All students must complete 6 courses across three areas of the Natural Sciences: at least one (1) in the Mathematical Sciences, two (2) in Physical Sciences, two (2) in Biological Sciences. Students also take a 6th course that falls into one of those three categories. Many will complete the 6th course in the Mathematical Sciences since many major programs require calculus.
Be aware:
- There are a variety of ways to complete each of these categories, but some majors dictate which sequences you must use to do so.
- A single quarter of Calculus will not satisfy the Mathematical Sciences requirement; you would need to have credit for both Calculus I and Calculus II. By default, this means that students using Calc to satisfy the requirement will take two courses in each of these three disciplinary categories.
- Some options for satisfying these requirements assume prior knowledge. If you’re looking to take Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, and/or Advanced Biology, you should read more about determining your appropriate placement.
Mathematical Sciences
The courses that satisfy the Core requirement in the mathematical sciences present broadly applicable techniques for formulating, analyzing, and solving problems, and for evaluating proposed solutions. Students apply the rigor of mathematical analysis to discover the beauty and applicability of the subject. Courses in mathematics, especially Calculus, take a simultaneously conceptual and practical approach to problem solving.
All incoming students are required to take the Mathematics Placement Test, regardless of their plans regarding Math coursework while at UChicago. You will work with your academic adviser to understand your math placement test results to pick the best option for completing the math Core requirement. It is recommended that students taking Calculus or higher-level Math begin their Mathematics coursework right away. Students opting to satisfy the requirement with one or two approved non-Calculus course option(s) should plan to complete it by the end of second year, but ideally during the first year.
Many major programs require students to complete calculus so most students will enroll in one of the calculus sequence options. Students interested in major programs that do not require calculus may prefer the non-calculus options to complete this requirement, which include Computer Science, Data Science, and Statistics course offerings. Note: the Catalog notes CMSC 11111 as an option for the MATH Core but this course will not be offered in 26-27.
Physical Sciences
Physical Science Core (aka PHSC, known as Phy Sci) courses help students develop the basis for judgement through the principles of experimentation, observation, and the principles of scientific inquiry. The College requires you to explore a particular subject within the Physical Sciences (e.g. Geophysical Sciences, Physics, etc.) in depth by completing two complementary courses (200 units). Accordingly, most eligible courses must be taken as two-quarter sequences.
The specific courses that can satisfy this requirement may depend on your major, generally because these courses provide foundational knowledge for future coursework. The following programs require particular attention:
- Astrophysics
- Biological Chemistry
- Biological Sciences
- Chemistry
- Climate & Sustainable Growth
- Computational and Applied Mathematics
- Computer Science (BS only)
- Environmental Science
- Geophysical Sciences
- History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine (HIPS)
- Mathematics
- Molecular Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Physics
For non-science majors, there are also standalone course options available, but only certain combinations of these PHSC courses are pre-approved in various pairings so pay careful attention to which courses are approved to count together so that you plan accordingly. If your major is not particular about how you satisfy this requirement, plan to complete it during your first or second year. Read more about each option in the College Catalog here.
Biological Sciences
A knowledge of biology – the study of life and the structures that support it – is essential for understanding many of the most pressing problems of modern life and for intelligent involvement in their eventual solution. As such, all students are required to complete at least two courses (200 units) in the Biological Sciences, but the specific courses that can satisfy the requirement may depend on your major. The following programs require particular attention:
- Biological Chemistry
- Biological Sciences
- Climate and Sustainable Growth
- Environmental Science
- Geophysical Sciences
- Molecular Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Pre-Health/Pre-Med Students
Students planning to major in Biological Sciences or pre-health students in any major typically begin their Biology coursework in Winter of their first year. The exception is students eligible for and choosing to take the Advanced Biology sequence, which begins in Autumn of first year with BIOS 20234 Molecular Biology of the Cell. Speak with your academic adviser if you have questions about your program of interests requirements for any Core general education requirement.
Students pursuing majors outside of those listed above typically satisfy the biology general education requirement by taking two non-major-directed biology courses: a laboratory-based introductory biology course and a ‘topics’ course focused on a subfield of biology. Throughout the academic year, multiple sections of the introductory biology course are offered; each section examines biological principles and research methods from a different focus. To gain hands-on experience in the scientific process, students can choose from a course model that offers a series of laboratory modules to introduce modern research methods (BIOS 10130: Principles of Biology) or they can select an inquiry-based course model in which students conduct their own research projects to experience how biologists frame questions and test hypotheses (BIOS 10140: Inquiry-based Exploration of Biology).
After completing the introductory biology lab course, students choose from a large menu of topics courses which allow them to explore a specific area of biology more deeply. Offering these different course options ensures that all students, regardless of background, can experience biology in new ways and learn about biology topics and approaches that are of interest to them (BIO topics course numbers: BIOS 11125-BIOS 16120 and BIOS 27710-27779). Read more in the College Catalog here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Review the common questions students have regarding the Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Biological Sciences Core requirements.
All students take a total of six quarter courses in this category, distributed in the following way: at least two quarters of physical sciences, at least two quarters of biological sciences, and at least one in mathematical sciences. The remaining (sixth) course may be taken in any one of these categories, unless calculus is being used to satisfy the requirement in mathematical sciences. In that case, the student must take two calculus courses for the general education requirement. In general, be aware that a student's major and/or preparation for the health professions may dictate which of the available options the student should select.
If you are interested majors in the biological sciences, physical sciences, and some social science majors, you may have specific requirements for these requirements, and for many majors, these Core classes will provide a groundwork for later coursework. All programs in the biological and physical sciences require completion of the two quarters of calculus for Core. If there are any majors you are interested in, you should review the College Catalog to see if there are any required Math, Biological Sciences, or Physical Science course.
For students that do not plan or wish to enroll in calculus, students may complete one or two non-calculus courses. Students doing their math requirements without calculus should ensure that the courses they take do not overlap with major or minor requirements, as courses taken for Core requirements cannot be counted towards majors or minors.
In addition to the two quarters of physical sciences, and two quarters of biological sciences, students taking only one math course will then take an additional PHSC or BIOS Core course as the sixth course in this category. Speak with your academic adviser about this option if you are not planning to take calculus, as there are specific rules that dictate which courses you can take for the final PHSC or BIOS course.
Students must meet the mathematical sciences requirement with the first two quarters of a calculus sequence if they are preparing for the health professions or if they anticipate majors in the Physical or Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Economics, Psychology, or Public Policy Studies. Other restrictions may apply. Students should consult their academic adviser about course choices. Those who take calculus must earn credit for the first two quarters of a calculus sequence (200 units).
Majors like Anthropology, Creative Writing, English, History, Human Rights, Political Science, and several others do not require calculus. If you are considering any major that requires calculus, taking Calculus in your first quarter is recommend to keep continuity of your studies.
Students who earn a 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam will receive placement into MATH 15100 or higher. Students who earn a 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam will receive placement into MATH 15200 or higher. Please be aware the even with the AP scores, you should take the math placement exam.
Students who earn a score of 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam will also receive an invitation to register for MATH 16100 Honors Calculus I/MATH 16110 Honors Calculus I (IBL) or MATH 18300 Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences I.
The Departments of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science offer options to complete this requirement, including calculus. If you are not interested in completing calculus, you can consider one or two of the non-caculus courses such as MATH 11200, MATH 11300, DATA 11800, or STAT 20000. CMSC 14100 and STAT 22000 are additional options but will depend on your mathematics placement exam performance. Students are only able to take one of the available Statistics courses for this requirement.
For students who do not plan to prepare for the health professions or pursue a major that requires specific courses for the general education requirement, this credit will apply toward the general education sequence for non-Biological Science majors articulated above. These students should complete the general education requirement in the Biological Sciences with either one or two Topics courses for non-majors, depending on how the requirements in the mathematical and physical sciences are met; students should contact their academic adviser for details.
Students should complete BIOS 10130 or BIOS 10140 before enrolling in a biology topics course (course numbers BIOS 11125-BIOS 16120 and BIOS 27710-27779). Students build foundational knowledge in BIOS 10130/10140 so skipping this course and going straight to the topics typically results in a more challenging experience.
Students that receive a 4 or 5 on the AP Biology exam will receive BIOS 10130 credit. Only these students start their Biological Sciences requirement with a topics course. All other should start with BIOS 10130 or 10140.
Start by reviewing courses of interest on the Physical Science Core page in the Catalog. If you have a particular major that requires certain courses for the Core requirement, you should start there. You may also consider those sequences if you have AP credit. See further in this FAQ for more details.
There are many series of courses in the physical sciences, each of which introduces a different discipline and different aspects of scientific knowledge. PHSC courses fall mainly into five general categories that we might conveniently label as "Physics," "Astronomy and Astrophysics," "Geosciences," "Molecular Engineering," and "Chemistry." Generally, courses from two different categories may not be combined as a sequence unless otherwise specified. Students will take two courses listed as a valid pair to complete the requirement.
Students with CHEM 11100 credit may enroll in CHEM 11200 in winter quarter to pair with CHEM 11100 to fulfill the PHSC Core requirement.
Students who have credit for CHEM 11100 and do not wish to enroll in general chemistry may satisfy the Core requirement with any of the following courses offered by the Department of Chemistry: PHSC 12200 The Chemistry of Food and Cooking, PHSC 12400 The Chemistry of Big Problems, PHSC 12500 Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease, PHSC 12900 The Chemistry of Artists' Materials, and PHSC 13000 Exploring the Organic Chemistry of Medicinal Plants: From Field to Laboratory.
Assuming that their major does not require a sequence higher than the 120's, students with PHYS 12100 credit can enroll in PHYS 12200 in winter quarter to complete their Physical Science Core requirement. Some majors like Physics, Chemistry, and Molecular Engineering requires students complete PHYS 13100-13200 or 14100-14200. Students pursuing majors that require PHYS 13100 or higher will enroll in PHYS 13100 and forfeit their AP credit(s).
Students with PHYS 12200 credit can enroll in PHYS 12100, PHYS 13100, or PHYS 14100 in autumn quarter to pair with this credit. PHYS 12100 will not be an option for pre-registration but it will be available to add on the first day of the quarter. Students interested in completing PHYS 12100 must write to the Physics Departmental Counselor, Professor Stuart Gazes (gazes@uchicago.edu) to inquire about enrolling in the course. PHYS 13100 and PHYS 14100 will be options for pre-registration but they require placement based on the mathematics placement exam. Speak with your academic adviser about your interest in Physics if you have a 12200 credit.
Students that have PHYS 12100 or PHYS 12200 credit and do not wish to enroll in general physics to complete their Core requirement must complete two Physical Science Core courses. Generally petitions are denied to use a single AP Physics credit with another PHSC course option like PHSC 11600: Physics for Future Presidents.
Students that have both PHYS 12100 and PHYS 12200 credit can use both of the credits to fulfill the Physical Science Core requirement, assuming their major program does not require something different (such as PHYS 13100-13200).