Foreign Area Studies Major

View course descriptions and suggested course sequence.

Foreign Area Studies is the interdisciplinary study of one of six geocultural regions of the globe. Each program centers on foreign language, history, political science, economics, geospatial science and cultural coursework in a region of specialization, as well as a comparative framework for understanding cross-cultural dynamics. The academic program leads to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Foreign Area Studies; course work focusing on African, Asian, European, Latin American, Middle Eastern or Slavic Area Studies. In addition, Foreign Area Studies majors may elect to earn a foreign language minor. Foreign Area Studies majors will select a disciplinary emphasis (Economics, History, Geospatial Science, or Political Science) which will determine which methods course, capstone course, and electives they take. In addition, foreign area studies majors may earn an academic minor in a foreign language.

U.S. national security strategy, since the end of the Cold War, has shifted from a policy of bi-polar containment to strategies of global engagement, partnership, expanded mutual international security responsibilities, and a war on terrorism. The Air Force’s strategies entail a variety of new roles and missions armed at promoting regional stability, rendering humanitarian assistance, encouraging emerging democracies, gathering intelligence, and projecting and applying air power when necessary. Today’s officers, from all Air Force career fields and specialties will find themselves globally engaged, and such global engagement requires global skill. The foreign Area Studies is designed to give future officers broad-based, foreign area-related skills for worldwide serve commitments.

Several other programs augment and strengthen foreign area studies at the Academy. Each Spring Break cadet delegations visit another international air force academy. Participant selection is very competitive with priority going to the most serious student. In turn, the Academy hosts the reciprocal visits of cadet delegations from the foreign academies for a week. This Cadet Foreign Exchange Visits program not only bolsters our cadets’ understanding of foreign cultures but also contributes to cooperative air force-to-air force ties.