Department of Aerospace Studies

Aerospace Studies (Air Force ROTC)

The Department of Aerospace Studies provides a campus education program through which qualified students can simultaneously earn an Air Force commission and a college degree. Faculty members are experienced, active duty Air Force officers.

Admission to the Program

Non-scholarship freshmen and sophomores may register for Air Force Studies (AFS) courses without incurring a military commitment.
Students with a minimum of five semesters of school remaining in undergraduate status may qualify for Air Force ROTC. For more information, call 859-257-7115.

Requirements

An academic major in aerospace studies is not offered. However, by successfully completing the Air Force ROTC program, a qualified student may concurrently earn a commission as an active duty Air Force Second Lieutenant while completing requirements for a degree. Students may enroll in some Aerospace Studies courses without joining the Air Force ROTC cadet corps. For more information, call 859-257-7115.

AFROTC Curriculum

The AFROTC curriculum consists of both academic classes and leadership laboratory or seminar classes.

The General Military Course (GMC) is a two-year course normally taken during the freshman and sophomore years.
The Professional Officer Course (POC) is a two-year course normally taken during the junior and senior years. Along with academic classes each semester, all cadets also take leadership laboratory classes.

In the GMC, there are four academic classes:

Freshman Semesters

AFS 111 offered in fall semesters
AFS 113 offered in spring semesters

Sophomore Semesters

AFS 211 offered in fall semesters
AFS 213 offered in spring semesters

These cover two main themes - the development of air power and the contemporary Air Force in the context of the U.S. military organization.

The GMC academic classes are open to any UK student.

In the POC, there are four academic classes:

Junior Semesters

AFS 311 offered in fall semesters
AFS 313 offered in spring semesters

Senior Semesters

AFS 411 offered in fall semesters
AFS 413 offered in spring semesters

These cover Air Force management and leadership and national security studies.

Note: Entry into the POC years is competitive and is based on:

Air Force Officer Qualifying Test scores
Grade-point average
Evaluation by the AFROTC Detachment Commander
Only physically qualified students in good academic standing may compete for entry into the POC.
Typically, these courses are for those cadets who have already completed the courses in the GMC, but the courses are open to any UK student.

Students enrolled as cadets are required to be involved once a week in a 1-credit-hour course in the cadet corps training program designed to simulate a typical Air Force organization and its associated functions. This course is known as Leadership Laboratory. All cadets (only cadets) are required to take all of the Leadership Laboratories each fall and spring semester, concurrent with their AFS courses listed above.

Please call 859-257-7115 for further inquiries on the matter.

GMC Years

Freshman Semesters

AFS 112 fall semesters
AFS 114 spring semesters

Sophomore Semesters

AFS 212 fall semesters
AFS 214 spring semesters

POC Years

Junior Semesters

AFS 312 fall semesters
AFS 412 spring semesters

Senior Semesters

AFS 314 fall semesters
AFS 414 spring semesters

The leadership laboratories are largely cadet-planned and conducted under the concept that they provide leadership training experiences that will improve the cadets’ capabilities as Air Force officers. This also involves three hours of physical training each week. Leadership laboratory is open to students who are members of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps or are eligible to pursue a commission as determined by the Air Force ROTC Detachment Commander.

Field Training

Field Training (FT) is offered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. FT students receive officer training and leadership development with other students from across the nation. Simultaneously, the Air Force has an opportunity to evaluate each student as a potential member of its officer corps. FT courses include cadet orientation, survival training, officer training, physical training, organizational and functional aspects of an Air Force base, career orientation, small arms familiarization, first aid, and other supplemental training.

Scholarships

Students interested in AFROTC scholarships should refer to the Financial Aid, Awards, and Benefits section of this Bulletin or call 859-257-7115. Information is subject to change.