choosing courses for first year students

CHOOSING COURSES

Before choosing courses
Read the College Catalog, especially the sections containing information about Lewis & Clark's policies and requirements.

Courses offered in the fall
Current course information may always be accessed by checking Course Schedule on the blue sidebar to the left. Read the Online Registration Instructions. For example, once you have a list of courses, you can click on the course title to see the description and prerequisites.

General Education Requirements

First-year students generally register for 100-level courses. They may also register for 200-level courses with an “F” in the section number (for example, History 210 F1) as long as they have met the prerequisites (if any). First-year students may register for the appropriate mathematics and Foreign Language courses, regardless of level, provided they have met the prerequisites.

Prerequisites
A prerequisite means that students must have taken another course or have a certain class standing in order to register for a course. For example, International Affairs (IA) 211 has a prerequisite of IA 100, thus IA 100 is required to enroll in IA 211. When you have a list of courses, check on Section Name and Title in WebAdvisor to see if there are any prerequisites. You will not be able to register for a course if the Registrar has not received the official documentation that you have met the prerequisite. This includes prerequisites that have been met by AP, IB or college transfer credit.

The “Math 055 or equivalent” prerequisite
To register for a course with a Math 055 or equivalent prerequisite, you must have met one of the criteria listed below. The official documents for these criteria must be on file in the Registrar’s Office prior to registration. High school grades and AP and IB scores will not be available because the Registrar will not receive official notification until mid-summer. If you want to take Math 055, DO NOT register for the course until the August 29-30 registration period.

SAT I math score of 630 or higher or an ACT math score of 30 or higher

High school calculus course with a grade of B or better

Calculus AP score of 4 or 5 or an IB score of 7

Quantitative Reasoning Proficiency Examination score of Level II or higher (should be taken online during the summer)

College course work equivalent to Math 055 or higher

If you want to register in May for a course that requires Math 055 or equivalent as a prerequisite, you will most likely need to take the Quantitative Placement Exam even if you (eventually) will have one of these other options because the Registrar's Office needs official documentation of your equivalency before you can register.

SAT and ACT scores should be available. Students can check their scores on Web Advisor using "Test Summary".

Students who took calculus in their junior year should notify the Registrar's Office so that they can get the transcript from Admissions.

AP and IB exam results aren't sent to LC until mid-July because final high school transcripts are not usually received until mid-summer.

Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate (AP or IB credit)
Check the AP/IB section of the 2007-08 Lewis & Clark College Catalog to determine if AP or IB credit affects your placement in courses. (Official documentation, which usually isn't sent to LC until mid-July, must be on file in the Registrar’s Office before you register.) AP/IB credit does not fill any General Education requirements except in foreign language.

Choosing your first course
Choose one 3-5 credit course. Class sizes are small so you may not be able to take your first priority course every semester. It is therefore essential to have already thought of alternates before you begin to register.

We advise you to pick a course that interests you, perhaps in a department that might become your major. If you plan to major in Art or one of the Sciences, see Majors to Start the First Semester in College.

Because most first-year students do not know what their major will be, it is advisable for them to take elective courses in different departments. Read the descriptions of all the courses in these departments and put checks next to the ones that sound interesting and exciting.

Exploration and Discovery section preferences
You will be submitting section preferences for this required course in June. Although all Exploration and Discovery (Core 106) sections meet on M,W,F, the times the sections meet do vary. Check 2008 Faculty to see the time specific sections are offered. Keep the times of your preferred sections in mind as you choose your first course.

Most students find that waiting until August to register for their foreign language course is best, especially if they need to take the Foreign Language Placement Exam.

General Education Requirements
As a liberal arts college, Lewis & Clark encourages students to “seek knowledge for its own sake.” The pursuit of knowledge in a variety of fields expands students’ perspectives and requires that they develop essential skills, helping them to think, write, and speak clearly and effectively so that they may become thoughtful contributors to and leaders of society. The specific General Education Requirements are found in the College Catalog.

International Studies at Lewis & Clark
Many courses across the humanities and social sciences serve as good entry points for students interested in international studies:

Art history classes in western and Asian art introduce students to the distinctive artistic heritages of East and West.

The study of foreign languages is the gateway to international studies, with the College's language requirement only the beginning.

In introductory history courses, students investigate the ways that geography, economics and culture have evolved over time to form distinct regional and national stories in Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Professors in the International Affairs Department are political scientists, and primarily explore relations between nation states.

The Music Department offers courses in world music as well as the western tradition.

The Political Science Department offers a course in comparative politics, juxtaposing political systems from a number of countries in different parts of the world.

Religious studies courses explore the belief systems of the world religions, including Islam and Buddhism.

The Sociology and Anthropology Department (SOAN) provides the tools to study different societies and cultures, featuring cross-cultural examples in most courses, with more focused entry-level courses in Latin America and the Middle East.

Lewis & Clark has an international studies requirement (see General Education Requirements) that, depending upon the program, may be satisfied by participation in overseas programs, customarily pursued in the junior year.

The number of courses to take each semester
A regular course load is four four-credit courses, plus perhaps a one-credit PE course or one or two one-credit Music Performance courses, for a total of 16-19 credits. Students must have their advisor’s permission and signature in order to take more than 19 credits, but overloading is generally not recommended for first-year students. To graduate, a student must have 128 credits—that is 32 credits a year, or 16 credits per semester over 8 semesters.

Sample first-semester schedule
A sample first-semester schedule could look something like this:

Exploration and Discovery (4 credits)

A course in a department that could become your major (4-5 credits)

A foreign language. We suggest that students take foreign language during their first semester if they are not exempted from this requirement. Be sure to sign up this summer for the Foreign Language Placement Exam. (4 credits)

An elective, or course of your choice (4 credits)

Music Performance or PE/A course (1 credit)

Courses that Generally Fill Quickly

Check class times to avoid conflicts
Class meeting times are included on the on the online Course Schedule link in the blue sidebar on the Registrar's pages. It is essential to check them carefully. Some classes meet only on Monday-Wednesday-Friday, others on Tuesday-Thursday, and so forth. Be sure to check on lab/discussion times if you take a science course!

This summer think about and create a list with all four courses even though second round registration takes place August 29 and 30. Include some alternate courses on that list. Again check to be sure that you have met all prerequisites for the remaining two courses. You are required to bring that list with you to your advising appointment on Friday, August 29th so that you can discuss your course choices with your advisor and, if necessary, can make changes.

Theatre
If you are interested in auditioning for the fall main-stage production, auditions take place in the first week of the semester. Go to Fir Acres Theatre on the first or second day of classes for details. Auditioning is completely open, with no prerequisites, and casting is non-traditional and colorblind.