What's Your Major?
College students get asked this question all the time. Many incoming students have specific ideas about their intended area of study. It is also perfectly fine for students to be undecided about their academic and career plans. St. Thomas offers more than 150 undergraduate academic majors and minors. We encourage incoming students to start exploring the details!
Most students spend their first year completing courses that fulfill core curriculum requirements, along with some courses that may fulfill potential major requirements and/or career interests. For example, a student hoping to study biology and eventually pursue a career as a health professional (physician, pharmacist, dentist, etc.) might initially enroll in courses like math, biology and chemistry, while a student interested in secondary education might begin with a world language, math or science, and theology or English courses.
Here is a list of some St. Thomas majors and recommended first-year courses for those majors.
Questions?
Advising and Registration Questions
Academic Counseling
Phone: (651) 962-6300
Email: academiccounseling@stthomas.edu
Academic advising is a teaching and learning process that involves students' personal academic records. For this reason, we are required to directly consult with students about their enrollment questions. Parents, family members and/or any other third party are encouraged to coach students about this advising conversation but they should not communicate on behalf of their student.
Major Field Considerations
- Sometimes there are required classes for academic majors that overlap with core curriculum requirements, allowing a "double dip," meaning one class will fulfill more than one degree requirement. For example, all St. Thomas students must take PHIL 110, The Person and the Good. PHIL 110 is also the first required course for a major in Philosophy.
- Many majors allow first year students to take a variety of classes in their first semester, allowing for lots of choices and flexibility.
- Some majors (like STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math majors and Music majors, as examples) require classes that progress in sequence over several semesters. Students considering any of these majors or careers will be required to take specific classes in their first semester so all the major requirements can be completed in an efficient and comfortable graduation timeline.
The academic majors that include sequenced courses beginning in a student's first semester at St. Thomas are listed below:
Biology (Bachelor of Arts/BA): Students interested in a Biology (BA) major can choose one of the following Biology classes, as available.
BIOL 101, General Biology: Emphasizing biology as a creative, investigative process and its relevance in today's world, this course provides an overview of cell biology, genetics, physiology, and human impact on the environment. Two laboratory hours per week. Not open to students who have completed BIOL 105 or BIOL 106.
BIOL 102, Conservation Biology: An introduction to the basic concepts of conservation biology, including the history of conservation, the value of biological diversity, threats to biodiversity, conservation at the population, species, and community levels, and applications to human activities. Laboratories will emphasize data collection and analysis, and the practical application of conservation practices. This course is designed to meet the needs of the Environmental Studies major for a core course in environmental biology. Two laboratory hours per week.
BIOL 105, Human Biology: An introduction to cells, genetics, development and the human body, and the impact of humans on the environment. Laboratories will emphasize investigative scientific problem solving and creative thinking. Does not fulfill entrance requirements for some health professions programs. Pre-health professional students should consult the university's pre-health professions advising committee. This course is designed to meet the need of social work and psychology majors. Two laboratory hours per week. Not open to students who have completed BIOL 101 or BIOL 106.
BIOL 106, Women, Medicine and Biology: This course addresses issues of biology from the perspective of women. The focus of the course will be to learn basic principles of biology in areas such as anatomy, physiology, genetics, cell biology, and microbiology in the context of issues relevant to women and women's health. Two laboratory hours per week. Not open to students who have completed BIOL 101 or BIOL 105.
BIOL 110, Genetics and Society: Genetics is a rapidly evolving field of science that is continually changing the face of medicine, agriculture, and environmental health. In this course, students explore this area by learning the basic principles of genetics, modern technologies and practices, and its societal applications and implications. Two laboratory hours per week. Not open to students who have completed BIOL 101, BIOL 105, or BIOL 106.
BIOL 207, Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution: A consideration of the mechanisms of heredity, evolution, population genetics, and population ecology emphasizing hypothesis testing, case studies, and quantitative and experimental approaches to population biology. Topics include: Mendelian genetics, genetic mapping, population genetics, selection theory and the process of adaptation, speciation, macroevolution and phylogenetics, and the growth and regulation of populations. Laboratory work emphasizes techniques for data analysis, including computer simulation and modeling. Three laboratory hours per week. This course fulfills the Natural Science area of the core curriculum. Prerequisites: Math placement into MATH 108 or higher or completion of MATH 108 or MATH 109 or MATH 111 or MATH 113.
Biology (Bachelor of Science/BS), Pre-Medicine, Pre-Dentistry, etc.): Students interested in Biology (BS) and the health professions should take BIOL 207. Students may also consider taking CHEM 111 or 115. Students with a math placement of 111 or 108 can also take Math 108 in the fall or at a later point.
BIOL 207, Genetics Ecology, Evolution: A consideration of the mechanisms of heredity, evolution, population genetics, and population ecology emphasizing hypothesis testing, case studies, and quantitative and experimental approaches to population biology. Topics include: Mendelian genetics, genetic mapping, population genetics, selection theory and the process of adaptation, speciation, macroevolution and phylogenetics, and the growth and regulation of populations. Laboratory work emphasizes techniques for data analysis, including computer simulation and modeling. Three laboratory hours per week. This course fulfills the Natural Science area of the core curriculum. Prerequisites: Math placement into MATH 108 or higher or completion of MATH 108 or MATH 109 or MATH 111 or MATH 113.
CHEM 111, General Chemistry I: This course, together with CHEM 112, provides a two- semester introduction to chemistry. Topics include atomic structure, molecular structure, chemical bonding, the periodic table, states of matter, reaction types, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, intermolecular forces, and properties of the common elements and their ions in aqueous solution. Lecture plus four laboratory hours per week. Offered fall and spring semesters. Prerequisite: Math placement at 108 or above, and completion of CHEM 110 or placement at or above CHEM 111. NOTE: Students who receive credit for CHEM 111 may not receive credit for CHEM 100, 101, 109 or 115.
CHEM 115, (Honors) Accelerated General Chemistry: A one semester general chemistry class that blends significant topics from CHEM 111 and 112 for very strong students interested in majoring in science or engineering. Approximately one-third of the course content is drawn from CHEM 111 with the balance coming from CHEM 112. Topics include atomic theory, stoichiometry, gas laws, phases of matter, atomic and molecular structure, bonding, kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and descriptive chemistry. Lecture plus four laboratory hours per week. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: Math placement at the 113 level, high school chemistry, and satisfactory performance on the chemistry placement examination. NOTE: Students who receive credit for CHEM 115 may not receive credit for CHEM 100, 101, 109, 111, or 112.
Business majors will take BUSN 100 and ENTR 100 (each two credits) during one semester of their first year and ACCT 100 (4 credits) during the other semester. The two-credit courses will be taught in a seven-week format. Students can easily plan to take these courses back-to-back in the same class period.
Along with the courses listed above, business majors should take STAT 220, ECON 251 and 252 and a MATH course. MATH 101 is accepted for all business concentrations except for Finance, which requires a calculus course (MATH 108 and 109, MATH 111 or MATH 113 depending on placement). These allied courses should be divided between the first and second year and completed before junior year.
In the second-year business majors will complete seven two-credit core business courses: ACCT 200, BETH 300, BLAW 300, FINC 310, MGMT 200, MKTG 200, OPMT 300. All of the business courses discussed here should be completed before students begin their junior year.
ACCT 100, Principles of Accounting I: The course introduces students to the discipline of accounting through an introduction to financial and managerial accounting. Financial accounting is an integral part of the planning, reporting and control functions of every business. Financial accounting data provide insights about the firm's financial condition, operating results, cash flows and capital structure to facilitate decision making. Managerial accounting is used internally by businesses for cost management, planning and controlling, and strategic decision-making. This course introduces the primary financial statements, fundamental financial accounting terminology and calculations, as well as the interpretation and analysis of financial statements. The managerial accounting topics covered in this course include cost types and classifications. The differences between financial and managerial accounting are presented throughout the course. Ethical aspects of accounting are included.
BUSN 100, Business for the Common Good: This course opens a welcoming door to students who want to know more about business and the opportunities and career paths it offers. The course builds awareness of the need for preparation and for building essential skills in order to be an effective contributor, and to be resilient in the face of ongoing change in any organization and in dynamic markets. Finally, it invites students to begin planning a business or organizational career that will allow them to use their gifts, to contribute, and to lead a good and satisfying life. 2 credits
ENTR 100, Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Entrepreneurship is a way of thinking and acting in the world that creates positive impact through the development of new and better solutions to customer and societal problems. Entrepreneurs see the world differently, noticing problems that others have overlooked and using passion, creativity and business skills to craft new and better solutions that address those problems effectively and sustainably. In doing so, entrepreneurs create value for others and advance the common good, whether in a startup enterprise, or an established company, or in a social-impact enterprise. In this course, business students of all disciplines will get an introduction to the entrepreneurial process, gaining knowledge and experience in core practices of entrepreneurial discovery and creation. The course is experiential – students will learn by doing, whether through in-class exercises, an exploratory field study, or case study analysis and discussion. Students will learn how this process advances the common good and will identify how it can be deployed within multiple fields of study. 2 credits
STAT 220, Statistics I: In this course there is an intensive focus on the application, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of descriptive and inferential statistics in real-world contexts. Course examples are taken from a wide-range of professional arenas, including health care and medicine, education, psychology and sociology, business and economics, and athletics. A broad array of topics are addressed, including data collection, sampling, and research design; summarizing and visualizing data; correlation and simple linear regression; probability and sampling distributions; inference with confidence intervals; and inference with hypothesis tests (including z, t, F, and X2). Extensive data analysis using modern statistical software is an essential component of this course. Students must enroll in both a lecture section and software-specific laboratory section, in the same academic semester, to successfully complete STAT 220. Prerequisites: Math placement into MATH 108 or above (score of 23 or higher on the math portion of the ACT) or successful completion of MATH 101 or above. Students who receive credit for STAT 220 may not receive credit for STAT 201.
Students interested in a Catholic Studies major should take CATH 101, PHIL 110 and/or THEO 100 fall semester.
CATH 101, The Search for Happiness: This course provides a critical investigation into the quest for meaning and happiness as found in the Catholic tradition. Beginning with fundamental Catholic claims about what it means to be a human being, this course explores the call to beatitude in materials from several disciplines, including theology, philosophy, literature and art, as well as ancient, medieval, and contemporary sources. Topics explored include a consideration of human persons in relation to divine persons, the supernatural end to human life, the human person as experiencing desire and suffering, the Christian paradox that joy may be found in the giving of one’s self and the search for happiness through friendship and love. Through all these topics, the course particularly examines the question, “What is the specifically unique character of Christian happiness?”
Students interested in a Chemistry major should take CHEM 111 or CHEM 115 and either MATH 108 or MATH 113 fall semester.
CHEM 111, General Chemistry I: This course, together with CHEM 112, provides a two- semester introduction to chemistry. Topics include atomic structure, molecular structure, chemical bonding, the periodic table, states of matter, reaction types, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, intermolecular forces, and properties of the common elements and their ions in aqueous solution. Lecture plus four laboratory hours per week. Offered fall and spring semesters. Prerequisite: Math placement at 108 or above, and completion of CHEM 110 or placement at or above CHEM 111. NOTE: Students who receive credit for CHEM 111 may not receive credit for CHEM 100, 101, 109 or 115.
CHEM 115, (Honors) Accelerated General Chemistry: A one semester general chemistry class that blends significant topics from CHEM 111 and 112 for very strong students interested in majoring in science or engineering. Approximately one-third of the course content is drawn from CHEM 111 with the balance coming from CHEM 112. Topics include atomic theory, stoichiometry, gas laws, phases of matter, atomic and molecular structure, bonding, kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and descriptive chemistry. Lecture plus four laboratory hours per week. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: Math placement at the 113 level, high school chemistry, and satisfactory performance on the chemistry placement examination. NOTE: Students who receive credit for CHEM 115 may not receive credit for CHEM 100, 101, 109, 111, or 112.
Students interested in a Computer Engineering major should take ENGR 100, ENGR 175, MATH 108 or MATH 113 (or higher), and CISC 130 in the fall semester. An additional option includes ENGR 230.
ENGR 100, Introduction to Engineering Design: This course introduces students to the engineering disciplines and the design process through a semester-long design challenge. Students will gain improved self-awareness, empathy, and critical thinking skills; this will help them work as a team in a collaborative and inclusive environment to identify a need, interview clients, plan tasks and propose engineering solutions with consideration for the common good. 2 credits
ENGR 175, Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering: A hands-on introduction to a variety of basic concepts in Electrical and Computer Engineering. The course includes lessons, labs, and projects that explore analog and digital electronics in both theory and practice. Students will develop proficiency in the basic tools and skills required for electrical and computer engineering projects and coursework, and gain insight into them as a potential major, minor, and/or career. 2 credits
ENGR 230, Digital Design: Introduction to the design of digital logic. Topics include Boolean logic, design and optimization of combinational and sequential logic, the use of programmable logic devices, logic hazards, electronic implementation of logic gates. Students will be expected to specify, design, simulate, construct, and test digital circuits and document all phases of the process. 4 credits
CISC 130, Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving in the Sciences: Introduction to problem solving with computers, using programming languages common to science and engineering disciplines; logical thinking, design and implementation of algorithms; and basic programming structures. Introduction to hardware and software: how computers acquire, store, process and output information; how computer systems are designed, programmed and tested. Students will use both a scientific programming language and an application package designed to implement programming features at a level more accessible to non-programmers. Placement into MATH 108 or higher or completion of STAT 220 with a C- or better, or completion of one of: MATH 108, 109, 113, 114 or 200.
Students interested in a Communication Studies major can take COMM 100 fall semester.
COMM 100, Public Speaking: Preparation, presentation, and evaluation of original speeches by each student throughout the semester; special emphasis given to selecting and researching topics, organizing evidence, analyzing audiences, sharpening style and tone, communicating ethically and listening critically.
Students interested in a Computer Science major should take MATH 108 or 113 and CISC 131. An additional option is STAT 220.
CISC 131, Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving: This course is designed for students with majors in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences and focuses on logical thinking, the design and implementation of algorithms in a procedural language, testing, correctness and the use of common programming structures such as arrays. In addition, basic machine concepts are covered including hardware organization and representation of information in the machine. The typical student will be adept at using the computer but will have no prior programming experience. Prerequisite: Placement into MATH 108 or higher or completion of STAT 220 with a C- or better, or completion of one of: MATH 108, 109, 113, 114 or 200.
STAT 220, Statistics I: In this course there is an intensive focus on the application, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of descriptive and inferential statistics in real-world contexts. Course examples are taken from a wide-range of professional arenas, including health care and medicine, education, psychology and sociology, business and economics, and athletics. A broad array of topics are addressed, including data collection, sampling, and research design; summarizing and visualizing data; correlation and simple linear regression; probability and sampling distributions; inference with confidence intervals; and inference with hypothesis tests (including z, t, F, and X2). Extensive data analysis using modern statistical software is an essential component of this course. Students must enroll in both a lecture section and software-specific laboratory section, in the same academic semester, to successfully complete STAT 220. Prerequisites: Math placement into MATH 108 or above (score of 23 or higher on the math portion of the ACT) or successful completion of MATH 101 or above. Students who receive credit for STAT 220 may not receive credit for STAT 201.
Students interested in a Civil Engineering major should take ENGR 100, ENGR 160, MATH 108 or MATH 113 (or higher).
ENGR 100, Introduction to Engineering Design: This course introduces students to the engineering disciplines and the design process through a semester-long design challenge. Students will gain improved self-awareness, empathy, and critical thinking skills; this will help them work as a team in a collaborative and inclusive environment to identify a need, interview clients, plan tasks and propose engineering solutions with consideration for the common good. 2 credits
ENGR 160 Surveying: Introduction to surveying including the identification of distances, elevations and angles. Construction staking. Calculations including earthwork, closure. Introduction and applications of GIS and GPS. 2 credits
Students interested in an Electrical Engineering major should take ENGR 100, ENGR 175, and MATH 108 or MATH 113 (or higher) fall semester. An additional option includes CISC 130.
ENGR 100, Introduction to Engineering Design: This course introduces students to the engineering disciplines and the design process through a semester-long design challenge. Students will gain improved self-awareness, empathy, and critical thinking skills; this will help them work as a team in a collaborative and inclusive environment to identify a need, interview clients, plan tasks and propose engineering solutions with consideration for the common good. 2 credits
ENGR 175, Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering: A hands-on introduction to a variety of basic concepts in Electrical and Computer Engineering. The course includes lessons, labs, and projects that explore analog and digital electronics in both theory and practice. Students will develop proficiency in the basic tools and skills required for electrical and computer engineering projects and coursework, and gain insight into them as a potential major, minor, and/or career. 2 credits
CISC 130, Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving in the Sciences: Introduction to problem solving with computers, using programming languages common to science and engineering disciplines; logical thinking, design and implementation of algorithms; and basic programming structures. Introduction to hardware and software: how computers acquire, store, process and output information; how computer systems are designed, programmed and tested. Students will use both a scientific programming language and an application package designed to implement programming features at a level more accessible to non-programmers. Placement into MATH 108 or higher or completion of STAT 220 with a C- or better, or completion of one of: MATH 108, 109, 113, 114, or 200.
An Elementary Education major requires additional lab sciences and social scientific analysis beyond core requirements. Recommendations include PHYS 101 or GEOL 111, PSYC 111, SOCI 100, POLS 104 or GEOG 113. Please see course descriptions in the Core Curriculum link under Natural Science and Social Analysis.
eMedia Studies majors can take JOUR/DIMA/STCM 111 fall semester.
JOUR 111/DIMA 111/STCM 111, Introduction to Journalism and Mass Media: This course will introduce the student to mass media, including news media, social media and entertainment media. The course examines the mass media as cultural industries. Students will consider how the mass media shape and are shaped by society, the history of particular media, current research and media trends. Students will be expected to obtain an understanding of how print, broadcast, social, film and other media work, as well as a sense of their influence. Students are also expected to learn to be critical media consumers, asking themselves why they watch or read or listen to what they do. Students are strongly encouraged to take this course before taking upper-level Journalism or Digital Media Arts courses.
* the course will appear on all schedules as JOUR 111, but it is the same course and works for all three majors in eMedia Studies.
Environmental Science majors should take ESCI 132 or GEOL 115 in their first year.
ESCI 132, Introduction to Environmental Studies: Environmental science is an interdisciplinary science program focused on solving environmental problems that lie at the interface between biology, chemistry, and geology. Using case studies, community partners and/or real research projects, students will learn skills used by environmental scientists to address local and regional environmental issues. We will explore the natural processes involved in the problems as well as consider scientific contributions to solutions. Students interested in Sustainability, Conservation, Advancing the Common Good and/or pairing science with business, engineering, law or other fields are encouraged to take this class. This course is lecture/lab format. Students registering for ESCI 132-01 must register for ESCI 132-51. ESCI 132-01 is a blended course with in-person, online asynchronous, and online synchronous days. Monday is an in-person lecture, Wednesday is working independently on online asynchronous lecture material, and Friday is meeting synchronous online at lecture time.
GEOL 115, Environmental Geology: This course emphasizes the interactions between humans and their environment, focusing on those processes and issues that are fundamentally geological in nature. Early in the course, students will be introduced to basic geoscience concepts and principals, the scientific method, plate tectonics, and earth materials (rocks and minerals). The remainder of the course will focus on specific topics at the interface between humans and their environment, including volcanic and earthquake hazards, human impacts on the hydrological cycle, surface and groundwater contamination, climate and the carbon cycle, nuclear waste storage, soil erosion, non-renewable resources, and slope stability. NOTE: Students who receive credit for GEOL 115 may not receive credit for GEOL 102, 110, 111, or 114.
Environmental Studies majors can take ENVR 151 fall semester.
ENVR 151, Environmental Challenges: A study of the interaction of humans and the environment over time and space; a broad introduction that integrates a variety of social-science perspectives into an understanding of the environment and the relations between humans and nature. Specific topics include ecology, population, economic development, resources and sustainable development.
Students interested in a Mechanical Engineering major should take ENGR 100, ENGR 170, and MATH 108 or MATH 113 (or higher) fall semester. An additional option includes CISC 130.
ENGR 100, Intro to Engineering Design: This course introduces students to the engineering disciplines and the design process through a semester-long design challenge. Students will gain improved self-awareness, empathy, and critical thinking skills; this will help them work as a team in a collaborative and inclusive environment to identify a need, interview clients, plan tasks and propose engineering solutions with consideration for the common good. 2 credits
ENGR 170, Mechanical Engineering Graphics: Through a combination of lectures, hands-on computer time, and design projects, students will learn to read, and create, engineering drawings and use computer-aided-design (CAD) terminology and technology. Topics covered will include the engineering design process, rapid prototyping, principles of projection, and introductory methods of representation and constructive geometry. 2 credits
CISC 130, Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving in the Sciences: Introduction to problem solving with computers, using programming languages common to science and engineering disciplines; logical thinking, design and implementation of algorithms; and basic programming structures. Introduction to hardware and software: how computers acquire, store, process and output information; how computer systems are designed, programmed and tested. Students will use both a scientific programming language and an application package designed to implement programming features at a level more accessible to non-programmers. Placement into MATH 108 or higher or completion of STAT 220 with a C- or better, or completion of one of: MATH 108, 109, 113, 114, or 200.
Students interested in music majors should register for MUSC 001: Music Convo as well as lessons and ensembles appropriate to instrument/voice. Additional first semester course requirements are listed below:
- BA in Music: MUSC 140, MUSC 101, and MUSC 113
- BA in Music Performance: MUSC 140, MUSC 101, and MUSC 113
- BA in Music Business: MUSC 140 and MUSC 160
- Music Education: MUSC 101 and MUSC 113
MUSC 001, Student Convocation Hour: The student convocation hour is for all music majors regardless of specialization. This course meets three times per semester for each semester of enrollment and gives the community of learners performance opportunities, lectures/ discussions on topics applicable to all music concentrations; and lecture/discussions on topics specific to each music concentration.
MUSC 101 Piano Skills: This course teaches the keyboard skills required for music majors whose principal instrument is not piano. It includes training in basic keyboard technique, sight reading, score reading, accompanying, transposing, playing by ear, harmonizing melodies, and making practical applications of music theory. Prerequisite: MUSC 113 (concurrent registration preferred).
MUSC 113, Music Theory I & Aural Skills I: This course, designed for those intending to major or minor in music, covers basic materials and structures of music, approached through analysis and experience. This course is the first of a four-semester sequence that integrates sight- singing and ear training with the analysis of harmony, form and contrapuntal procedures from the 16th through the 21st centuries. Assignments include the development of compositional and arranging skills. Lecture plus a 90 minute laboratory per week. Offered fall semester.
MUSC 140, Music Media: This course will serve to introduce first semester music majors to software, hardware, techniques and issues surrounding digital music media. Learners will engage in the retrieval, generation, and distribution of musical notation, digital recordings, and MIDI sequences.
Contact the Music Department at (651) 962-5850 or (800) 328-6819, Ext. 2-5850 to discuss the logistics related to auditions for required ensembles and to register for lessons. Additional information can be found at the following links.
Band Audition Form
Choir Audition Form
Orchestra Audition Form
Students interested in a Neuroscience major should take PSYC 111 and CHEM 111 or CHEM 115. Students with a math placement of 113, 111 or 108 may also take MATH 108 or 113 in the fall. Students take NSCI 201 as a lab science or an additional option is BIOL 207 (best if you are thinking of a pre-health profession).
PSYC 111, General Psychology: An introduction to the research questions, concepts, theories, methods, and findings of psychological science. Although the selection varies with instructor, topics include brain function, psychological testing, sensation and perception, cognition (learning, memory, language), states of consciousness, motivation, human development, personality, origins and treatment of disorders, social behavior, stress and health, and applied psychology (workplace, community, environment).
CHEM 111, General Chemistry I: This course, together with CHEM 112, provides a two- semester introduction to chemistry. Topics include atomic structure, molecular structure, chemical bonding, the periodic table, states of matter, reaction types, stoichiometry, thermochemistry, intermolecular forces, and properties of the common elements and their ions in aqueous solution. Lecture plus four laboratory hours per week. Offered fall and spring semesters. Prerequisite: Math placement at 108 or above, and completion of CHEM 110 or placement at or above CHEM 111 NOTE: Students who receive credit for CHEM 111 may not receive credit for CHEM 100, 101, 109 or 115.
CHEM 115, (Honors) Accelerated General Chemistry: A one semester general chemistry class that blends significant topics from CHEM 111 and 112 for very strong students interested in majoring in science or engineering. Approximately one-third of the course content is drawn from CHEM 111 with the balance coming from CHEM 112. Topics include atomic theory, stoichiometry, gas laws, phases of matter, atomic and molecular structure, bonding, kinetics, thermodynamics, equilibrium, electrochemistry, nuclear chemistry, and descriptive chemistry. Lecture plus four laboratory hours per week. Offered fall semester. Prerequisite: Math placement at the 113 level, high school chemistry, and satisfactory performance on the chemistry placement examination. NOTE: Students who receive credit for CHEM 115 may not receive credit for CHEM 100, 101, 109, 111, or 112.
NSCI 201, Introduction to Neuroscience: This course is an introduction to the field of neuroscience and explores the biological and psychological foundations of the brain and behavior. The course introduces cell biology and covers the basic principles of nervous system cells and organization, brain function, and how the nervous system contributes to our behaviors and experiences. Two laboratory hours per week.
BIOL 207, Genetics Ecology, Evolution: A consideration of the mechanisms of heredity, evolution, population genetics, and population ecology emphasizing hypothesis testing, case studies, and quantitative and experimental approaches to population biology. Topics include: Mendelian genetics, genetic mapping, population genetics, selection theory and the process of adaptation, speciation, macroevolution and phylogenetics, and the growth and regulation of populations. Laboratory work emphasizes techniques for data analysis, including computer simulation and modeling. Three laboratory hours per week. This course fulfills the Natural Science requirement of the core. Prerequisites: Math placement into MATH 108 or higher or completion of MATH 108 or MATH 109 or MATH 111 or MATH 113.
Students interested in a Physics major should take MATH, depending on placement and CISC 131. Students who have earned credit for MATH 113 should take PHYS 211 fall semester.
PHYS 211, Classical Physics I: This course and its continuation PHYS 212 serve as a two-semester introduction to classical physics. Applications are chosen that focus on engineering and the physical sciences. Topics include principles of classical mechanics: vectors, kinematics, particle and rigid body rotational dynamics and statics; conservation laws; and thermodynamics. The course meets three times a week for two consecutive periods consisting of integrated lecture, discussion and laboratory. Prerequisite: A minimum grade of C- in MATH 109 or MATH 113. NOTE: Students who receive credit for PHYS 211 may not receive credit for PHYS 109.
CISC 131, Intro – Programming & Problem Solving: This course is designed for students with majors in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences and focuses on logical thinking, the design and implementation of algorithms in a procedural language, testing, correctness, and the use of common programming structures such as arrays. In addition, basic machine concepts are covered including hardware organization and representation of information in the machine. The typical student will be adept at using the computer but will have no prior programming experience. Please see your academic advisor to ensure you select the appropriate class. Lab included. NOTE: Students who receive credit for CISC 131 may not receive credit for CISC 130. Prerequisite: Placement into MATH 108 or higher or completion of STAT 220 with a C- or better, or completion of one of: MATH 006, 108, 109, 113, 114, or 200
Students interested in a Social Work major should take SOWK 181 and PSYC 111 or SOCI 100 fall semester.
SOWK 181, Introduction to Social Work: This course introduces the student to the profession of social work within the context of the social welfare system. It provides an overview of an integrative approach to generalist social work practice which emphasizes intervention on individual, community and societal levels. Special emphasis is placed on values, human diversity, social justice and social work fields of practice.
PSYC 111, General Psychology: An introduction to the research questions, concepts, theories, methods, and findings of psychological science. Although the selection varies with instructor, topics include brain function, psychological testing, sensation and perception, cognition (learning, memory, language), states of consciousness, motivation, human development, personality, origins and treatment of disorders, social behavior, stress and health, and applied psychology (workplace, community, environment).
SOCI 100, Introduction to Sociology: Introduction to the concepts, theories, methods and applications of the scientific study of society and social concerns. Enables students to understand the connections between the individual and larger social and cultural forces. Heightens awareness of the diversity of American and other societies.