Curriculum Overview

The Chief of Naval Education and Training prescribes the courses for naval science for NJROTC units that comprise the 3 or 4-year curriculum.

The naval science program is constructed to include three academic classroom sessions and two activity periods per week. The curriculum is based on 40-minute sessions of instruction for 36 weeks, with 180 teaching days. This equates to 120 hours of contact instruction (72 hours of classroom instruction and 48 hours of activities including military drill and athletics). Adjustments for class length other than 40-minute periods, as well as staggered, rotating or modular schedules, are made at the local school level.

• This program of 120 hours of instruction equates to one Carnegie unit or one credit per year toward graduation as an elective or other subject credit approved by school authorities.
• It is desired that all topics provided in the curriculum be covered, but the depth of coverage must be determined by each instructor according to the needs of his/her students. Major curriculum content changes are not to be made without the prior approval of the Chief of Naval Education and Training.
• Naval Science Instructors follow the established procedures of individual schools regarding examination requirements.

NJROTC Time Allocations

Subjects Included in the Curriculum

The Chief of Naval Education and Training routinely updates the curriculum to include new texts, instructional materials and lesson plans. The curriculum is developed and revised by civilian educators and NJROTC instructors. The wide variety of subjects includes the following:

• NAVAL ORIENTATION -- A basic introduction to the Navy -- its customs, traditions, and way of life.
• NAVAL OPERATIONS/ORGANIZATION -- Familiarizes the student with national strategy and naval forces, daily military operations, training, exercises, drills, and shipboard organization.
• NAVAL HISTORY -- History of the United States Navy from the colonial period to the present.
• NAVIGATION -- An introduction to piloting and celestial navigation.
• SEAMANSHIP -- An introduction to the general subjects of seamanship that include anchoring and mooring, ship handling, small boats, weather, ship construction, and steering and propulsion systems.
• LEADERSHIP -- An ongoing study of the principles and practical application of leadership with emphasis on providing opportunities for students to exercise and develop their own leadership abilities.
• NAUTICAL ASTRONOMY -- A study of astronomy and its application to celestial navigation.
• ELECTRONICS -- An introduction to electronics as the basis for shipboard radar, sonar, communications, and guidance systems.
• OCEANOGRAPHY -- Provides information on the collection and dissemination of hydrographic and navigational data of the world's ocean systems.
• DRILLS, COMMANDS, AND CEREMONIES -- Includes individual, squad, platoon, and company close order drill; rotation of command; physical fitness; personnel inspections; and parade in company review.

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