Foreign Language Minor at the Academy?

[gramal]

I'll be joining the class of 2016 on R-Day.

I know this is somewhat far off, but does anyone know how accessible it is for a mechanical engineering major to pick up a minor in a foreign language? How many courses would you expect I would need to have validated in order to make it work, if any?

I've always wanted to learn another language, and in an ideal world also have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad. I just don't want to get my hopes up about it in case it turns out that engineering majors simply can't get the scheduling to fall into place. Thanks.

 

[America's Finest]

I'll be joining the class of 2016 on R-Day.

I know this is somewhat far off, but does anyone know how accessible it is for a mechanical engineering major to pick up a minor in a foreign language? How many courses would you expect I would need to have validated in order to make it work, if any?

I've always wanted to learn another language, and in an ideal world also have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad. I just don't want to get my hopes up about it in case it turns out that engineering majors simply can't get the scheduling to fall into place. Thanks.

I know of one Mech Major who spent a semester in France and another sent to Quatar (Education City) so it is possible. As an engineering major you will only be required to take two semesters of a foreign language (instead of the 3 required by non engineering majors). I'm not sure how many courses you need for a minor but it should be possible if you can handle the load.

 

[joiner2012]

I'll be joining the class of 2016 on R-Day.

I know this is somewhat far off, but does anyone know how accessible it is for a mechanical engineering major to pick up a minor in a foreign language? How many courses would you expect I would need to have validated in order to make it work, if any?

I've always wanted to learn another language, and in an ideal world also have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad. I just don't want to get my hopes up about it in case it turns out that engineering majors simply can't get the scheduling to fall into place. Thanks.

The Department of Foreign Languages (DFL) does not allow language minors. However, it's pretty easy to add a language as a second major (or even single major in language). This just requires taking 6 courses in the field of study, be it German, Spanish, Arabic, etc. That said, you don't have to be a language major to go abroad.

I understand your desire to take advantage of all the academy has to offer, but unless you are a complete academic stud, being a mech major will not leave much time for language studies. I'll caveat this by saying I studied abroad in Austria with a Chemical Engineering major, so it can be done, but he is top ten in our class.

Hope this helps, and good luck to you next year.