Academic Classes

[falcon13]

Are classes 5 days a week like high school or 2-3 days a week like other colleges?

 

[flieger83]

Are classes 5 days a week like high school or 2-3 days a week like other colleges?

College? What's that?

This is the Academy...you're busy 24/7/365...

Classes "typically" are all week. BUT...you may have "holes."

 

[Stealth_81]

The academic days are divided into "M" days and "T" days. You will have some classes on "M" days, and some classes on "T" days. Some classes you will have on both days, depending on your schedule. There are 40 "M" days and 40 "T" days in each semester. The days are marked on the Academy academic calendar here:

http://www.usafa.af.mil/cadetFocus/calendar08-09.doc

Stealth_81

 

[falcon13]

How much control of my schedule will I have as a freshman? Any?!

 

[hornetguy]

Virtually none. 1% control your fall (validations type stuff) and a little bit maybe your second semester if you declare a major early. After that, you don't have much control over core courses, and even major's courses. Welcome to the military.

 

[falcon13]

Thanks everybody. It's pretty much what I imagined.

 

[missmuff]

How much control of my schedule will I have as a freshman? Any?!

validate classes to get into different core classes. good stuff
that's pretty much it.

 

[CadCandMateus]

ofcourse there are those times that you have class on saturday haha


but i dont think itll happen again after all the "positive" reviews from the cadet wing lol

 

[Christcorp]

One additional thing concerning classes. If you are an IC (Inter-Collegiate) athlete; most times, your classes are scheduled only in the morning hours. Very busy. Your afternoons are usually for your sport; working out, practice, etc... This includes the off season. However, in the off season they can/do sometimes put a class in the afternoon if you need it. later... mike....

 

[HNeedle]

yep everyone is right. the only control you have over classes your 4dig semester is if you validate or declare a major early. however, if you go talk to your AOCA (air officer commanding - academics) they can normally work wonders. they're you're academic advisor until you declare a major, then you get another one.

each semester has 40 M days and 40 T days. Each semester has 4 "Go's", or 4 blocks that are 10 lessons long. Normally, PE Classes are 1 Go (ie, physical developement and boxing only last ~10 lessons). So last semester, i had PD during D go (the final Go for the semester- lessons 31-40) and this semester i have boxing H go, again, the final go of the semester (31-40).

classes are scattered throughout your days..M days, i've only got 3rd and 4th period (until H go, then i'll have 1-4 because of boxing), and intramurals 7th. T days, i've got 1-6, mainly because chemistry and physics are double periods (you dont HAVE to stay unless you have a lab or something, but MOST people stay just to get everything done early and to get help)

If you're in 1st or 2nd group (squadrons 1-20), intramurals are on M days. if you're in 3rd or 4th group (squads 21-40), intramurals are on T days. there arent any intramurals on fridays.

VALIDATION IS GOOD! dont let anyone tell you NOT to validate. if you validate but find yourself in a class that's tooo hard, you can ALWAYS get help, and nearly always you can drop into a course that's right below it. you'll have more opportunities to take cool classes your firstie year, or even have more periods off. ALWAYS worth it to validate.

hope that's enough info i'm sure i confused you somewhere, so ask questions!

 

[Packerfan735]

im not understanding this "go" g and h thing and how some cross semesters..

 

[hornetguy]

The semester is 40 lessons that alternate between M and T day cycles. So you have M1, T1, M2, T2 etc.

The semester is divided into 4 "go's" that last 10 lessons (8 lessons for PE). So M3/T3-M10/T10 is a-go. M13/T13-M20/T20 is b-go. In the spring, its just e, f, g, h go's.

 

[Packerfan735]

whoaaa... i guess its easier when you apply it to your daily routine..

 

[HNeedle]

definitely. haha

 

[unitedstatesAFA2013]

My schools works in blocks where there are Adays and Bdays and they go ABABABABABA ad infinitum until the year ends. on every day, there are 4 classes (or blocks) where each one is about 90 minutes. I'm guessing this is what you guys meant by T and M days?

 

[hornetguy]

No, both days have 7, 50 min class periods. Not blocks. Classes are 40 lessons (except 100 level language classes which meet everyday).

 

[unitedstatesAFA2013]

Ohhh, the first school I went to had that system. I didn't really like it since the teachers had very little time to fully explain a concept, and you would have to do your homework for EVERY class for the next day.

 

[unitedstatesAFA2013]

what's 100 level language?

 

[thud105]

Probably a basic course in a language. Basic courses in college are usually 100 level, then the next step up is 200 level, and so forth.

 

[missmuff]

Probably a basic course in a language. Basic courses in college are usually 100 level, then the next step up is 200 level, and so forth.

yep!
eeeeevery day...
lol