What Courses Should I Take?
Students in the College of Arts and Sciences have only a few specific course requirements during the first year: a First-Year English course and a First-Year Seminar. Some students will place out of ENGL 001 and take ENGL 011 in the first or second semester.
A typical course load is in the 14 to 17 credit range. You should not take fewer than 12 credits, which is the minimum required for full-time student status. As a reminder, "Distribution Requirements" refer to the college-level requirements required of all students in the CAS.
Please note: If you plan to major in Chemistry, one of the Biological Sciences, or follow the pre-health track, your fall science must be *CHM 030 or 040. The first biology core course, BIOS 041, and accompanying lab, BIOS 042, are only taught in the spring semester and have CHM 030 or 040 as a prerequisite.
Below you will find schedule scenarios for the following areas of interest and majors:
For other majors and programs not included in this list, please consult the online catalog and course schedule listing to determine your schedule.
Suggested first year schedule for Africana Studies:
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
|
ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| AAS 003: Intro to Africana Studies (4) | AAS Elective* (4) |
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*For appropriate elective selection please refer to Africana Studies in the catalog.
Suggested first year schedule for Anthropology:
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
|
ANTH 011: Cultural Diversity & Human Nature OR
ANTH 012: Human Evolution and Prehistory (4)
|
ANTH 011: Cultural Diversity & Human Nature OR
ANTH 012: Human Evolution and Prehistory (4)
|
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*For more information please refer to Anthropology in the catalog.
Suggested first year schedule for Architecture :
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| ART 001: Art & Architecture History I (4) | ARCH 002: Architecture II (4) |
| ART 003: Two-Dimensional Design OR ART 004: Three-Dimensional Design (4) |
ART 003: Two-Dimensional Design OR ART 004: Three-Dimensional Design (4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) |
Recommended: MATH 051 or 021, but not required OR
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)
|
| Total: 14-16 credits | Total: 14-15 credits |
*Due to the complexity of the Architecture major, students are encouraged email the AAD Department for scheduling guidance via inaad@lehigh.edu.
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| ART 001: Art & Architecture History I (4) | ART 002: Art History: Renaissance to the Present(4) |
| ART 003: Two-Dimensional Design OR ART 004: Three-Dimensional Design (4)* |
ART 003: Two-Dimensional Design OR ART 004: Three-Dimensional Design (4)* |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*or ART 011: Drawing I (4) for Art and Design majors.
** For more information please refer to Art, Art History, and Design in the catalog.
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
|
MATH 021: Calculus I (4) OR
MATH 051: Survey of Calculus I (4)*
|
MATH 022: Calculus II (4) OR
MATH 052: Survey of Calculus II (3)*
|
|
CHM 040: Honors General Chemistry I OR
CHM 030: Intro to Chemical Principles (4)
|
CHM 041: Honors General Chemistry II OR
CHM 031: Chemical Equilibria in Aqueous Sys (4)
|
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | BIOS 041 + 042: Biology Core I & Lab (4) |
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement** (4) | |
| Total: 14 - 16 credits | Total: 14 - 18 credits |
*Students may choose between Option A or B in Biochemistry, with 'B' favoring a focus in Chemistry and 'A' a focus in Biological Sciences. Please review the options for Biochemistry in the catalog, and reach out to inadvise@lehigh.edu with questions!
**Optional
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
|
ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3)
(or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3)
(or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
|
MATH 051: Survey of Calculus I (4) OR
MATH 021: Calculus I (4)*
|
MATH 052: Survey of Calculus II (3) OR
MATH 022: Calculus II (4)*
|
|
CHM 030: Intro to Chemical Principles OR
CHM 040: Honors General Chemistry I (4)
|
CHM 031: Chem. Equilibria in Aqueous Syst. OR
CHM 041: Honors General Chemistry II (4)
|
|
First-Year Seminar (3-4)
|
BIOS 041 + 042: Biology Core I & Lab (4)
|
|
|
Pre-Health Elective** (4)
|
|
Total: 14 - 16 credits
|
Total: 14 - 18 credits
|
*The Math 50 series is preferred for Biological Sciences and the premed path. Please reach out to inadvise@lehigh.edu with questions!
**Optional! Consult your advisor.
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
|
MATH 021: Calculus I (4) OR
MATH 051: Survey of Calculus I (4)*
|
MATH 022: Calculus II (4) OR
MATH 052: Survey of Calculus II (3)*
|
|
CHM 030: Intro to Chemical Principles OR
CHM 040: Honors General Chemistry I (4)
|
CHM 031: Chem. Equilibria in Aqueous Syst. OR
CHM 041: Honors General Chemistry II (4)
|
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 14 - 15 credits |
*Selection of Calculus course depends on intended Chemistry specialization. Please consult Chemistry in the catalog and Professor Roberts for specific questions (jer1@lehigh.edu).
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| COGS Collateral or Elective* (2-4) | COGS 007: Introduction to Cognitive Science (4) |
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) | COGS Collateral, Core, or Elective* (4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 12 - 15 credits | Total: 14 - 15 credits |
*Please refer to Cognitive Science in the catalog for appropiate selection of Cognitive Science Collateral, Core, or Elective courses.
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
|
ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3)
(or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3)
(or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
|
MATH 021: Calculus I (4) OR
MATH 051: Survey of Calculus I (4)
|
COGS 007: Introduction to Cognitive Science (4)
|
|
COGS Collateral or Elective* (2-4)
|
COGS Collateral, Core, or Elective* (4)
|
|
First-Year Seminar (3-4)
|
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)
|
|
Total: 12 - 15 credits
|
Total: 14 - 15 credits
|
*Please refer to Cognitive Science in the catalog for appropiate selection of Cognitive Science Collateral, Core, or Elective courses.
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| CSE 007: Intro to Programming (4) | CSE 017: Programming and Data Structures (3) |
| MATH 021: Calculus I (4) | MATH 022: Calculus II (4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
Option #2:
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| CSE 003: Intro to Programming, Part A (2) | CSE 004: Intro to Programming, Part B (2) |
| MATH 021: Calculus I (4) | MATH 022: Calculus II (4) |
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (3-4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (3-4) |
| Total: 15 - 17 credits | Total: 15-17 credits |
*For more information and guidance on selection of math course please refer to Computer Science in the catalog.
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| EES 080: Intro to the Earth System* (4) | EES Core or elective (4) |
|
Math Course (MATH 012 or above) OR
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)
|
Math Course (MATH 012 or above) OR
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)
|
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) |
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)
|
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*For permission to enroll in EES 080 please contact Jillian Jacoby jij422@lehigh.edu.
**For more information and guidance on selection of math course please refer to Earth and Environmental Science in the catalog.
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| ECO 001: Principles of Economics (4) | ECO Core or ECO 045* (3) |
|
MATH 051 or 081 OR
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)
|
MATH 051 or 081 OR
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)
|
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) |
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)
|
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 14 credits |
*For guidance on the appropriate core course please refer to Economics in the catalog.
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| ECO 001: Principles of Economics (4) | ECO Core or ECO 045* (3) |
|
Math 021: Calculus I (4)
|
Math 022: Calculus II (4)
|
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) |
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)
|
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 14 credits |
*For guidance on the appropriate core course please refer to Economics in the catalog.
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| GS 001: Intro to Global Studies (4) | GS Core Course* (4) |
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*For more information please refer to Global Studies in the catalog.
Suggested first year schedule for History :
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| HIST Elective* (4) | HIST 001: Time Travel: How to Make History (4) |
|
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)
|
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)
|
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*For guidance on core courses please refer to History in the catalog.
Suggested first year schedule for International Relations:
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| IR 010: Intro to World Politics (4) | IR Core Course* (4) |
| ECO 001: Principles of Economics OR Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
ECO 001: Principles of Economics OR Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)* |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*For more information please refer to International Relations in the catalog.
Suggested first year schedule for Journalism :
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| JOUR 001: Brown and White (1) | JOUR 002: Brown and White (1) |
| COMM 001: Media and Society OR JOUR 021: Writing for the Media (4)* |
COMM 001: Media and Society OR JOUR 021: Writing for the Media (4)* |
| MATH 012: Basic Statistics OR Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)* |
MATH 012: Basic Statistics OR Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)* |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 15 - 16 credits | Total: 16 credits |
*For more information please refer to Journalism in the catalog.
Suggested first year schedule for Mathematics (BA or BS) :
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| MATH 021: Calculus I (4) | MATH 022: Calculus II (4) |
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) | Math Elective OR Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)* |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*For more information please refer to Mathematics in the catalog.
Suggested first year schedule for Physics (BA or BS) :
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| MATH 021: Calculus I (4) | MATH 022: Calculus II (4) |
|
PHY 011: Introductory Physics I or
PHY 010: General Physics I (4)
|
CHM 030: Introduction to Chemical Principles (4) |
| PHY 012: Introductory Physics Lab I (1) |
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)
|
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | |
| Total: 15 - 16 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*For more information please refer to Physics in the catalog.
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| POLS 001: American Political System OR POLS 003: Comparative Politics (4) |
POLS 001: American Political System OR POLS 003: Comparative Politics (4) |
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) | POLS Core Course* OR Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*For more information please refer to Political Science in the catalog.
Suggested first year schedule for Psychology, BA :
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| PSYC 001: Intro to Psychology (4) | PSYC 100-level Breadth Course* (4) |
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) | Math Course or Free Elective (4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*For more information on PSYC 100-level Breadth courses please refer to Psychology in the catalog.
Suggested first year schedule for Psychology, BS:
| FALL SEMESTER (CREDITS) | SPRING SEMESTER (CREDITS) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| PSYC 001: Intro to Psychology (4) | PSYC 100-level Breadth Course* (4) |
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) | PSYC Collateral Math or Science Course** (4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*For more information on PSYC 100-level Breadth courses please refer to Psychology in the catalog.
**For guidance on appropriate selection of collateral math or science courses please refer to Psychology in the catalog.
Suggested first year schedule for Sociology:
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| SOC 001: Intro to Sociology (4) | SOC Core Course* (4) |
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*For more information please refer to Sociology in the catalog.
Suggested first year schedule for Theatre :
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| THTR 011: Intro to Acting* and/OR THTR 060: Dramatic Action (4) |
THTR Core Course* (4) |
|
THTR Production OR
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4)
|
THTR Production OR
Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*Please consult with the Theatre department for accurate placement or waiver of THTR 011.
**For more information please refer to Theatre in the catalog.
Suggested first year schedule for Undecided student, or a non-science major:
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement* (4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement* (4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*This schedule should be diversified with introductory courses in different disciplines to explore options for a possible major. Generally, with a few exceptions, they will count for your distribution requirements.
Suggested first year schedule for Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies:
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
|---|---|
| ENGL 001: Critical Reading & Composition (3) (or 011 if credit for 001) |
ENGL 002: Research & Argument (3) (or 011 if 001/011 not completed in Fall) |
| WGSS 001: Women and Men in Society (4) | WGSS Core Course* (4) |
| Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| First-Year Seminar (3-4) | Free Elective or Distribution Requirement (4) |
| Total: 14 - 15 credits | Total: 15 credits |
*For more information please refer to Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies in the catalog.
Refer to our mathematics resources as well as the catalog for guidance in choosing which mathematics course you should take and when. Note that some science course have the lab integrated into the course (e.g., EES 080) rather than as a stand-alone course.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to our Advising Center via inadvise@lehigh.edu.
