Recommendations by Major
In addition to “Introduction to the Liberal Arts” (ILA, 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 general education options.
Recommendations by major
| Accounting (B.A.) | BUSI-105 or ECON-200 | Intro to Commerce or Principles of Economics |
| Art (B.A.) | ARTD-101 |
Arts and Ideas: For majors/minors only. It does not satisfy a general education requirement. |
| 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.) | LATN-101, GREK-101, CLAS-200, CLAS-130, CLAS-230 or CLAS-240 | Elementary Latin, Elementary Greek Intro to Classical Studies, Lives of Famous Greeks Classical Mythology or Ancient Society |
| Classical Languages (B.A.) | LATN-101, GREK-101, CLAS-200, CLAS-130, CLAS-230 or CLAS-240 | Elementary Latin, Elementary Greek Intro to Classical Studies, Lives of Famous Greeks Classical Mythology or Ancient Society |
| Communication Studies(B.A.) | COMM-101 |
Fundamentals of Communication and Workshop: Choose from radio, journalism or video production. |
| Computer Science (B.A.) | COMP-151 |
Intro to Programming |
| Data Science (B.A.) | DATA-151 | Intro to Data Science (COMP-151 Intro to Programming may also be taken If it fits in the schedule). |
| Economics (B.A.) | ECON-200 | Principles of Economics |
| Educational Studies (B.A.) | EDST-100* |
Foundations of Education: Students are encouraged to take QRAC if needed, language and lab science. |
| *Elementary Education (B.A.) | General Education |
Quantitative Reasoning (if needed), Foreign Language, Life or Physical Science, and History 111 course |
| English (B.A.) | ENGL-110 | English Composition and Argument |
| Engineering (B.S.) | ENGR-101, PHYS-130 and Math | Intro to Engineering I, Physics I and Elementary Functions or Calculus I |
| Environmental Studies and Sustainability (B.A.) | ESTS-103 | Intro to Environmental Studies and Sustainability |
| Exercise Science (B.A.) | EXSC-130, 140 and/or160 |
Exercise Performance, Sports Nutrition and/or Health and Human Physiology (advisor will assist with placement) |
| French (B.A.) | French course |
Based on placement exam. |
| French (B.A.) | HIST-111, 120 or 188 | US History, 1865 to Present, Intro to Latin America, or History of the Samurai |
| International Studies (B.A.) | Choose 2 from following: | Language, Intro to Asian Studies, Principles of Economics, Intro to Latin America, History of the Samurai, Comparative Politics, or Understanding Capitalism. |
| Latin (B.A.) | LATN-101 (or LATN-200) or CLAS-200 |
Elementary Latin I or Directed Readings: Determined by placement) and/or Intro to Classical Studies. |
| Mathematics (B.A.) | MATH-141 or MATH-151 | Elementary Functions or Calculus I |
| Music (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. |
| 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-201 or PHIL-207 |
Intro to Logic or Ethics |
| Physical Education (B.A.) | EXSC-130, 140 and/or160 |
Exercise Performance, Sports Nutrition and/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 I |
| Political Science (B.A.) | POLS-103 or POLS-120 or POLS-175 |
American Politics (most preferred) or Film and Politics or Politics: US Domestic Policy |
| Psychology (B.A.) | PSYC-101 | Intro to Psychology |
| Public Relations (B.A.) | COMM-101 | Fundamentals of Communication |
| Religious Studies (B.A.) | RELG-108 or RELG-207 | Intro to New Testament or Ethics |
| Sociology or Anthropology (B.A.) | SOCI-101, SOCi-102 or ANTH-103 | Intro to Sociology (Intro to Anthropology and Social Problems offered in the spring semester). |
| Spanish (B.A.) | Spanish Course | Based on placement exam. |
| Theatre (B.A.) | THEA-176 and THEA-119 |
Acting I and Theatre Practicum (If THEA-176 does not fit in schedule, take THEA-173 Intro to Tech Theatre) |
| Theatre Education (B.A.) | THEA-176 and THEA-119 |
Acting I and Theatre Practicum (If THEA-176 does not fit in schedule, take THEA-173 Intro to Tech Theatre) |
*For students seeking teacher licensure: Students who would like to learn more about Elementary 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.
Those students seeking licensure in Elementary Education are also encouraged to focus on general education courses during the first semester, such as Foreign Language and Beauty and Meaning in Works of Art.
Students pursuing secondary education licensure in an approved content major (English, History, Mathematics, Physical Education and Theatre Arts) or special licensure in an approved content major (French, Latin, Music, Physical Education and Spanish) should focus on the content major requirement course during the first semester.