Selecting Courses

Below are frequently-asked-questions about selecting classes for new students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Choosing courses How many courses should I take for the Fall semester of my first year? Almost all students take five courses. Some students add a one-credit physical education class. Why five courses? Five courses put you on track to graduate in four years. In order to graduate, you will need 120 credits taken over eight semesters. So, you need to average 15 credits a semester to graduate on time. Most of our courses are three credits, so that works out to five courses a semester. What about only taking four courses? Not a great idea. Although you are a full time student if you take 12 to 16 credits a semester, why start out with a schedule where you know you will need longer than four years to graduate? You should only take less than 15 credits a semester if you have a plan for picking up those extra credits. What if I sign up for 11 credits or less? You would be considered a part-time student. This creates issues for living on campus and financial aid. Also, you would not be on track to graduate in four years. Are there any courses I must take in the first semester? Yes, every entering student takes QU 101 and freshman English in the Fall. In addition, if you have chosen a major, take the first course(s) in the major - see list below under "Exploring Majors." Do I have to take gym? No, but it does have some advantages. Your high school may not have offered courses like yoga, rock climbing, golf, tennis, cardio pump, jujitsu, tennis, kick boxing, stage combat, fishing, sailing, tai chi, Pilates and more. Taking a physical education class helps you move your body and meet another group of great Quinnipiac students. It also puts you ahead in credits. Up to 6 one-credit courses can count towards graduation. There are more courses listed in the catalog than are listed on my letter from the registrar. Can I take some of these other courses? The courses listed at the top of your letter from the registrar are required for your major - and everyone must take QU 101 and English. Beyond that, you can take any of the 100 level courses listed in the catalog. It is very hard to go wrong in class selection your freshman Fall semester, especially when you choose University Curriculum courses. For more detailed advice on second semester courses, you will be meeting with an adviser this Fall. The courses listed on the back of your registrar's letter are suggestions. If you cannot stand the idea of a listed course and are eager to take some other course, go for it! Students who attend the June orientation sessions will come away with a list of possible courses. Look at that list, look at the registrar's list, and with both of those lists in mind choose courses that appeal to you. What if I take all the wrong courses? It is hard to go wrong with your first semester courses. When you sign up for your first courses, you do not know yet how you will learn best at college. You may group classes too close together and find some days too easy and others too hard. Or you might take a subject you dislike. But this is all part of the learning process. Think of these "mistakes" as part of your education. Finding out that you dislike a subject is as valuable in your search for a major as taking a course you enjoy. <hr /> University Curriculum What is the University Curriculum that everyone keeps telling me about? The University Curriculum (UC) requires that every student take courses from several different fields, and that they complete three university seminars called QU 101, QU 201, and QU 301. You will take QU 101 in the fall of freshman year. Every student must pass basic math and English writing courses. Students in the College of Arts and Sciences must also take courses in several traditions as outlined in the University's Academic Catalog. For a readily accessible explanation of the UC program, please see the pages at the front of the Course Schedule and Registration Bulletin. What is this class QU 101 ? QU 101 is the first of three courses which form the center of the University curriculum. QU 101 is designed to explore the academic bases taste of seminar experience your first year. QU 101 counts for three credits (1 of your 5 courses for first semester). You must take QU 101 during the Fall of your first year at Quinnipiac. Does the University Curriculum matter when I am registering for classes? About 40 percent of the classes you take at the University will be UC courses. It is important to start early to fill your UC requirements along with any classes necessary to help you select a major or to work towards your chosen major. What if I am interested in a course, but it is not a University Curriculum course? During your freshman and sophomore years, your courses will be chosen with two goals in mind. First, you need to be thinking about selecting a major. Second, you need to fulfill a good chunk of the University Curriculum. You absolutely should take a non-UC course when you might be interested in majoring in that area. What is the difference between the University Curriculum (UC) and what's called "The Core Curriculum (CC)"? The UC applies to you. The University Curriculum reflects Quinnipiac's redesign of its foundational requirements for all students. This new term is a way to distinguish between the former curriculum, known as the Core Curriculum, and the new UC program. All new students (and first-year transfer students) registered as of August 2006 will be required to follow the UC program. In most publications you will see the UC and CC plans listed side-by-side. <hr /> Advising When will I meet with an adviser? You can meet with your adviser anytime after school starts. You will receive a letter in August that provides you with information on how to contact your adviser. See your adviser early. Drop by the office to introduce yourself in September or October. Your adviser will contact you in the Fall to schedule a meeting to select your classes for Spring. Academic advisers are also a good source for general academic advice. All professors have office hours each week. Office hours will be posted on the professor's door. Your QU 101 professor will be happy to help you or to direct you to the right person to answer questions about academics. <hr /> <a name="exploringmajors"></a>Exploring Majors When do I have to choose a major? Students need to select a major by the end of their sophomore year. Some students select a major before they come to the University. Others wait until second semester sophomore year. Both times and anytime in between are just fine. However, for some majors, you will need to start the sequence of courses earlier to keep your options open. How do I select a major? Take a wide range of courses, especially those that sound interesting to you. When you think you have decided on a major, take a 200-level course in the area to confirm that the subject area interests you. When you are comfortable with your choice, make an appointment to see the chairperson of the department offering your major. I already know what I want to major in. What courses should I take? In your letter from the registrar, there will be a list of the course(s) you should take your first semester for your major. We will have already registered you for a section of your essential major course(s). If you do not like the time of that particular section, feel free to switch to any other open section of the course. The courses to take in the Fall of your freshman year for College of Arts and Sciences majors are: <ul> <li>Computer Science: CSC 110 (Programming and Problem Solving) & math as placed.</li> <li>Criminal Justice: SO 101 (Intro. to Sociology) & LE 115 (Criminal Law)</li> <li>English: English course decided in the directed self-placement session.</li> <li>Gerontology: SO 101 (Intro. to Sociology)</li> <li>History: Any HS 100 level course</li> <li>Interactive Digital Design: IDD 160 (Intro. to Computer Art) & AR 140 (Graphic Design)</li> <li>Legal Studies: LE 101 (Intro. to the American Legal System)</li> <li>Mathematics: Recommended after your placement exam - usually MA 140 or MA 141.</li> <li>Political Science: PO 101 (Intro. to Political Science) & PO 131 (American Government)</li> <li>Psychobiology: Please see the University catalog for list of first semester courses.</li> <li>Psychology: PS 101 (Intro. to Psychology) & math course as placed.</li> <li>Social Services: SO 101 (Intro. to Sociology)</li> <li>Sociology: SO 101 (Intro. to Sociology)</li> <li>Spanish: Spanish course recommended after your placement exam.</li> </ul> <hr /> <a name="explore"></a>Exploring Majors in the Schools of Business, Communications or Health Sciences How can I keep my options open if I might want to be a health sciences major? If there is any chance that you might want to switch to a health sciences major, you will want to register for BIO 101 and BIO 101 Lab during your first semester. Science courses are taught in pairs and the first half of the pair is only offered in the Fall. If you do not take a science in the Fall, you will be unable to begin a health sciences major until sophomore year, making it unlikely that you could graduate in four years. A word of warning: even if you take one science course in your first year, if you switch to a health sciences major, you may have to pick up more science over the summer after your first year. Also, some programs in the School of Health Sciences require that you apply and be admitted into their specific major. How can I keep my options open if I might want to be a communications major? Communications is the easiest school to switch into from a College of Arts and Sciences beginning. You will want to take a general selection of University Curriculum courses. Sometime in your freshman year, you will want to take MSS 101 (Introduction to Media Communications) to test out your interest in the major. You need to know if Communications is your choice by November of your sophomore year because there are four courses you must complete by the end of your second year. How can I keep my options open if I might want to be a business major? If you may want to be a business major, be sure to take EC 111 (Microeconomics) your first semester and take the math required for business students on the math placement grid. <hr /> English, Math and Foreign Language Requirements Which English course will I take? Your directed self-placement will be in EN 101, EN 101 Intensive or EN 102H. EN 101 is a writing course which will prepare you for upper level work at Quinnipiac. EN 101 Intensive is the same course as EN 101, but we build in some extra time for the professor and student to work on skills. A very few people will be placed by the faculty into honors English - EN 102H. What about English in the residence halls? Some sections of EN 101 will be taught in the Ledges and Commons residence halls. This program has been very popular with students who like taking courses with their neighbors and like the short commute to class. If you are assigned to Ledges or Commons, you can sign up for one of these sections. You will find out your room assignment by your Quinnipiac e-mail around the time you receive your letter from the registrar and before July 11. When should I take my Quantitative Literacy requirement (Math)? Most liberal arts students will take the course in the Spring semester. However, if you plan to major in mathematics, psychology, or computer science, you should go ahead and take the math recommended for your major and based on placement. No matter what your major, if you place into MA 100, plan to take it your first semester. Math placement information is available here. When should I take a course in a foreign language? When a seat is available and when you are ready, sign up for the foreign language of your choice. If you plan to continue a foreign language you took in high school, you will need to take a placement test. More details <hr /> AP and Transfer Credits I took an AP exam last May but don't have my results yet. How does that work into my placement? Register for English, math, and foreign language courses based on your placement exam. Later in the summer, we will work with you to change your schedule if you get AP credit for a course you had registered to take in the Fall at Quinnipiac. If you self-placed in EN 101 Intensive, your AP credit in English will transfer as elective credit and you will take the English 101 Intensive. Review the AP transfer equivalency list. Once you have had your AP scores report mailed directly from the AP testing service to Quinnipiac, the Registrar's Office will post the credits on your academic record. I took a college course while I was still in high school. How do the credits transfer? By now, your transcript from any college course you took before coming to Quinnipiac should be finding its way to us. If you have not asked your local college to send a transcript yet, today would be a good day to do so. We will evaluate your transcript and convert your courses into Quinnipiac credit for courses where your grade was C or better and where the course content matches a course offered here. You are likely to receive credit for non-matching courses as well, but the dean decides what credits will be given. If possible we will have that information in the system before you register for your Fall classes but it all depends on when your transcripts arrive at Quinnipiac. Be careful - do not register for a class if you have taken something similar and expect to have that credit transferred to Quinnipiac. <hr /> Registration When will I receive information about registration for Fall courses? The registrar's office will be sending you a reminder about registration and your registration appointment date. Everyone will be receiving this information in the mail in early July. If you attend a June orientation weekend, you will receive a copy of the Course Schedule and Registration Bulletin then and handouts with specific advice about courses at the Sunday session. Those who did not attend will receive this information in their packet in early July. What if all the courses on my list are already filled with students? See if sections of the course are open at other times. You may need to change the times of your other classes to fit in a class you want. If you still cannot find an open section, go to the Course Schedule and Registration Bulletin and find another 100 level course that interests you. You will want it to be a University Curriculum course unless you are taking a course to try out a new major. How can I find out which courses/sections are open? Access WebAdvisor and select the student option. Click the words "Search for Open Classes" which will take you to a site where you can find all available classes by subject, time of day, and so forth. Unlike the Course Schedule and Registration Bulletin, this site is up-to-date and will include courses not published in the Bulletin. You can see if the course has open seats. And if I decide to change classes at the last minute? From the time you register until the end of the first week of classes, you can drop and add courses yourself. There is usually a fair amount of shifting done during this period, so if you would prefer a different class or the same class at a different time, you can go to WebAdvisor to check for an opening in the class you prefer. Do not drop the class you have until the new class is on your schedule. The dates for drop/add are listed in the first pages of the Course Schedule and Registration Bulletin. The last day for Drop/Add this fall is the end of the first week of school. If you drop a course during the first week, be sure to add another class to stay at 15 or 16 credits. After the drop/add period, you can still withdraw from a class by the end of the 10th week of class. To withdraw, go to see your advisor and discuss whether a withdrawal is a good idea. <hr /> Contact Information Are you confused? Re-read these FAQs to see if they can help. If you are still stuck, please contact: Mary Paddock, associate dean for humanities and fine arts <a href="mailto:mary.paddock@quinnipiac.edu">mary.paddock@quinnipiac.edu</a> 203-582-8951 Allan Smits, associate dean for sciences <a href="mailto:allan.smits@quinnpiac.edu">allan.smits@quinnpiac.edu</a> 203-582-8701 Annalisa Zinn, associate dean for social sciences <a href="mailto:annalisa.zinn@quinnipiac.edu">annalisa.zinn@quinnipiac.edu</a> 203-582-3395