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University of Richmond

Choosing Courses

In choosing courses for your first year, you may be wondering how to plan a good schedule. How do you create a schedule that has enough courses but does not overwhelm you? How do you choose general education courses and electives?

There are no clear and easy answers to these questions, as each student has different interests and goals, however, a few guidelines may be helpful. First, think about creating a “balanced schedule.” By this, we mean that it is wisest to choose courses from various subject areas rather than focusing your studies in any one area or in any one type of course. Taking several courses in one area (or taking several courses that are, for example, "heavy reading" or "heavy science" in nature) can be overwhelming and limiting. Balancing your schedule in this way can often be accomplished by combining general education requirements, major exploratory classes, and electives of interest. In addition:

  • Every first-year student must register for a section of Core 101 during fall semester. (Transfer students, please see the information regarding Core specifically for you on the New Student Checklist.) If you do not register for a section, you will be assigned one at the end of the open-registration period.  You'll find many sections of Core 101 listed under "Core" in BannerWeb.
  • Students must also register themselves for a section of Well 085: URAWARE Alcohol Awareness, AND for a section of Library 100: Library and Information Skills. These are non-credit-bearing requirements.
  • Since there are limited seats available in most courses, choosing several alternatives and having them prepared when registration opens is wise. With many students registering at one time, classes can fill quickly. Being able to move easily from a course that fills to an alternate can reduce registration stress.
  • We strongly recommend that new students choose 4 units worth of courses for their first semester.
  • The University's online undergraduate catalog has a "Search Courses" feature at the top left allowing you to search all courses by key word, category, or topic. Note that the catalog lists all courses, and not all courses are offered every semester. BannerWeb's Fall 2008 "Look-up Classes to Add" list shows the courses offered this fall.
Talk with your Peer Advising Associate or contact the staff of the Academic Advising Resource Center if you have questions as you choose your courses for fall.

Pre-Health and Science Students

If you are considering a career in the health professions and/or a major in the sciences, you should take a particular sequence of courses beginning your first semester. Contact the Pre-Health Professions Advisor, Dr. John Vaughan (jvaugha2@richmond.edu or 804-287-6484), THIS SUMMER for assistance with fall registration.