<p>I read on the CABS site that starting with the c/o 2010, they will be offering Chinese and Arabic as MAJORS. Any thoughts? Anyone interested???</p>
<p>As a MAJOR?</p>
<p>I don't know. That just doesn't sound right....</p>
<p>MINORS, definitely, but not majors.</p>
<p>What is CABS?</p>
<p>ETA: Come to think of it...... Why not? They have English, and Lord knows, we need guys who speak Chinese and Arabic....</p>
<p>Would be interesting to see if this is confirmed...</p>
<p>CABS= Candidate Academic Background System...a bunch of surveys and a math test about academics to plan validation and such.</p>
<p>Well, they specifically say they DON'T offer foreign language majors here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.usna.edu/LangStudy/geninfo.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.usna.edu/LangStudy/geninfo.html</a></p>
<p>Under "Requirements For the Language Minor".</p>
<p>i find it extremmmmmmmmely unlikely they would ever offer a major in a language. it sucks, but thats how it is.</p>
<p>Zaphod et al,</p>
<p>"Starting with the Class of 2010 some midshipmen will be able to major in Arabic or Chinese, with other strategic languages to follow."</p>
<p>That is a direct quotation from our CABS website. It suprised the hell out of me too.</p>
<p>Yeah thats it......very very interesting...what kind of future would a language major hold in both the Navy and in civillian life???</p>
<p>Considering those two languages, you might be surprised.</p>
<p>CIA, NSA, and DIA will fall all over themselves. State Department, too. Companies doing business in China (and there be LOTS of them, for better or worse) would find it extremely valuable.</p>
<p>Don't forget that it would still be a BS. The Academy isn't going to drop the technical side of it, and people will know that.</p>
<p>I'm just wondering if they'll actually take the plunge....</p>
<p>Noticed on one of the papers sent home that the USNA asked for number of semesters in each foreign language taken prior to admission- any thoughts as to why, especially for those interested in group-1 majors?</p>
<p>Dunno. Could be an admissions criteria of some sort. Could be to identify potential validation candidates.</p>
<p>Was the request made in any particular context?</p>
<p>Z- actually, there was a whole page for this info sent with the initial acceptance paperwork...</p>
<p>"List all foreign languages you have taken in a classroom setting followed by the number of SEMESTERS you have taken each language."</p>
<p>In addition, it asked the candidate to rate each of 4 categories: listening skill, speaking skill, reading skill and writing skill - on a ranking of 0 (no proficiency/memorized proficiency) to 5 (functional native proficiency)</p>
<p>any ideas? </p>
<p>I had heard language was a requirement going forward (...not sure of this, but required for Group III majors)- but not necessarily for Group I or II majors- but I am not sure if I have this correct.</p>
<p>Thus, my question.</p>
<p>Hmmm.....</p>
<p>You know, it sounds like a standard profile question, modified for an academic setting.</p>
<p>In your service record file is a list of languages you speak and the level of proficiency. If they need someone in a pinch, they know who to call.</p>
<p>How do I know this?</p>
<p>In 1994, while in the process of decomissioning USS DALE, my CO got a phone call, and 48 hours later I was on a plane to Puerto Rico, and embarking aboard ARA DRUMMOND, an Argentinian corvette. A few hours later, I was acting as Communications Liaison Officer (fancy name for "translator") between that ship and the commanders of the task force sent to "liberate" Haiti.</p>
<p>So, aside from asking to see where you are and how you'll fit into the curriculum (or perhaps what languages you will be eligible to take or validate), it sounds like the profiling process may have started. Don't panic, though. You won't be called up from USNA for active duty. ;)</p>
<p>Well, not unless we start fighting WWIII, at any rate...</p>