First Quarter Schedules

Course 2: Mathematics (MATH)

Many academic programs require calculus for the Core Mathematics requirement. Which calculus course you take depends on your placement results and the results of the Mathematics Placement Test. See here for information about the Mathematics Placement Test and its possible outcomes. You may only enroll in the course into which you place; if you request anything else, you won't be registered for it. If there's a chance you might pursue a major program that requires Calculus (and this includes some Social Science majors), you should take the appropriate Calculus course. The first two quarters of Calculus will satisfy the Mathematics requirement of the Core even if you end up in a major that doesn't require Calculus, so you'll be set either way. 

If you're interested in academic programs that don't specify how you must complete the math requirement, such as Political Science, Sociology, or History, you can still use the two quarters of Calculus to complete the Core requirement, but you also have the option of taking approved non-Calculus courses, instead. This includes some options in Statistics and Computer Science. If you fall into this latter category and plan to take something other than Calculus, you may choose to hold off on taking a class for the Math Core this Autumn quarter and instead choose a different Core requirement or a language.

Students who place into MATH 15300 Calculus III will be invited to take the Higher-Level Mathematics Exam in September, which gives you the opportunity to place into math beyond calculus, including MATH 15910 Introduction to Proofs, MATH 20250 Abstract Linear Algebra, or Analysis in RN. If this applies to you, pre-register for MATH 15300. Then if you pass the higher level exam in September, your enrollment will be changed by the math department.

Students may also be invited to start the Mathematical Methods in Physical Sciences sequence (starting with MATH 18300) or the honors calculus sequences (MATH 16100 honors Calculus or MATH 16110 Honors Calculus (IBL)). The Mathematics Department will offer a Math Placement Webinar during the summer months to provide students with more information on which math course may be the most suitable option. Your adviser will help you consider your options based on your placement and your intended major(s). 

Courses 3 and 4

These will depend on your particular interests and major plans. Not sure which category your potential major falls under? Check the Programs of Study page on the College website.  

Many students will enroll in a Physical Science course as their third course for autumn quarter. If you plan to major in a STEM field, it is usually required to take a sequence of Physical Science courses throughout your first year. Check the College Catalog to see which sequence you should start with. 

In most cases, it will be the introductory sequence of the topic of your major, such as PHYS 13100 Mechanics for Physics majors or CHEM 11100 Comprehensive General Chemistry for Chemistry majors, but that is not always the case. For example, potential Molecular Engineering majors may take either Chemistry and/or Physics, depending on which major track they're interested in pursuing. If you’re majoring in Mathematics or completing a BS in Computer Science, a Physical Science sequence (General Chemistry or Physics) is required, but it doesn’t have to be taken in your first year. However, it is an option, and many students will choose to add that sequence here. 

The Computer Science BA and the Statistics major do not specify how you must satisfy the Physical Science requirement, but you may want to take the Physics or Chemistry sequences if you're potentially interested in a program that does require it (like the Computer Science BS).

Biological Science majors and pre-health students typically enroll in General Chemistry in their first year but Chemistry could be taken in the second year depending on placement scores and other considerations. The Chemistry Placement Test and/or your AP score will indicate which level of Chemistry is right for you, so be sure you to complete those tasks ASAP. If your performance on the Chemistry Placement Test merits an invitation to CHEM 12100 Honors General Chemistry I or you earn a 5 on the AP Chemistry exam, the honors sequence is an option (though not a requirement) for you. We recommend talking to your Academic Adviser over the summer to discuss whether it would be a good fit for you. 

If you do not plan to pursue a major that requires a Physics or Chemistry sequence for the Core, then you will complete one of the Physical Science options for non-science majors. Physical Sciences (PHSC) courses fall mainly into five general categories that we might conveniently label as "Physics," "Astronomy and Astrophysics," "Geosciences," "Molecular Engineering," and "Chemistry." As a general rule, courses from two different categories may not be combined as a sequence unless otherwise specified in the Catalog here.

If there’s a possibility that you might want to pursue an academic program that requires Chemistry or Physics (including pre-health), then it’s best to go that route from the start, since it’s easier to stop the science track once you’ve begun than to start it later on. If you pursue a major that doesn't have specific expectations for the Physical Sciences requirement, General Chemistry or General Physics still satisfy your Core requirement.

Remember that AP/IB and placement tests determine whether you’re invited to start in honors sequences; some may also allow you to skip part of a sequence. It is crucial that you take the appropriate placement tests and get your AP credit to the College as soon as you can. See here for details on placement and AP/IB tests.

Language is a popular choice for first year students, whether you are starting a new language or taking a language you already know. If choosing a language you’re familiar with, you’ll need to take the language placement test to determine where you should start. If you have prior schooling in a language, you can either start a new language or take the course that you placed into via the online placement test on Canvas. If you are confused by your test results and whether or not the course is available in the Autumn, contact the Advising office. They can also help you understand what your results mean for the completion of the language competency requirement.

A language course may be a great option for students considering a major program that requires intensive study of a language, such as Global Studies, Germanic Studies, or Romance Languages and Literatures. All students will need to complete the language competency requirement so enrolling in the first quarter ensures students will complete this in a timely manner. Starting early also allows you to pursue higher-level language courses during your time in the College, which is a valuable skill and asset post-graduation.

Like the Physical Science Core requirement, the Biological Sciences Core requirement will depend on your major(s) of interest. Be sure to review your major programs Catalog pages to note if there is any specific guidance for the BIOS Core. Students that pursue a major program that does not have a prescribed BIOS Core will either complete a two-quarter integrated sequence or a foundational BIOS course paired with a topics course. Students pursuing this option could consider BIOS 10130 Principles of Biology, BIOS 10140 Inquiry-based Exploration of Biology, BIOS 10501 Systems of the Human Body, or BIOS 10602 Multiscale Modeling of Biological Systems I for autumn enrollment. Note that BIOS 10602 requires a MATH 15300 placement to enroll.

Students that score a 5 on the AP Biology exam, a HL 7 on the IB Biology exam, or receive an A or A* on the Biology A-Level exam are granted BIOS 10130 test credit. This credit counts for the foundational BIOS course and they may enroll in a topics course to complete their BIOS Core (if their major program does not require other courses for the BIOS Core). Students with BIOS 10130 AP credit may enroll in a topics course for autumn quarter.

If you are a potential Biology major with an exceptionally strong science and mathematics background, a strong interest in research in the biological sciences, and have an AP score of 4 or 5 on the AP Biology exam, you may be interested in starting the Advanced Biology sequence in the Autumn with BIOS 20234 Molecular Biology of the Cell. This course is taken in addition to (not in place of) Chemistry.  

The majority of prospective Biological Sciences majors and pre-health students instead start their Biology coursework in Winter quarter with BIOS 20153 Fundamentals of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology or BIOS 20170 Microbial and Human Cell Biology . If that's the case for you, we don't recommend that you sign up for a year-long sequence as your 4th course in Autumn.

The Art core options may be limited in Autumn, given the returning students register before the incoming class. Depending on availability, Art Core classes could also work as a third or fourth course, although we caution against taking Humanities, Art, and Civilization Studies sequences simultaneously since all three of those courses are reading/writing-intensive. These courses are not easier than other UChicago courses so students should expect to read, write, and create in these courses.

Generally, we advise that you speak with your academic adviser about your interests to help guide you with course selection outside of Core requirements. We recommend introductory courses from academic programs so that you do not overwhelm yourself in your first quarter. We also encourage you to consider three courses for your first quarter since this gives you more time to explore campus, attend events, and adjust to your new environment. 

If you are interested in exploring outside of the Core, consider the following:

• If you are interested in an Economics major, ECON 10000: Principles of Microeconomics is a course option to consider, but it is also offered in Winter quarter if you prefer to wait. For Autumn 2026, ECON 20000 The Elements of Economic Analysis I will only be available for incoming transfer students with the required math background. ECON 20000 will also be offered in the spring quarter for those that have the completed the appropriate math pre-requisites.
• CMSC 14100 Introduction to Computer Science I is an option for students interested in exploring the Computer Science program. This course does require placement in MATH 15100 or completion of MATH 13100 in order to enroll so do not plan to take this course in autumn if you do not meet those prerequisites. This course can be challenging so for students that do not have a coding background, we may recommend you only take three courses if planning to enroll in CMSC 14100 in your first quarter.
• DATA 11800 Introduction to Data Science I is also an option for students interested in exploring the Data Science program. Similarly to CMSC 14100, this course can be challenging so for students that do not have a coding background, we may recommend you only take three courses in autumn or consider waiting to enroll until winter or spring, especially if you place into MATH 13100.

If you are eager to explore subjects that you may not have explored in high school, consider one of these options:

• ANTH 10100: Introduction to Anthropology
• CEGU 20150: Sustainable Urban Development
• CHDV 20000: Introduction to Human Development
• CRWR 10206: Beginning Fiction Workshop
• GNSE 12104: Foundations in Masculinity Studies 
• HIST 18702: Race, Politics, and Sports in the United States
• HLTH 17000: Introduction to Health and Society
• LING 20001: Introduction to Linguistics
• PSYC 20600: Social Psychology
• RDIN 12100: Racial Formations