Senior Course Load?

JayC

5-Year Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2018
Messages
2
I will be enrolled in these classes for my next school year
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Government
- AP Literature
- AP Macroeconomics
- Physics Honors (Already taking AP Chemistry)
- Financial Intern(elective)
- JROTC(elective)

I am wondering if I should switch out a class for AP Spanish if 4 years of language are desired at the academy?
 
I will be enrolled in these classes for my next school year
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Government
- AP Literature
- AP Macroeconomics
- Physics Honors (Already taking AP Chemistry)
- Financial Intern(elective)
- JROTC(elective)

I am wondering if I should switch out a class for AP Spanish if 4 years of language are desired at the academy?
Do you know what your intended major is? CGA doesn't appear to place much emphasis on foreign language, so I wouldn't worry about it.
 
@JayC, As a former USCG member, @korab is correct, the CGA does not require a foreign language pre-requisite. That being said, as a former Boatswains Mate I can tell you if you are going to be "operational" on a ship, as a JO you WILL be conducting L/E Boarding's of predominately Spanish speaking crews (since most counter-narcotics missions target central and south American vessels and crews). Even American flag vessels with Spanish speaking crews WILL claim to not speak English and make your job more difficult. Having at least a working knowledge of Spanish is paramount to being able to do your job as things may be said in your presence to indicate violations of US Law that without a basic knowledge of Spanish you have no clue what is being said and could interfere with your mission.

I had two years of Spanish in College and was lost initially, until I was exposed enough and worked with the really good Spanish speakers on my units that I became comfortable and pretty good at determining what the crews thought I would not understand. Many of the crews and Masters who claimed to speak no English, when being boarded and jabbering in Spanish said a lot of things that helped my team accomplish our mission without the crew ever knowing how we figured out what was what. It can be weapon....don't disregard it. Especially if you do not appear to be of Hispanic heritage.
 
@JayC I am assuming your school doesn’t offer AP Microeconomics. That might be a good class to take if it is offered.
 
I will be enrolled in these classes for my next school year
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Government
- AP Literature
- AP Macroeconomics
- Physics Honors (Already taking AP Chemistry)
- Financial Intern(elective)
- JROTC(elective)

I am wondering if I should switch out a class for AP Spanish if 4 years of language are desired at the academy?
Do you know what your intended major is? CGA doesn't appear to place much emphasis on foreign language, so I wouldn't worry about it.
I would like to major in government or cyber systems.
 
I am not sure how to tell you what major you would like if you decide to try for the CGA. According to the academy's website ALL cadets pursue a liberal arts based core curriculum, while choosing from nine majors. I believe that government is considered "Liberal Arts" and Cyber System is an "Engineering" major. If true there are totally different course selection with regards to graduation requirements.
 
Here's the link to the registrar at USCGA, where you can download the course catalogs. The course requirements for each major can, and do, change every year, but this will give you an idea as to the past requirements for each major. The 2022 catalog has not been added yet (the first year Cyber was a major), but I have made a request for the site to be updated. Government majors are required to have a foreign language competency at the intermediate level. Spanish proficiency tests are taken 4/c year for Government majors. Cadets are then placed in the appropriate Spanish class (or validate), or they may opt to take another language at Conn College to satisfy the requirement. Recently, cadets have taken French and Arabic at Conn College.
https://www.uscga.edu/registrar/
 
@alaska66, I am a little surprised that ALL personnel graduating the academy are not required to have at least a minimum knowledge of Spanish, especially since a lot of engineering types are Boarding Officers or on Boarding teams? I recently spoke with a CWO4 BOSN I am friends with and he said the CG has been sending LE Types to FLETC in Ga for intensive Spanish Classes, but those are mostly enlisted personnel. It makes sense that Deck Types have a Foreign Language requirement as almost all Cutter Boarding Party's are led by Senior Enlisted and/or JO's, and that non engineering types are most likely to be the JO's that do that since engineering JO's are usually working on their engineering quals as JO's.
 
I would like to major in government or cyber systems.

@alaska66, I am a little surprised that ALL personnel graduating the academy are not required to have at least a minimum knowledge of Spanish, especially since a lot of engineering types are Boarding Officers or on Boarding teams? I recently spoke with a CWO4 BOSN I am friends with and he said the CG has been sending LE Types to FLETC in Ga for intensive Spanish Classes, but those are mostly enlisted personnel. It makes sense that Deck Types have a Foreign Language requirement as almost all Cutter Boarding Party's are led by Senior Enlisted and/or JO's, and that non engineering types are most likely to be the JO's that do that since engineering JO's are usually working on their engineering quals as JO's.
The course load most semesters as CGA is around 20-22 credit hours, and engineering degrees which usually take 5 years to complete at other universities are completed at CGA in 4 years. There is very little room in the curriculum for courses not degree related, or required maritime/leadership courses. It doesn't seem to be a pressing issue to require all cadets to have proficiency in a foreign language, and as you stated, many enlisted are sent for language training.
 
@alaska66, I looked at the Academy course catalog I can understand while any type of engineering/technical major does not have any time for foreign language. I had hoped that college for my twins would be less harrowing than their HS International Baccalaurete Program, but it looks like they are going from the frying pan to the fryer..:) At least they won't be surprised...I know they already know what you are saying, in addition to them losing 60 credits at a civilian college, the academy application process, and the knowledge that they will be pushed like never before, they both still want to serve.. I am very proud of them both.
 
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