5 year BA/MIA

almondqqq

almondqqq

2026 Army ROTC
Joined
Apr 2, 2021
Messages
389
Hello!

I'm currently an incoming freshman with an Army ROTC scholarship. I'm interested in doing a 5 year BA/MIA program in my University. Does anyone have any experience on if ROTC allows this and if they do, how was the process in doing this? Thank you for your time!
 
In general ROTC programs are 4 year and they do not cover additional time for a Master's degree.. Sometimes engineers get extensions for BS degrees, but my guess is this wouldn't apply here. The cadre at your unit can give you the official answer on this.
 
kinnem said:
In general ROTC programs are 4 year and they do not cover additional time for a Master's degree.. Sometimes engineers get extensions for BS degrees, but my guess is this wouldn't apply here. The cadre at your unit can give you the official answer on this.
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Exactly! I am just beginning my freshman year this fall and was recently awarded a 5-year contract (have a Type-1 scholarship) by the AF so I can complete my MS degree before commissioning, however with that being said, I'm also a mech/aero engineering major, so that may be the game-changer, as mentioned by kinnem, reach out to your cadre for details.
 
As @kinnem said, I have not heard of any five year ROTC contracts except for the engineering side where the school requires five years for the BS. To get a five year payout for a BA is going to be tough haul IMHO. Better to get the BA, Commission, then attend Grad School on the governments dime as an O-2 or O-3. International Affairs is not a high demand graduate degree unless you are working in a billet that may require that unique skills set. Most IA majors with Masters Degrees end up in the State Department, not the Army. But you can always apply for post grad school in IA after you Commission.
 
kinnem said:
In general ROTC programs are 4 year and they do not cover additional time for a Master's degree.. Sometimes engineers get extensions for BS degrees, but my guess is this wouldn't apply here. The cadre at your unit can give you the official answer on this.
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thank you for the advice! I was more asking if they let me do it. I would be fine paying for a year extra of college to earn it, but I was wondering since I would commission for 4th year if they would allow me to go back to Schoo for a 5th year?
 
PiperCherokee said:
Exactly! I am just beginning my freshman year this fall and was recently awarded a 5-year contract (have a Type-1 scholarship) by the AF so I can complete my MS degree before commissioning, however with that being said, I'm also a mech/aero engineering major, so that may be the game-changer, as mentioned by kinnem, reach out to your cadre for details.
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congrats on the 5th year extension! I heard the same thing about engineering majors and thought maybe for other majors but you all are right about asking my cadre first!
 
Impulsive said:
As @kinnem said, I have not heard of any five year ROTC contracts except for the engineering side where the school requires five years for the BS. To get a five year payout for a BA is going to be tough haul IMHO. Better to get the BA, Commission, then attend Grad School on the governments dime as an O-2 or O-3. International Affairs is not a high demand graduate degree unless you are working in a billet that may require that unique skills set. Most IA majors with Masters Degrees end up in the State Department, not the Army. But you can always apply for post grad school in IA after you Commission.
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I was was actually thinking of doing the FLEP program after I do commission and get my law degree and become a JAG as well! I just wanted a way to fill my schedule right now since with all the classes I am required to take I still almost 50% of my classes open! It was either a double major or a BA/MIA 5 year program to make me full time student! I am at no rush to get my MIA and getting it after I commission sounds perfect as I do want to work for the State Department after my time in the Army! Thank you for the advice!
 
almondqqq said:
thank you for the advice! I was more asking if they let me do it. I would be fine paying for a year extra of college to earn it, but I was wondering since I would commission for 4th year if they would allow me to go back to Schoo for a 5th year?
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There are ways for a select few to go that route but again, generally, they want you on active or reserve duty right after you commission. Speak with the cadre at your unit.
 
educational delays for grad, medical or law school appear to be rare. Not sure if most seniors prefer to complete their service obligation and then use the GI Bill for post graduate education, or it is the service that caps these approvals. For example, in AROTC 1st BDE (SMCs) only 9 requests for educational delays were made in 2020 - and 5 granted. This is out do 689 contracted seniors. Consider the pros and cons before you make the request, as on completion of your degree, having to complete a 3 or 4 year service obligation may limit your career choices. 79595797-6151-4586-B19A-7A8EB0D7AB3A.jpeg
 
Not sure if it still applies, but Army ROTC "used" to offer "Reserve" Commissions. Our one son looked at this when he was in high school as he wanted to be a JAG. They will Commission you at 4 years, then you serve your "Active Reserve" time, and if you don't get deployed (happened a lot in the middle east) you can go straight to grad school, or stay in school for the 5 year Masters Program. Again, speak with your Cadre, they will tell you the skinny.

Remember FLEP is "HIGHLY COMPETITIVE" and definitely not guaranteed! Many different knowledgeable people on these forums have posted that the military gets over 75% of it's JAG's thru Direct Commissioning. No costs to the government!! Grad School in general is much more attainable as most middle grade officers get an opportunity. It just takes a little more time.:rolleyes:
 
glen said:
educational delays for grad, medical or law school appear to be rare. Not sure if most seniors prefer to complete their service obligation and then use the GI Bill for post graduate education, or it is the service that caps these approvals. For example, in AROTC 1st BDE (SMCs) only 9 requests for educational delays were made in 2020 - and 5 granted. This is out do 689 contracted seniors. Consider the pros and cons before you make the request, as on completion of your degree, having to complete a 3 or 4 year service obligation may limit your career choices. View attachment 12596
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ooo I see! looks like 5 year programs aren't part of it so looks like I won't pursue it
 
Impulsive said:
Not sure if it still applies, but Army ROTC "used" to offer "Reserve" Commissions. Our one son looked at this when he was in high school as he wanted to be a JAG. They will Commission you at 4 years, then you serve your "Active Reserve" time, and if you don't get deployed (happened a lot in the middle east) you can go straight to grad school, or stay in school for the 5 year Masters Program. Again, speak with your Cadre, they will tell you the skinny.

Remember FLEP is "HIGHLY COMPETITIVE" and definitely not guaranteed! Many different knowledgeable people on these forums have posted that the military gets over 75% of it's JAG's thru Direct Commissioning. No costs to the government!! Grad School in general is much more attainable as most middle grade officers get an opportunity. It just takes a little more time.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
ooo I see! I most likely won't want to go to law school right after I commission but even if I don't get into FLEP I would leave the army then go to law school!
 
almondqqq said:
Hello!

I'm currently an incoming freshman with an Army ROTC scholarship. I'm interested in doing a 5 year BA/MIA program in my University. Does anyone have any experience on if ROTC allows this and if they do, how was the process in doing this? Thank you for your time!
Click to expand...
Not to oversimplify I recommend you look at this another way. Why not tackle this in four years using summers on your own dime if needed? explain your degrees goal and work with both your university academic advisor and AROTC academic/advisor to get your academic path to commission down to what courses you’ll take each semester in sequence including courses most summers as/if needed around field training approved. Confirm who will pay for the summer coursework. Sounds like you have credits coming in so map it all out and then you’ll KNOW if you have a path to reach your goal of this combined degree or not and what it will cost. For most this would not work in addition to military courses but if you can then great.
 
almondqqq said:
ooo I see! looks like 5 year programs aren't part of it so looks like I won't pursue it
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If your career goals have changed, check with your AROTC Cadre. If you have a national AROTC contract for active duty you will do 4 years active as a minimum. However, the Army is reducing its active duty manpower so it may be possible to transfer to a guaranteed Reserve or National Guard contract. After your active duty for training periods, your reserve obligation may not interfere with most grad schools.
 
Herman_Snerd said:
Not to oversimplify I recommend you look at this another way. Why not tackle this in four years using summers on your own dime if needed? explain your degrees goal and work with both your university academic advisor and AROTC academic/advisor to get your academic path to commission down to what courses you’ll take each semester in sequence including courses most summers as/if needed around field training approved. Confirm who will pay for the summer coursework. Sounds like you have credits coming in so map it all out and then you’ll KNOW if you have a path to reach your goal of this combined degree or not and what it will cost. For most this would not work in addition to military courses but if you can then great.
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I tried to ask my department to be able to do it in 4 years instead of 5 and they said it is unlikely because many of my classes I would take in junior year would be locked for seniors only so I'm not sure. I might ask again and beg and maybe, as you said, with the AROTC academic backing, I could do it! Thank you for your advice!
 
glen said:
If your career goals have changed, check with your AROTC Cadre. If you have a national AROTC contract for active duty you will do 4 years active as a minimum. However, the Army is reducing its active duty manpower so it may be possible to transfer to a guaranteed Reserve or National Guard contract. After your active duty for training periods, your reserve obligation may not interfere with most grad schools.
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Active duty is something I would try to do! The career in the Army has not changed at all, just the academics of the school. the 5 year was just a way to fill my schedule without taking too many easy elective credit classes and without going part time! Thank you so much for your advice!
 
Inquire if classification as a jr or sr is based on credit hours. If you are starting with a significant number of credits, you may technically be a sr after 3 yr of college.
 
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