Recommendations by Major
In addition to “Inquiry & Identity” (our first-year experience course) and other required courses for first-year students, most students with an intended major will also take a class in that major area in their first fall semester.
Below is a list of recommended first-semester courses for each major. If you don’t have a major yet, don’t panic! Your advisor can help you select a course that makes sense based on your interests or a major you want to explore.
Many students are interested in double-majoring or adding a minor – there will be plenty of time in future semesters to add those courses.
In addition to these courses, you may also be interested to review more information about required courses and elective and core curriculum options.
Recommendations by major
Accounting (B.A. or B.S.) |
BUSI-105 or ECON-200 | Intro to Commerce or Principles of Economics |
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Art (B.A.) Art Education (B.A.)
|
ARTD-100 | The Creative Process: For majors/minors only. |
| Biochemistry (B.S.) | CHEM-140 and BIOL-150 | General Chemistry and Investigating Biological Concepts. Students may also be placed in math course. |
| Biology (B.A.) | BIOL-150 | Investigating Biological Concepts: Students may also be placed in a chemistry or math course. |
| Biopsychology (B.A.) | PSYC-101 | Intro to Psychology: Students may also be placed in BIOL-150 |
| Business Administration (B.A.) | BUSI-105 or ECON-200 | Intro to Commerce or Principles of Economics |
| Chemistry (B.A. or B.S.) | CHEM-140 | General Chemistry: Students will also be placed in math and/or biology course |
| Classics (B.A.) | CLAS-101/LATN-101, CLAS-111/GREK-111, CLAS-230 and/or CLAS-200 |
Elementary Latin and/or Elementary Biblical Greek and/or Dionysus and Myth in Drama and/or Introduction to Classical Studies |
| Classical Languages (B.A.) | CLAS-101/LATN-101, CLAS-111/GREK-111, or CLAS-200 | Elementary Latin and/or Elementary Biblical Greek and/or Introduction to Classical Studies |
| Communication Studies (B.A.) | COMM-101 and COMM-110 | Fundamentals of Communication and Student Media Practicum I (110 may also be delayed until spring) |
| Computer Science (B.A.) | COMP-151 | Intro to Programming |
| Economics (B.A.) | ECON-200 | Principles of Economics |
| Educational Studies (B.A.) | Core Curriculum course | Quantitative Reasoning (if needed), Languages and Cultures, Life or Physical Science. Transfer students or students with advanced standing due to dual or AP credit may take EDST-110. |
| Elementary Education (B.A.) | Core Curriculum course | Quantitative Reasoning (if needed), Languages and Cultures, Life or Physical Science. Transfer students or students with advanced standing due to dual or AP credit may take EDST-110. |
|
English (B.A.) English Education (B.A.) |
ENGL-110 | English Composition and Argument |
| Engineering (B.S.) | ENGR-101, PHYS-130 and Math Course | Exploring Engineering, Introductory Physics I and Elementary Functions or Calculus. (If in FYQR-120, CHEM-140 is recommended placement). |
| Environmental Studies and Sustainability (B.A.) | ESTS-105 | Intro to Agroecology |
| Exercise Science (B.A.) | EXSC-130 and 140 or 160 | Exercise Performance, Sports Nutrition or Health and Human Physiology (advisor will assist with placement) |
| Health Education (B.A.) | EXSC-130 and EXSC-140 | Exercise Performance and Sports Nutrition |
| Health Science and Human Movement (B.S.) | EXSC-160 and CHEM-140 | Health and Human Physiology and General Chemistry |
| History (B.A.) | HIST-110 or HIST-120 |
U.S. History to 1865 or Intro to Latin America |
| International Studies | ECON-200 or POLS-200 |
Principles of Economics or Intro to Comparative Politics |
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Mathematics (B.A.) Math Education (B.A.) |
MATH-141 or MATH-151 | Elementary Functions or Calculus I |
Marketing (B.A.) |
BUSI-105 | Intro to Commerce |
|
Music (B.A.) Music Education (B.A.) |
MUSI-111 and MUSI-121 | Intro to Music Theory and Music Theory I (placement exam given upon arrival on campus) and applied lesson/ensemble. |
| Neuroscience (B.S.) | CHEM-140, BIOL-150 or PSYC-101 | Principles of Chemistry, Investigating Biological Concepts or Intro to Psychology |
| Philosophy (B.A.) | PHIL-218 | Peace with Justice (Spring 2025) |
| Physical Education (B.A.) | EXSC-130 and 140 or 160 | Exercise Performance and Sports Nutrition or Health and Human Physiology (advisor will assist with placement). |
| Physics (B.A.) | PHYS-130 and MATH-141 or 151 | Introductory Physics I and Elementary Functions or Calculus |
| Political Science (B.A.) | POLS-103 | American Politics |
| Psychology (B.A.) | PSYC-101 | Intro to Psychology (Students with AP Psychology credit or dual credit for PSYC-101EQ may register for a 200-level PSYC course other than PSYC-201. |
| Public Relations (B.A.) | COMM-101 | Fundamentals of Communication |
| Religious Studies (B.A.) | RELG-218 or RELG-102 | Peace with Justice or God (both offered Spring 2025) |
| Sociology or Anthropology (B.A.) | SOCI-101 | Intro to Sociology (ANTH-103 offered in the spring semester). |
| Science Education (B.A.) | BIOL-150 | Investigating Biological Concepts |
| Social Science Education (B.A.) | HIST-110 or HIST-120 | US History to 1865 or Intro to Latin America |
| Spanish (B.A.) | Spanish Course | Based on placement exam. |
|
Theatre (B.A.) Theatre Education (B.A.) |
THEA-171 and THEA-119 | Intro to Theatre Studies and Theatre Practicum |
*For students seeking teacher licensure: Students who would like to learn more about Teacher Education as a possible major are encouraged to enroll in EDST 100 in the fall semester. EDST 100 does not count toward licensure requirements, but does count as elective credit toward the total number of credits required for the degree.
Students seeking licensure in Elementary Education must take EDST-110 in the Fall or Spring semester and should focus on Core Curriculum courses with remaining course selections, such as Languages and Cultures and Artistic Inquiry.
Students seeking licensure in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science Education (secondary) or Art, Health, Music, Physical, Theatre Education (K-12) should focus on exploring content area and Core Curriculum courses during the Fall and Spring semester. Students may take EDST-151 and EDST-220 if space is available.