First Quarter Schedules

All students fulfill the Humanities Core requirement in their first year by taking at least the Autumn and Winter quarter of an approved Humanities sequence. There are many sequences from which to choose, but all provide a common introduction to College-level reading, analysis, and writing. See here for descriptions of all Humanities sequence options. 

For your second and third classes, you have some options. 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. 

For some of you, a Mathematics class is required during Autumn quarter. If you’re interested in certain Social Sciences – Economics, HIPS, Public Policy, or Psychology – credit for Calculus I and II is required to satisfy your Core Math requirement. If you're even potentially interested in these programs, a science major, or completing pre-health requirements, you should take Calculus. You will need to sign up for the course that corresponds with your placement,  results. 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, but you also have the option of taking some 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.

If you’re looking for a fourth class or back-up course options, consider fulfilling one of your Core science requirements. There are many options available for non-science majors in both the Physical and Biological Sciences; however, if there’s a possibility that you might be pre-health, you should plan to take Chemistry rather than one of the non-science major options. If you plan to complete a major that doesn't specify how you satisfy the Physical Sciences requirement, Chemistry will still complete the physical science requirement. Civilization Studies or Art Core classes could also work for you, although we caution against taking Humanities, Art, and Civilization Studies sequences simultaneously since all three of those courses are reading/writing-intensive. 

In terms of courses beyond the Core, there are a few that are particularly well-suited for first-years. You will be able to request some of those for Autumn, if you like. If you are interested in an Economics major, Econ 10000: Principles of Microeconomics is a course option to consider.

Possible Economics or Public Policy Major 

• HUMA 12300 Human Being and Citizen I
• MATH 15100 Calculus I
• GRMN 12001 Intensive German I 

Possible Psychology Major 

• HUMA 11500 Philosophical Perspectives I
• MATH 13100 Elem Functions and Calculus I
• FREN 10100 Beginning Elementary French I
• PSYC 20600 Developmental Psychology 

Possible English or Art History Major

• HUMA 14000 Reading Cultures I
• FREN 20100 French Language, History, and Culture I
• MATH 11200 Studies in Mathematics I

Possible Political Science or History Major

• HUMA 16000 Media Aesthetics: Image
• STAT 20000 Elemntary Statistics
• ARAB 10101 Elementary Arabic I
• PHSC 10800 Earth as a Planet

All students fulfill the Humanities Core requirement in their first year by taking at least the Autumn and Winter quarter of an approved Humanities sequence. There are many sequences from which to choose, but all provide a common introduction to College-level reading, analysis, and writing. See here for descriptions of all Humanities sequence options. 

All majors in this area 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.

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 anyway. Your adviser can help you adjust your schedule during O-Week, if needed.

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). 

If you’re majoring in a science other than Mathematical Sciences, Computer Science, or Statistics, you’ll need 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 or PHYS 14100 Honors Mechanics for Physics majors, but that is not always the case. For example, potential Molecular Engineering majors may take either Chemistry and/or Physics, depending on which track they're interested in pursuing. Most prospective Biology majors start with General Chemistry in the Autumn quarter and start the introductory Biology courses in the Winter quarter when the intro biology sequence begins.

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.

For Mathematical Science/Statistics/Computer Science students:

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. If you’re a potential Mathematics major and you're not interested in taking a Physical Science sequence this year (or have AP credit for the first quarter of Chemistry/Physics and plan to pick up your sequence in Winter), you can choose to take one of the courses mentioned below as your third course instead. Computer Science majors may  start their required Computer Science sequence in place of a Physical Science course. Students can complete the CMSC Placement exam to see if they qualify to start beyond the introductory course CMSC 14100. 

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 one of these sequences if you're potentially interested in a major or BS degree that does. 

If you choose to take a fourth course, you have a number of options:

• Intro to Computer Science (CSMC 140s), especially for prospective Computer Science majors
• Language is a popular choice, 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.
• Art Core is another option. These courses are not easier than other UChicago courses so students should expect to read, write, and create in these courses.
• Elective - In terms of courses beyond the Core, there are a few that are particularly well-suited for first-years. You will be able to request some of those for Autumn, if you like. 

Potential Biology majors and/or pre-health students: you will likely have four required courses Winter Quarter so adding an additional class for Autumn that is part of a year-long sequence is not recommended.  Here is more information on BIOS sequences.

If you have any questions about this over the summer, please get in touch with College Advising.

Possible Physics Major

• HUMA 12050 Greece & Rome: Texts, Traditions, and Transformations I
• PHYS 14100 Honors Mechanics
• MATH 18300 Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences 

 Possible Mathematics Major 

• HUMA 17000 Language and the Human I
• MATH 16100 Honors Calculus
• PHYS 13100 Mechanics 

Possible Chemistry Majors 

• HUMA 18000 Poetry and the Human
• MATH 15200 Calculus II
• CHEM 11100 General Chemistry I
• SPAN 10100 Beginning Elementary Spanish 

Possible Computer Science Major 

• HUMA 11000 Readings in World Literature I
• MATH 15200 Calculus II
• CMSC 14100 Introduction to Computer Science I 

All students fulfill the Humanities Core requirement in their first year by taking at least the Autumn and Winter quarter of an approved Humanities sequence. There are many sequences from which to choose, but all provide a common introduction to College-level reading, analysis, and writing. See here for descriptions of all Humanities sequence options.

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. 

Biological Science and many other majors require Calculus for the Core Mathematics requirement. A strong foundation in calculus is also essential for your success in chemistry and physics, which you will need to take for your pre-health requirements and potential major requirements.   Which Calculus course you take depends on your Mathematics Placement Test results. All students are required to take that test this summer. If you place into MATH 15300 Calculus III or MATH 18300 Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences I, you can earn credit for MATH 15100-15200 by taking MATH 15300 or MATH 18300.  Which course you enroll in will depend on your major. Check the College Catalog to determine if a major you’re interested in requires it. 

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, 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 Bio majors and pre-health students instead start their Biology coursework in Winter quarter. If that's the case for you, we don't recommend that you sign up for a 4th course in Autumn that's the start of a year-long sequence (like Social Sciences or beginner-level languages). A language class is an option if your placement level means you only need one class to complete your College language competency requirement.  

 Alternately, there are a number of single quarter courses that you may be able to take out of interest or potential major exploration. If you have any questions, please get in touch with your Academic Adviser. 

Possible Pre-Health Student Schedule:

• HUMA 12300 Human Being & Citizen I
• CHEM 11100 General Chemistry I
• MATH 15100 Calculus I

All students fulfill the Humanities Core requirement in their first year by taking at least the Autumn and Winter quarter of an approved Humanities sequence. There are many sequences from which to choose, but all provide a common introduction to College-level reading, analysis, and writing. See here for descriptions of all Humanities sequence options.

The best way to pick the remainder of your courses as an undecided student is to think of the majors you might be interested in. Do some research on potential programs of interest in the College Catalog and choose Core classes that would keep those options open or help you explore areas you might like to study further.

If there's a chance you might pursue something 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 know for sure that you won’t need Calculus, then you could think about taking an approved non-Calculus course for the Math requirement, like STAT 20000 Elementary Statistics or MATH 11200 Studies in Mathematics.

Another option for you to consider is a Biological or Physical Science Core course. There are a lot of options for non-science majors available. 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.

Also consider a language class for one of your courses, especially if you’re interested in any majors that require language study. If you have prior schooling in a language, you can either start a new language or take the course that you placed in to 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.

If you elect to take a fourth course in your first quarter, any of the above courses are good options. Be aware, though, that students are advised against taking Humanities, Social Science, and Civilization Studies sequences simultaneously since all three of these courses will be reading- and writing-intensive.

Make sure you review all your potential majors so that you are aware of any general education requirements for each. Getting started on your Core in this manner will keep many options open to you while you make progress toward graduation and explore the collegiate divisions.   

In terms of courses beyond the Core, there are some that are particularly well-suited for first years. You will be able to request some of those for Autumn, if you like.

Example of a student who is interested in majors within the Social Sciences and/or Humanities:

• HUMA 16000 Media Aesthetics: Image
• MATH 13100 Elem Functions and Calculus
• ARAB 10101 Elementary Arabic I
• PHSC 10800 Earth as a Planet

Example of a student who is leaning toward Physics or a related subject:

• HUMA 12050 Greece & Rome: Texts, Traditions, and Transformations I
• PHYS 13100 Mechanics
• MATH 15200 Calculus II