Naval Science (NROTC)
Areas of Study
Naval Science at Holy Cross is an intensive four-year program that simultaneously trains you in the liberal arts and military subjects. While the Naval Science mission is to support the development of midshipmen, the department opens its courses on warfare, leadership, ethics and history to any member of the Holy Cross community. In the program, you will:
- Complete physical training, including swimming proficiency, at the College’s extensive athletic facilities.
- Participate in a four-week summer cruise following every academic year, allowing you to experience military life and responsibilities at sea (only for NROTC scholarship students).
- Attend the Mountain War Training Center in California after sophomore year (for Marine-option midshipmen).
- Participate in a six-week Officer Candidates School (OCS) prior to your senior year.
- Hear prestigious guest speakers share their extensive firsthand knowledge of military service. Previous guests have included commanding officers of nuclear submarines, admirals in the SEAL community, Medal of Honor recipients, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations and more.
Requirements
Students participating in the Naval Science program are required to complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited institution in four years to receive a commission as an officer in the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Marine Corps.
Any of the available majors at Holy Cross are permitted, but students are strongly encouraged to pursue some form of technical major. Those who major in non-technical subjects are still required to take some technical courses (see below) in order to prepare for the highly technical nature of today’s naval service.
These courses, even for non-tech majors, should count toward degree requirements as most majors require some math and science coursework. When computing national standings prior to service selection during senior year, the Navy gives additional credit to those pursuing technical degrees.
The following are the academic requirements for participation in the NROTC Program:
- Calculus (two semesters, Navy only)
- Calculus-based Physics (two semesters, Navy only)
- English (two semesters, Navy and Marine Corps)
- World Culture and Regional Studies (one semester, Navy only)
- American History/National Security Policy (one semester, Navy and Marine Corps)
Students must complete calculus and English prior to the start of their junior year and calculus-based physics prior to the start of their senior year.
The following are the required courses for all midshipmen, both Navy and Marine Corps (except where noted). They are taught by the unit’s officers, and often must be taken in addition to a normal collegiate course load.
- Intro to Naval Science
- Sea Power
- Leadership & Management
- Navigation (Navy only)
- Naval Operations (Navy only)
- Naval Engineering Systems (Navy only)
- Naval Weapons Systems (Navy only)
- Marine Corps Leadership (Marine Corps only)
- Evolution of Warfare (Marine Corps only)
- Leadership & Ethics
Program Types
Graduating high school students can apply through the national competition for a four-year Naval ROTC Scholarship.
If selected for the four-year Naval ROTC Scholarship Program, they receive full tuition, all academic fees, military uniforms, a stipend of $750 per academic year for textbooks, and a graduated monthly subsistence allowance ($250/month for freshmen, $300 for sophomores, $350 for juniors and $400 for seniors) while attending college.
Additionally, the College of the Holy Cross offers free room to all four-year national scholarship winners living on campus. They are required to take certain college courses, undergo three summer training cruises, each approximately four weeks in duration, and are required to serve at least five years on active duty after commissioning.
Second-year college students can apply through the national competition for the two-year Naval ROTC Scholarship Program. If selected, during their third and fourth years they will receive full tuition, all academic fees, the annual stipend of $750 for textbooks, military uniforms, and a monthly stipend the same as a four-year scholarship student. In addition, they may attend the Naval Science Institute at Newport, R.I. for six weeks during the summer before their third year, will be required to take certain college courses, and will undergo one summer training cruise of four weeks’ duration. They will be required to serve at least five years on active duty after commissioning.
First- and second-year students who applied for, but were not awarded, a four-year scholarship may apply directly to the Professor of Naval Science for enrollment in the College Program (non-scholarship).
After completion of at least one semester in the College Program, students who have achieved a GPA of 2.5 or higher, passed one semester of calculus with a grade of C or better, and performed well in the battalion may be recommended by the Professor of Naval Science for a Naval Service Training Command Controlled Scholarship. The scholarship includes all the same rights and responsibilities as a scholarship student detailed above.
College Program students not selected for a scholarship by the beginning of their junior year must be selected for advanced standing or will be dropped from the NROTC program. Selection for advanced standing is competitive and centrally managed by the Naval Service Training Command. This program provides military uniforms and a subsistence allowance of $350/$400 per month for juniors/seniors respectively while attending college.
College Program students are required to take certain college courses and to undergo one summer training cruise of four weeks during the summer preceding their fourth year.
Second-year College Program students who receive advanced standing or a scholarship may attend the Naval Science Institute in Newport, R.I. for six weeks during the summer preceding their junior year.
Upon commissioning, College Program students are required to serve at least three years on active duty.
Meet Your Commanding Officer
Opportunities
Weekly Activities & Training
On a weekly basis, students will attend NROTC classes, Naval Science Laboratory and physical training. Laboratory is a twice-weekly meeting of the NROTC Battalion, lasting for two hours. At lab, midshipmen receive a variety of training in general military subjects, practice close order drill, conduct uniform inspections and meet with their student chain of command. All students are required to maintain minimum levels of physical fitness as prescribed by the Navy and Marine Corps. Each week, the battalion schedules physical training sessions to show students different exercises to help meet and exceed those requirements.
Social Activities
The battalion hosts several functions each semester ranging from company socials to formal ceremonies. These activities allow students to interact outside of the battalion and help build lasting ties.
Among the more formal activities, the midshipmen attend a Navy and Marine Corps Birthday all during the fall semester, as well as a Dining-In during the spring semester. These events honor the long and proud traditions of the naval service and expose students to professional social events similar to those they will attend as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.
Presidents’ Review and Awards Ceremony
The annual Presidents’ Review and Awards Ceremony is conducted in the spring semester. The battalion honors the presidents of the four schools with a formal military parade. The ceremony also permits many local and national organizations to present individual Midshipman awards for academic achievement and military aptitude. Parents are invited to attend.
Color Guard, Drill Team and Military Excellence Competitions
The Battalion Color Guard and Drill Team perform at military and civilian functions, parades and before university and local sporting events. The Color Guard Team has performed at both Boston Red Sox and New England Revolution games.
In addition, the battalion hosts a Military Excellence Competition in the fall semester, where midshipmen from regional NROTC units compete in drill, color guard, swimming, basketball and endurance events. This event is a great opportunity for midshipmen to meet students from other units, engage in healthy competition and have fun. The unit also sends midshipmen to compete at other Military Excellence Competitions throughout the year such as at Villanova, RPI, Boston University and Cornell.
Summer Training
All scholarship students participate in four-week summer cruises following each academic year. Students travel all over the world on cruises, and the Navy or Marine Corps pay for travel expenses to and from the cruise site every summer.
Program Outcomes
When you graduate, you will serve with pride as a Navy or Marine Corps officer.
During the fall term of their junior year, Navy Option students complete a Service Selection Survey indicating which warfare community they want to join after commissioning. Although not binding, this allows them to begin the process to prepare for nuclear selection interviews, aviation tests or medical examinations. Before they depart for summer after their junior year, Midshipmen complete “dream sheets” for service selection where they list their community choices.
All Navy Midshipmen nationwide are ranked based on academic grades, Physical Fitness Assessment scores, aptitude and the recommendations of Commanding Officers. Additional points are given to students with technical majors. Based on these factors, and student preferences, Midshipmen will be assigned future warfare communities (surface, submarine, aviation, etc.). Results are published around October/November. Those Midshipmen selected as future Surface Warfare Officers choose their ships and duty station in early spring (based on national rankings).
Upon graduation and commissioning, new ensigns depart for the fleet or follow-on training. Marine Corps second lieutenants attend The Basic School for six months, where they learn basic infantry platoon leader skills and compete for an occupational specialty (infantry, artillery, intelligence, logistics, communications, etc.). Depending on individual orders, newly commissioned officers may be temporarily assigned as staff members at the Holy Cross NROTC Unit.
All students who participate in the NROTC program and are commissioned into the Navy or Marine Corps agree to an eight-year minimum commitment (includes active duty and inactive reserve time). Depending on the selected warfare community, the active duty and inactive reserve times vary, but all add up to at least eight years.
- Surface Warfare/Special Operations/Special Warfare - 5 years active
- Submarine/Surface Nuclear/Naval Reactors - 5 years active
- Naval Aviation (Navy or Marine) - 8 years active after warfare qualification
- Naval Flight Officer (Navy or Marine) - 6 years active after warfare qualification
- Navy College Program (non-aviation) - 3 years active
- Navy Nurse Option - 4 years active
- Marine Corps (non-aviation) - 4 years active
Navy and Marine Corps Officers are encouraged to attain advanced degrees, and funding is available later during your student career for graduate education.
Several midshipmen are competitively selected to attend the Naval Post-Graduate School or the Air Force Institute of Technology immediately after commissioning. Other competitive programs are also available for overseas study or study at local universities, with full or partial Navy funding. Additional obligated service may be incurred when these educational benefits are accepted.
Students desiring to pursue their graduate degrees immediately following graduation may request Graduate Leave of Absence (GLOA). The student postpones commissioning in order to pursue graduate education at his/her own expense.
Resources for Incoming Students
- View Holy Cross NROTC Program Information
- For answers to any questions you might have about the Holy Cross NROTC program, see our Frequently Asked Questions
- Interested in applying for a scholarship? Visit the Official Navy ROTC website
If applying for a four-year National Scholarship, please submit a request for an officer interview using the contact information below. Include the nature of your request, your preferred date and the best way to contact you.
Email: nrotc@holycross.edu
Naval Student Orientation occurs in the fall. Most students should expect to move in early to their respective schools prior to the rest of the general population. Once we've finalized exact dates we will coordinate on your behalf with the school for early move-in unless you decide to return home at the conclusion of Naval Student Orientation.
In order to participate in the program as a College Programmer (any student that has not gained an NROTC Scholarship), communicate your interest to participate in the program no to nrotc@holycross.edu and complete the forms listed below no later than August 1st.
The Navy Pre-Entry Physical Training Plan assists recruits in preparing for the physical demands a prospective Sailor experiences during Navy basic training programs.
The Holy Cross NROTC unit is committed to protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in accordance with the College's policy and Massachusetts state law. If you are sending in application material that may contain PII, please send it to us encrypted or via postal service. If submitting material via email, send the documents to nrotc@holycross.edu.
Review the checklist and instructions for completing the following forms.
- Midshipman Bio Sheet
- Acceptance and Oath of Office
- NROTC Scholarship Service Agreement
- DD-4 Enlistment-Reenlistment Document
- Authorization for Release of Student Information: Transcripts
- Authorization for Release of Student Information: Health Information
- Dependency Application - Record of Emergency Data
- Direct Deposit Sign-Up form
- Drug and Alcohol Abuse Statement of Understanding
- Navy Option Tattoo Screening Form
- Midshipman Background Information Sheet
- Privacy Act Statement
- SGLI, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance
- Uniform Size Sheet
- Dental Exam Form
- Copy of your NROTC Application
- Copy of the notification you received awarding you a NROTC Scholarship
The Holy Cross NROTC unit is committed to protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in accordance with the college's policy and Massachusetts state law. If you are sending in application material that may contain PII, please send it to us encrypted or via postal service.
If submitting material via email, send the documents to nrotc@holycross.edu.
Review the checklist and instructions for completing the following forms.
