Military Leadership, Minor
Earn academic credit for the ROTC training you're already completing across the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. Non-ROTC students can explore these leadership and ethical frameworks without a service commitment, building transferable skills that the public sector seeks.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Minor description
Military Leadership minor description
The minor program in military leadership enhances your learning experience by providing tools that prepare you for leadership roles in various organizations. You complete courses that cover academic and practical skills, including:
- effective communication
- leadership ethos
- negotiation
- problem-solving
- staff motivation and empowerment
- team-building
Why earn a military leadership minor at ASU?
Customize all 18 credits of your minor around your exact career path rather than following a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Depending on your track, you might master small-unit operations, company-grade leadership and training management. Sharpen how you lead people, communicate and shoulder national security responsibilities. Study naval ship systems, weapons, operations and seamanship. Or examine the evolution of warfare, maneuver warfare and leadership ethics. Additional courses let you explore the physiological and athletic training behind military and tactical roles, sociological insight into the human side of military life and the processes of the U.S. Intelligence Community that shape national security decisions.
You're also backed by one of the country's premier veteran and military student support centers, offering networking, mentorship, and resources that peer universities cannot match. ASU houses research centers focused on national security, global strategy and cyber risk management and studying here puts you near faculty, guest speakers and recruiters directly connected to the Department of War and enterprise defense contractors.
Additional details
Army ROTC students can get involved with the Color Guard, Desert Rangers, Ranger Challenge and the Road Crew, plus summer training opportunities like professional internships, airborne, air assault, combat survival, mountain warfare and cadet troop leadership training. Air Force ROTC options include the Color Guard, which trains cadets in proper drill and ceremony procedures for events such as university sporting events, professional basketball games and detachment occasions, along with the Arnold Air Society honorary service organization and Silver Wings, a professional group dedicated to developing proactive, knowledgeable and effective civic leaders through community service and national defense education. Navy and Marine ROTC students can also join the Color Guard.
Courses
This undergraduate minor includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
2026-2027 Catalog Year
The minor requires 18 credit hours. A "C" minimum is required for all courses in the minor, although students must maintain a 3.00 GPA in the post-baccalaureate certificate program.
| Requirement | Minimum grade | Credit hours |
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The minor in military leadership requires 18 credit hours, of which 12 credit hours must be upper division. A minimum of six upper-division credit hours must be taken from The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. When selecting courses, the college offering the course can be identified by viewing the course details in Class Search. Only courses completed with a grade of "C" (2.00 on a scale of 4.00) or better can be used to satisfy minor requirements. |
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The branch-specific option for Army requires 12 credit hours specific to the option and six credit hours from the Approved Electives list. Select three courses from the following four options:
Choose two additional courses from the Approved Electives list. Army option students are advised to select one elective from subject codes ACO, CEL, or SSP.
OR
The branch-specific option for Air Force requires 12 credit hours specific to the option and six credit hours from the Approved Electives list. Complete the following courses:
Choose two additional courses from the Approved Electives list.
OR
The branch-specific option for Marine requires nine credit hours specific to the option and nine credit hours from the Approved Electives list. Select three courses from the following four options:
Choose three additional courses from the Approved Electives list; at least one of the Approved Electives must be upper division (300- or 400-level). OR
The branch-specific option for Navy requires 12 credit hours specific to the option and six credit hours from the Approved Electives list. Select four courses from the following five options:
Choose two additional courses from the Approved Electives list.
OR
The non-ROTC option requires nine credit hours specific to the option and nine credit hours from the Approved Electives list. Select three courses from the following options:
Choose three additional courses from the Approved Electives list; at least one of the Approved Electives must be upper division (300- or 400-level). Students choose the option befitting their chosen branch of the military. An option is also provided for non-ROTC students wishing to benefit from the skills and knowledge developed in the minor.
9 - 12 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
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C | 9 - 12 |
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Courses can only satisfy one requirement. No course used toward the branch-specific courses or the core courses for the non-ROTC option can be repeated as an elective.
Marine and Non-ROTC students must take at least three credit hours of upper-division approved electives.
Army ROTC students please consult with the ROTC Student Services Manager or your HRA to ensure you are meeting your military history commissioning requirement.
9 - 6 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
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C | 9 - 6 |
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Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this minor.
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Additional electives may be used with the prior approval of the department chair.
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Enrollment requirements
GPA Requirement: None
Other Enrollment Requirements: None
Students in the history or religious studies BA programs may not use HST or REL courses to meet the elective requirement for this minor.
Current ASU undergraduate students may pursue a minor and have it recognized on their ASU transcript at graduation. Minor requirements appear on the degree audit once the minor is added. Certain major and minor combinations may be deemed inappropriate by the college or department of either the major program or the minor. Courses taken for the minor may not count toward both the major and minor.
Here are the admission and application details
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this military leadership minor prepares you for
Graduates of the minor program in military leadership have knowledge of the military as a profession and its purpose and capabilities in support of national defense. Graduates with this minor have enhanced problem-solving abilities and critical and creative thinking skills. This program assists graduates who are pursuing careers in support of the Department of Defense.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Department of Military Science
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SS 330
ArmyROTC@asu.edu
480-965-0782
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
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These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
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