course | Credits |
| ENG 166 - Discourses of War | 3 |
| HIST 012 - World History 1750 - Present | 3 |
| HIST 075 - US History to 1877 | 3 |
| HIST 139 - World War I | 3 |
| PHIL 090 - Ethics | 3 |
| POLS 121 - The United Nations and Global Society | 3 |
| POLS 166 - Revisiting the Vietnam War | 3 |
| POLS 125 - Transnational Justice | 3 |
| POLS 136 - Intelligence Agencies | 3 |
| POLS 150 - Human Rights and World Politics | 3 |
| Total | 18 |
Students may petition with the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences to gain approval of other courses to meet this requirement.
Drake University is a member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), a consortium of more than 1,300 institutions pledged to be reasonable in working with service members and veterans who are trying to earn degrees while pursuing demanding, transient careers. As an SOC member, Drake is committed to easing the transfer of relevant course credits, providing flexible academic residency requirements and crediting learning from appropriate military training and work experiences. SOC is sponsored by 15 national higher education associations with the military services, the National Guard Bureau and the Office of the Secretary of Defense serving as cooperating agencies.
The information in this catalog does not constitute a contract between the university and the student. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, admission policies and processes, tuition and financial aid, academic standards and guidelines, student services and any other regulations or policies set forth in this catalog without giving prior notice.