Foreign Language Minor

View course descriptions and suggested course sequence.

You may study Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish—eight of the most important languages in the world. Within each language there is a broad spectrum of courses. The 100-200 level courses and Foreign Language 321 and 322 are primarily skills development courses. The remaining courses are regarded as enhancement courses and are designed to develop a broader based appreciation of a particular culture, history, and literature. These courses also provide additional opportunities to develop and refine your language skills.

Cadets majoring in any academic division or discipline may earn a minor provided they complete four language courses beyond the 100-level, in residence, in the same language with a grade of ‘C’ or better and complete the requirements for their major.

Beyond helping to understand culture and broadening your worldview, studying a foreign language can influence your military career. Our ever-expanding global Air Force mission not only demands increasing foreign language capability to support national security strategies, but also provides challenging assignment opportunities for those looking for experience and diversification. Moreover, someday you may want to return to the Academy as a language instructor, a position that is both rewarding and career enhancing while providing the opportunity to influence other cadets toward becoming language-qualified Air Force officers. By speaking a foreign language, you become an “ambassador” helping to shape the opinions that others will have or our country and its armed forces…a crucial role in our increasingly interdependent world.

Learning a foreign language opens up an entirely new world. The study of languages helps further our understanding of other peoples, ourselves, and of our own culture. This understanding is of even greater importance for the military leader than for the public at large.