Dual Majors
- Thread starter KiwiBird
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You can major in aero and have a minor in any of the foreign languages USAFA offers. It's considerably easier if you can validate the first few language courses in your desired foreign language, so you have a lighter load. Otherwise, I believe you are looking at seven additional classes to get your minor.
Would it be feasible to major in aerospace engineering and nuclear engineering?
There is no nuclear engineering major at USAFA. You could do physics with a nuclear physics concentration and I think that could include a single course called nuclear weapons engineering.
How difficult that would be depends on your specific situation.
I know they have a “nuclear and weapons strategy” minor.
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Agree on validating the lower level language classes to make it possible. Son #1 validated into the 400 level courses and only had to take 3 or 4 Spanish classes to get a minor.
Stealth_81
Stealth_81
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6 semesters of Chinese was a grind. At my 20 year reunion, we reminisced about the small group of people who stuck with it -- fewer than 10 for my class who completed the Chinese minor. For me, it was it was not good for the GPA.
USAFA does not offer Language majors, but does offer them as a minor. USMA apparently does offer them as a Major. You can major in Foreign Area studies.
www.usafa.edu
USAFA does not offer Language majors, but does offer them as a minor. USMA apparently does offer them as a Major. You can major in Foreign Area studies.
Majors & Minors
The Air Force Academy's award-winning majors and minors offer hands-on, real-world learning opportunities. Pick your passion today.
www.usafa.edu
BuckeyeDad20
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Similar to Stealth_81, my DS validated lower level Spanish and considered a Spanish minor - if you validate lower level, it isn't a heavy lift. However, my DS didn't want a minor in Spanish so he chose to Double Major Aero and Applied Math. He has two thing in his favor, he validated Calc I & II in addition to several other classes. Secondly, math and engineering majors dovetail nicely together as a lot of the math he needs for Aero can count toward the math degree anyway. There are cadets who double in a science and humanities as well, but I imagine that is a busier schedule. He is a Doolie, so he hasn't really felt the impact of his choice yet so we will see how he feels in the coming couple of years. Several upperclassman have said things along the lines of "Yeah, I was double major once too". And the attrition rate for engineering programs is typically pretty high across colleges anyway so try to be realistic. Talking to upperclassman was the biggest help for him in helping him decide.
As far as languages go, echoing what shiner said, my DS has a friend who wanted a minor in Chinese and it crushed his GPA first semester. No idea what kind of background he had going into it, but the friend is not thrilled with his choice. I know very little about foreign languages, but I think it is safe to say that if you want to pursue it, do some research and try to accurately and honestly assess your own level in the language and your motivation to put in the work it requires to be successful.
As far as languages go, echoing what shiner said, my DS has a friend who wanted a minor in Chinese and it crushed his GPA first semester. No idea what kind of background he had going into it, but the friend is not thrilled with his choice. I know very little about foreign languages, but I think it is safe to say that if you want to pursue it, do some research and try to accurately and honestly assess your own level in the language and your motivation to put in the work it requires to be successful.
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It's definitely common to do a language minor - but far more common for those that can validate some classes or start in a higher language level. I was a math/physics double + an IC, and there was a math/physics double Russian minor in my class. We both made it, but it was definitely a rough time. When most firsties had just a couple finals and a nice light second semester, we were drowning in four math major's courses...
In the long run it was worth it for me because I am a scientist and I use a lot of the math and physics I learned almost daily - but generally it's not a great plan as it makes life pretty tough and your GPA is likely to take a big hit if you aren't careful.
In the long run it was worth it for me because I am a scientist and I use a lot of the math and physics I learned almost daily - but generally it's not a great plan as it makes life pretty tough and your GPA is likely to take a big hit if you aren't careful.
If I may ask, what is it like minoring in a foreign language? Is it just learning how to use the language and understanding the culture of it or is there more to it?6 semesters of Chinese was a grind. At my 20 year reunion, we reminisced about the small group of people who stuck with it -- fewer than 10 for my class who completed the Chinese minor. For me, it was it was not good for the GPA.
USAFA does not offer Language majors, but does offer them as a minor. USMA apparently does offer them as a Major. You can major in Foreign Area studies.
Majors & Minors
The Air Force Academy's award-winning majors and minors offer hands-on, real-world learning opportunities. Pick your passion today.
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My experience was language with a splash of culture. There are summer trip opportunities, but I do not recall the requirements. The kick in the pants for me was the return of missionary students who just spent two year in-country and return with the proficiency of a native speaker. Mandarin is hard enough, but there is an odd pressure when new students show up and are crushing it when I felt like I was struggling. Most SA students are achievement oriented individuals and I was happy to check the box, but admit that as it drug on the GPA hit had me close to pulling the plug. I struggled, but it was likely because I truly dedicated the bare minimum time to the activity. I had no prior experience with the language and took 2 years of Spanish in High School. I was assigned Chinese by the registrar (you can ask for a class but it was not guaranteed and didn't get Spanish when I asked). However, during BCT we heard from the language department and they gave a stat that if you can speak Chinese and English, the combination empowers you to communicate with more than 99% (or similar %) of humans in the world. The figure struck me and I chose to go for it. It was more of a badge or credential for me, and the achiever mindset kicked in to gut through it. It took me 20 years and leaving the Air Force to finally make it to China to use it... My suggestion for anyone going for this goal would be to actually enjoy languages and have a goal of how you want to use it after graduation. Language is a skill that you lose over time and takes recurring practice to keep your proficiency. Beyond the check box, do you find professional value? I see strategic and professional value in Chinese, but that importance is more today than when I was going through it because of the shift in power and importance of China on the global stage. If asked today, I would encourage people to gain skills in Chinese language because of the potential business impacts expected within the next 20 years. Similarly, you can probably find different reasons to pursue other languages, but have a reason why it is important to you. Taking these classes meant I missed out on something else that would have been interesting or more free time, so understand the trade-off and if it is still worth it to you -- go for it!
So if I'm already proficient in Mandarin would there be any point in me doing Chinese at USAFA or should I go pick up on another language? Thanks
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Existing proficiency in a language offered by USAFA could/should expedite your path toward achieving the minor - assuming you test out of lower level classes. I am attempting to call on your behalf to get a solid answer, but my assumption is that you cannot validate your way to a minor. Tried calling and leaving messages for 2 days now and it feels like everyone is working from home with literally no one in their office -- which is understandable to some extent.
EDIT - just saw USAFA on twitter announced the base is closed. A quick check of the weather says snow storm... so maybe it's just bad timing for a call. Email works too.
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This ^
However, this v
There has to be a motivation beyond its usefulness after 4yrs at an SA and 5+ yrs active duty. In general, no service branch is going to put you in a position to use your foreign language ability in the first several years, and I would guess that the AF would have fewer spots available than the other Service Branches that would require it.
Did you learn it in a Chinese speaking home? Are you literate in Mandarin? If not, then I would get literate.
Best of Luck!
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Ok, just confirmed (email) with the Department Head. There are two things surrounding the topic.
1) Students are required to take two semesters of foreign language for all degree programs. Students can validate out of this requirement by testing at USAFA or through the Defense Language Proficiency Test (for prior enlisted).
2) The minor requires taking 5 language courses at the 200 level or above during your time at USAFA. Proficient speakers will be placed into the appropriate course level for their individual starting point. Even students with native speaking proficiency have room to grow linguistically and culturally.
3) Independent study and foreign immersion programs can count towards the 5 required courses.
4) You can not validate your way into a language minor because of existing native speaker status
2021 course offerings for each language look like this:
Skills Development Courses
So, you can see how there are options for students of all ability levels.
Source:
www.usafa.edu
1) Students are required to take two semesters of foreign language for all degree programs. Students can validate out of this requirement by testing at USAFA or through the Defense Language Proficiency Test (for prior enlisted).
2) The minor requires taking 5 language courses at the 200 level or above during your time at USAFA. Proficient speakers will be placed into the appropriate course level for their individual starting point. Even students with native speaking proficiency have room to grow linguistically and culturally.
3) Independent study and foreign immersion programs can count towards the 5 required courses.
4) You can not validate your way into a language minor because of existing native speaker status
2021 course offerings for each language look like this:
Skills Development Courses
- For Lang 131/132 – Introduction to the Language, Culture, and Civilization
- For Lang 151/152 – Accelerated Basic: Foundational Language, Culture and Civilization
- For Lang 221 – Intermediate I: Refinement of Language Skills
- For Lang 222 – Intermediate II: Continued Development of Language Skills
- For Lang 321 – Advanced I: Capstone Course for Skills Development
- For Lang 322 – Advanced II: Follow-on Capstone Course for Skills Development
- For Lang 365 – Civilization and Culture (contemporary issues)
- For Lang 370 – Specialized courses in German, French, Spanish and Japanese
- For Lang 376 – Introduction to Literature
- For Lang 491 – Specialized Language Course (advanced readings)
- For Lang 492 – Semester Exchange Program Preparation
- For Lang 495 – Special Topics
- For Lang 499 – Independent Study (normally offered to cadets who have completed all courses)
So, you can see how there are options for students of all ability levels.
Source:
Foreign Language (Minor)
Languages can help shape the opinions that others have of our country and its armed forces. See how you can add a Foreign Language minor to your studies.
www.usafa.edu
Learned it in a Chinese household, but I did do the AP test for Chinese and Culture for fun and got a 5.
Thanks for all your help, by the way for cadets who go study abroad in China is it like an exchange at their Air Force Academy although I highly doubt this would be the case.Ok, just confirmed (email) with the Department Head. There are two things surrounding the topic.
1) Students are required to take two semesters of foreign language for all degree programs. Students can validate out of this requirement by testing at USAFA or through the Defense Language Proficiency Test (for prior enlisted).
2) The minor requires taking 5 language courses at the 200 level or above during your time at USAFA. Proficient speakers will be placed into the appropriate course level for their individual starting point. Even students with native speaking proficiency have room to grow linguistically and culturally.
3) Independent study and foreign immersion programs can count towards the 5 required courses.
4) You can not validate your way into a language minor because of existing native speaker status
2021 course offerings for each language look like this:
Skills Development Courses
Enhancement Courses
- For Lang 131/132 – Introduction to the Language, Culture, and Civilization
- For Lang 151/152 – Accelerated Basic: Foundational Language, Culture and Civilization
- For Lang 221 – Intermediate I: Refinement of Language Skills
- For Lang 222 – Intermediate II: Continued Development of Language Skills
- For Lang 321 – Advanced I: Capstone Course for Skills Development
- For Lang 322 – Advanced II: Follow-on Capstone Course for Skills Development
- For Lang 365 – Civilization and Culture (contemporary issues)
- For Lang 370 – Specialized courses in German, French, Spanish and Japanese
- For Lang 376 – Introduction to Literature
- For Lang 491 – Specialized Language Course (advanced readings)
- For Lang 492 – Semester Exchange Program Preparation
- For Lang 495 – Special Topics
- For Lang 499 – Independent Study (normally offered to cadets who have completed all courses)
So, you can see how there are options for students of all ability levels.
Source:
Foreign Language (Minor)
Languages can help shape the opinions that others have of our country and its armed forces. See how you can add a Foreign Language minor to your studies.
Excellent!
Now, make sure you write letters in longhand to your Mother, not cheating with pinyin in emails and texts. Emphasis on writing letters to your Mother.
Again, congratulations!
Oh I am definitely not short of any character writing, since grade school any time I got into trouble my father made me write 2 page reflections in Mandarin by hand. lol
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There is an opportunity for a semester exchange with the Taiwanese Air Force Academy, and then a summer 3-4 week trip to Taiwan as well.