First Year Student Registration

The Common Course of Study (CCS)

The following course distribution requirements apply to all students, though requirements vary depending on the degree(s) you choose to pursue (i.e. Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts). CCS requirements that students may consider in their first semester have been indicated with an asterisk*. Requirements not appropriate for first semester are in [brackets].

First-Year Seminar *
Always taken in the fall semester of the first year, the First Year Seminar (FYS) is designed to introduce students to intellectual inquiry through engaging them as thinkers, speakers, and writers.We recommend that you choose topics that are of interest to you, regardless of your intended academic major.  You will be asked to rank your first five preferences from the FYS course list.

[College Writing: English 110]
Taken in the spring semester of the first year or the fall semester of the sophomore year, this course provides intensive experience in writing and reading complex texts.  May be exempted with Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) credit or permission of the English Department.

Humanities/Social Science Requirement * 
Requires the completion of at least three courses in the Humanities/Social Sciences Divisions, with at least one course in each division.  B.S. majors should be guided by their major programs for the distribution and timing of their Humanities/Social Sciences courses.  You may view a list of Humanities and Social Science courses open to first-semester students here.

Mathematics *
In many majors, students are required to take mathematics courses to complete the requirements of the major.  If you are interested in, or think you might be interested in one of those majors, you should follow department recommendations in the Course Selection Guide to take a mathematics course appropriate to that major in your first semester. You can see a list of available mathematics courses and descriptions here. See also Mathematics: Frequently Asked Questions.

For students considering calculus classes, take the online Mathematics Placement Test A and possibly the online Mathematics Placement Test B and Mathematics Placement Test C. All students are required to complete a short online Mathematics Survey. Full survey and placement test instructions are here.

If you are not considering any major program with a specific mathematics requirement then you may satisfy the graduation requirement either now or later by completing any course offered by the Department of Mathematics, or Computer Science 102,or Philosophy 200. Computer Science 102 and Philosophy 200 are not recommended for first semester students except for those intending to major in those departments.  

Natural Science *                                                                                                                 
Requires the completion of at least two courses in the Natural Sciences Division, consisting of two laboratory courses in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, or Psychology, not necessarily in the same science.  Bachelor of Arts students are urged to satisfy their laboratory science requirement in their first year but no later than their second year. Click here for a list of qualifying courses.

[Writing Requirement]
At least two additional writing courses in the junior and senior years, normally taken one per year.

Foreign Culture Requirement * (Bachelor of Arts students only)
Students select one of three options:

1. Intermediate proficiency in a second language * Either a course sequence leading to intermediate level proficiency or standardized test results at the intermediate level (AP or SAT II Subject Test). Full details about how to choose the right course are available here.

2. [Approved study abroad semester] Not available to first year students, but click here for information.

3. Culture Cluster * Completion of a cluster of three related courses dealing with another culture. Click here to see a list of courses and the cluster requirements they satisfy.

* No course may be used to fulfill more than one requirement within the Common Course of Study except in the case of the two additional writing courses (junior and senior years).  These courses may satisfy the Writing Requirement and any other requirement.