Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) is offered through an agreement with the University of Southern California (USC). The program is open to most undergraduate students with at least two and a half years of school remaining. Competitive scholarships valued at up to 100 percent of tuition and fees are available to qualified applicants. See the Financial Aid section of this catalog for more information.

Classes are offered on the USC campus on Fridays and include one hour of academics for freshmen and sophomores and three hours of academics for juniors and seniors. Students also participate in two hours of leadership laboratory, physical training, and practical leadership training and development as Air Force officer candidates. Students are required to attend a two-week intensive summer field training at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, between their second and third years in the program.

Classes are also offered at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), which APU students may enroll in using our cross-town agreement. View AFROTC course descriptions or learn more about the AFROTC program at CSUSB.

Participation in the General Military Course (freshman/sophomore years) carries no military obligation except for scholarship students. Scholarship recipients and students in their final two years receive a monthly stipend. The service obligation upon graduation is four years of active duty.

Students who successfully complete the program commission as an officer into the United States Air Force upon graduation. Once commissioned, students attend specialized training in the career fields in which they are qualified and selected. Example programs include pilot, combat systems officer, air battle manager, medical, legal, nursing, logistics, intelligence, cyber operations, personnel, and finance. For more information, contact the USC Department of Aerospace Studies at (213) 740-2670 or visit the department website.

The following aerospace studies courses are offered through Azusa Pacific University and conducted on the USC campus. Although the courses are tailored to those students interested in pursuing a commission in the Air Force, courses are open to all Azusa Pacific University students and may be considered as electives in some cases.

AEST 300A Aerospace Studies III: Air Force Management and Leadership (3 units)

This course is a study of leadership, management fundamentals, professional knowledge, Air Force personnel and evaluation systems, leadership ethics, and the communication skills required of an Air Force junior officer. Case studies are used to examine Air Force leadership and management situations as a means of demonstrating and exercising practical application of the concepts being studied. A mandatory Leadership Laboratory conducted at the University of Southern California complements this course by providing advanced leadership experiences and giving students the opportunity to apply the leadership and management principles of this course. Prerequisites: AEST 100A/B and AEST 200A/B (USC only)

AEST 300B Aerospace Studies III: Air Force Management and Leadership (3 units)

This course builds upon the topics discussed in AEST 300A. Case studies are again used, and a mandatory Leadership Laboratory complements the course. Prerequisite: AEST 300A

AEST 400A Aerospace Studies IV: National Security Forces in Contemporary American Society (3 units)

This course examines the need for national security; analyzes the evolution and foundation of American defense policy, strategy, and joint doctrine; investigates the methods for managing conflict; overviews regional security, arms control, and terrorism; and prepares cadets for active duty. Special topics of interest focus on the military as a profession, officership, the military justice system, and current issues affecting the military. Within this structure, continued emphasis is given to the refinement of communication skills essential for military officers. A mandatory Leadership Laboratory complements this course by providing advanced officer training experiences and giving students the opportunity to apply the leadership lessons learned. Prerequisite: AEST 300B

AEST 400B Aerospace Studies IV: National Security Forces in Contemporary American Society (3 units)

This course builds upon the topics discussed in AEST 400A. Continued emphasis is given to the refinement of communication skills. A mandatory Leadership Laboratory complements the course. Prerequisite: AEST 400A