Summer Term Academic Programs

Greetings,
My plebe was placed in the lower-level math 100 and student success course. Since these two classes are not on the "required courses" list, will this result in attendance at STAP? Do plebes have a choice about attending STAP, i.e. take courses to lighten the load during Yuk year? Plebe has never had a physics course, so is it possible to take in STAP?

Thanks,

Copenhagen

Tell him to talk to his academic advisor or DAC when he gets one. He won't necessarily do STAP for math because of the level he's placed in Plebe year, unless he fails it Plebe year. I think cadets can elect to STAP a class during the summer if it works out with their other required trainings. My Cow wanted to STAP a class this past summer because he's doing study abroad in the spring and he didn't want to take 21-24 credit hours both Fall semesters this year and as a Firstie. Unfortunately with CLDT and his AIAD, the timing didn't work out, so he has 21.5 credit hrs this semester. I don't know the answer to the Physics question. Your cadet will get the best answers by talking to his academic advisor in the coming weeks, but know that the average # of credit hours Plebes take is ~18 (this includes the PE and military classes).

We were given a brief about this, and if I can recall correctly, he will have to do STAP if he is on the lower level math track.


-1337BeachedWhale1337

You can find the "red book" on the USMA website that lists requirements and classes offered. 2017 & 2018 cadets have different requirements than 2019 & 2020 cadets, as the curriculum was changed for incoming 2019 cadets. I don't know what all has been changed as I haven't compared the two, but 2018 cadets didn't choose their major until Yuk year whereas 2019 cadets chose their majors 2nd semester of Plebe year.

1337BeachedWhale1337 said:

We were given a brief about this, and if I can recall correctly, he will have to do STAP if he is on the lower level math track.


-1337BeachedWhale1337

Click to expand...

That sucks and is definitely a change. If you were in rock math and didn't fail, you just took an extra semester of math to finish your requirements than the people who weren't in rock math.

I did voluntary STAP. Only certain classes are offered, depending on demand and availability, and its hard to make it into them as they usually save the slots for Corps squad or those who failed the course during the academic year. That said, it was a great way to knock out a 3.5 credit course for me that I didn't have to take during the school year. Have your son find his DAC (he can find them by either talking to his TAC who will know who is assigned to the company for those without a declared major or by checking his CIS academic page where his grades are).

Only thing to be aware of is that his DAC, until he declares his major, is probably going to be from some completely random department that may have no idea how the courses work in his desired major. I ran into this issue but thankfully had a family friend teaching in a department that did line up with academic interests who was able to sit down with me and go over how to organize my course work before I met with my DAC. It led to a much more productive time with the random DAC (who will only be your assigned DAC for 1 year and odds are 99% likely, unless you fail or have something weird going on, you actually will have zero interaction with) in setting up my schedule to allow for voluntary STAP as a rising yuk and advancing courses forward my yuk year to start my major a semester early.

It helps to be proactive as possible with your schedule. If you son knows what he is interested in majoring in, he can reach out to that department (have him ask an upperclassmen who is in the major to assist in getting him to the right people to talk to) and they can help out similarly to how my family friend worked out my schedule.

That being said, if he has no clue, not a big deal. He has another semester or two to figure out what he wants to do for his major and even then, he has the possibility of changing it if it doesn't work out.