Recommended first courses in major/minor(s)

This page is intended to provide information for new students who are interested in the major/minor(s) listed below. Students do not necessarily need to take these courses their first semester or even their first year in order to major/minor in these disciplines. For additional information, and for major/minors not listed below, please contact the program department chair.

Expand All
  • Africana Studies

    First course to take

    AFST 101

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Integrated Focus: Power, Equity, Identity, & Culture (IFPE) requirement.

  • American Studies

    First course to take

    AMST 201

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Integrated Focus: Power, Equity, Identity, & Culture (IFPE) requirement.

    Notes

    AMST 201 is the recommended first course, but other AMST courses will count toward the major.

  • Anthropology

    First course to take

    ANTH 101

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) and Integrated Focus: Power, Equity, Identity, & Culture (IFPE) requirements.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    Any other ANTH course

  • Arabic Studies

    First course to take

    ARAB 101 (offered every fall semester)

    If you have prior knowledge of Arabic or speak Arabic at home, contact Dr. Alaa Magableh or Dr. Dana Shalash for placement.

    Is this a General Education course?

    No

    Next course to take if you have completed ARAB 221 or the equivalent (including qualifying AP/IB or placement exam scores)

    ARAB 231 or ARAB 301

  • Archaeology minor

    First course to take

    CLSC 220, 301, 302

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes. 220 meets the Area of Iquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) and Integrated Focus: Power, Equity, Identity, & Culture (IFPE) requirements. 301 and 302 both meet the Area of Inquiry: Visual & Performing Arts (AIVP) requirement.

     

  • Art History

    First course to take

    ART 121 or 122

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, 121 and 122 both meet the Area of Inquiry: Historical Inquiry (AIHS) requirement; 122 also meets the Integrated Focus: Written Communication (IFWC) requirement.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    Contact the Art History department.

  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB)

    First course to take

    Some combination of BIOL 199, CHEM 141, and MATH 211

    (or BIOL 190 and CHEM 191 if enrolled in IQS; BIOL 192 and CHEM 192 if enrolled in SMART)

    Application required for IQS and SMART.

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes. BIOL 199 and CHEM 141 both meet the Area of Inquiry: Natural Science (AINS) requirement. MATH 211 meets the Area of Inquiry: Symbolic Reasoning (AISR) requirement. 

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    See individual departments for policies.

  • Biology

    First course to take

    Some combination of BIOL 199, CHEM 141, and MATH 211

    (or BIOL 190 and CHEM 191 if enrolled in IQS; BIOL 192 and CHEM 192 if enrolled in SMART)

    Application required for IQS and SMART.

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes. BIOL 199 and CHEM 141 both meet the Area of Inquiry: Natural Science (AINS) requirement. MATH 211 meets the Area of Inquiry: Symbolic Reasoning (AISR) requirement. 

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    AP/IB Biology credit is not accepted for major or minor in Biology.

    See other departments for policies.

  • Business

    First course to take

    ECON 101

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) requirement.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    ECON 102 or ACCT 201

    Notes

    ECON 101, ACCT 201, and MATH 211 (or 212) are required coursework prior to declaring a major/minor in the Robins School of Business.

  • Chemistry

    First course to take

    CHEM 141 (or CHEM 191 if enrolled in IQS OR CHEM 192 if enrolled in SMART)

    Application required for IQS and SMART.

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area of Inquiry: Natural Science (AINS) requirement.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    CHEM 205

  • Chinese Studies

    First course to take

    CHIN 101-102

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    CHIN 301 or higher

  • Classical Civilization

    First course to take

    CLSC 101, 205, 308

    Is this a General Education course?

    CLSC 208 meets the Area of Inquiry: Literary & Textual Anaylsis requirement (AILT).

  • Computer Science

    First course to take

    CMSC 150 or IQS*

    *application required (http://iqscience.richmond.edu/), fall entrance only into the series, first-year students only

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area of Inquiry: Symbolic Reasoning requirement (AISR).

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    CMSC 221/CMSC 222

    Notes

    CMSC 221 can be taken either before or concurrently with CMSC 222.

  • Creative Writing minor

    First course to take

    CRWR 300

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Integrated Focus: Written Communication (IFWC) requirement.

     

     

  • Dance

    First course to take

    DANC 248

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area of Inquiry: Visual & Performing Arts (AIVP) and Integrated Focus: Power, Equity, Identity, & Culture (IFPE) requirements.

    Notes

    There are also 200 and 300 level course that first year students can take. Contact the department chair for more information.

  • Data Science and Statistics minor

    First course to take

    DSST 189, PSYC 200 (with qualifying PSYC 100 AP/IB credit), or RHCS 245

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, DSST 189, PSYC 200, and RHCS 245 meet the Integrated Focus: Quantitative Data Literacy (IFQD) requirement. 

  • Economics

    First course to take

    ECON 101

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) requirement.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    ECON 102

    Notes

    ECON 101 is a prerequisite for ECON 102

  • Education and Society minor

    First course to take

    EDSO 220

    Is this a General Education course?

    No

     

  • English

    First course to take

    Any 200-level course taught in the English Department (ENGL) that fulfills the Area of Inquiry: Literary & Textual Analysis (AILT) requirement.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    The department of English does not accept AP/IB courses for major/minor credit.

    Notes

    All 200-level FSLT courses taught in English count toward the English major or minor. All majors and minors must take two of these courses, the first of which must be completed before a student enrolls in any advanced courses in the major or minor program. The second may be taken concurrently with a student’s first advanced courses.

  • Environmental Studies

    First course to take

    ENVR 201 or 269

    Is this a General Education course?

    No

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    Students cannot place out of ENVR 201 or 269 with AP or IB credit

  • Film Studies

    First course to take

    FMST 201 or FMST 202

    Is this a General Education course?

    201 meets the Area of Inquiry: Literary & Textual Analysis (AILT) requirement. 202 meets the Area of Inquiry: Visual & Performing Arts (AIVP) and Integrated Focus: Embodied Communication (IFEB) requirements.

  • French

    First course to take

    FREN 121

    If you have taken some French in high school or speak French at home, please contact Dr. Julie Baker for placement. 

    Is this a General Education course?

    No

    Next course to take if you have completed FREN 221 or the equivalent (including qualifying AP/IB or placement exam scores)

    FREN 300-level

  • Geography

    First course to take

    GEOG 210 or GEOG 250

    Is this a General Education course?

    210 meets the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) and Integrated Focus: Embodied Communication (IFEB) requirements. 250 meets the Area of Inquiry: Natural Science (AINS) and Integrated Focus: Quantitative Data Literacy (IFQD) requirements.

    Notes

    GEOG 210 is also cross-listed as IS 210. GEOG 250 is also cross-listed as ENVR 250 or BIOL 250.

  • German Studies

    First course to take

    GERM 101 (offered every fall semester)

    If you have taken some German in high school or speak German at home, please contact Dr. Kathrin Bower for placement. 

    Is this a General Education course?

    No

    Next course to take if you have completed GERM 202 or the equivalent (including qualifying AP/IB or placement exam scores)

    See here for a complete list

  • Global Studies

    First course to take

    GS 290

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) and Integrated Focus: Power, Equity, Identity, & Culture (IFPE) requirements.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    GS 290 is not available for credit through AP or IB

    Notes

    Students should also take either PLSC 250 or GS/GEOG 210 

  • Greek

    First course to take

    GREK 101

    Notes

    For placement above GREK 101, please contact Dr. Dean Simpson.

  • Health Studies

    First course to take

    HS 100 or HS 101

    Is this a General Education course?

    No

  • History

    First course to take

    HIST 199

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area of Inquiry: Historical Inquiry (AIHS) requirement.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    HIST 199

  • Italian Studies

    First course to take

    ITAL 121

    If you have taken some Italian in high school or speak Italian at home, please contact Dr. Anthony Russell for placement. 

    Is this a General Education course?

    No

    Next course to take if you have completed ITAL 221 or the equivalent (including qualifying AP/IB or placement exam scores)

    See here for a complete list

  • Journalism

    First course to take

    JOUR 100

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) and Integrated Focus: Power, Equity, Identity, & Culture (IFPE) requirements.

    Notes

    Students may also take JOUR 101, though this course will not fulfill a general education requirement.

  • Latin American and Iberian Studies (LAIS)

    First course to take

    LAIS 121 (for beginning Spanish-speakers) or LAIS 301-307 (if the COM2 requirement is satisfied) 

    Is this a General Education course?

    Some 300-level courses fulfill general education requirements; please refer to the university catalog for details. 

    Notes

    For students with advanced or superior proficiency, please review the department website.

  • Latin

    First course to take

    First course to take if you have never taken Latin or have 1-2 years of high school Latin:

     LATN 101

    If you have 3-4 years of Latin in high school (but see below)*:

     LATN 201 

    *If you scored 630 or above on the SAT II Latin exam, 4 or above on the AP Latin exam, or 5 on the IB Latin exam:

     Any LATN 300-level course

    Notes

    Students with four or more years of Latin are encouraged to take the Latin Proficiency Exam. Contact Professor Dean Simpson for details.

  • Leadership Studies

    First course to take

    LDST 101 or 102

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, 101 meets the Area of Inquiry: Historical Inquiry (AIHS) requirement. 102 meets the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) requirement. 

    Notes

    To apply to Jepson, students must have taken, or be enrolled in, LDST 101 or 102 by the fall semester of their sophomore year. Students may take LDST 102 before taking LDST 101. Once either course has been completed, LDST 205 may be taken next.

  • Linguistics minor

    First course to take

    LING 203 Introductory Linguistics

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) and Integrated Focus: Power, Equity, Identity, & Culture (IFPE) requirements.

  • Luso Brazilian Studies minor

    First course to take

    LAIS 314 Intro to Luso-Brazilian Studies

    Is this a General Education course?

    No

    Notes

    LAIS 314 is taught in English with no pre-requisite courses

  • Mathematical Economics

    First course to take

    MATH 211 or IQS*, ECON 101

    *application required, fall entrance only into the series, first-year students only

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, Math 211 meets the Area if Inquiry: Symbolic Reasoning (AISR) requirement. ECON 101 meets the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) requirement.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    Math 212, Econ 102

    Notes

    Students with any questions about what courses to take should always feel free to contact the program coordinator: Saif Mehkari.

  • Mathematics

    First course to take

    MATH 211 or IQS*

    *application required, fall entrance only into the series, first-year students only

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area if Inquiry: Symbolic Reasoning (AISR) requirement.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    If 3, 4, or 5 on Calculus AB, or 6-7 on higher level IB Math, take Math 212. If 4 or 5 on Calculus BC, take MATH 235 or MATH 245.

    Calculus Placement

    Follow this link to a calculus self-placement test, as well as information about how to prepare for it. If you have taken a class in Calculus but are not sure whether to enroll in MATH 211 (Calculus I) or MATH 212 (Calculus II), this is the place to start. You may also find this helpful if you received AP or IB credit for Math 211, but the course you took was some time ago.

  • Music

    First courses to take

    MUS 107 (if your music reading skills are limited) or MUS 111; MSAP private lessons on your instrument; and MSEN performance ensemble appropriate to your instrument.

    Are any of these classes General Education courses?

    Yes, MUS 107 and 111 fulfill the Area of Inquiry: Visual & Performing Arts (AIVP) requirement. Half-unit MSEN courses fulfill the Area of Inquiry: Visual & Performing Arts (AIVP) and Integrated Focus: Embodied Communication (IFEB) requirements after successful completion of two semesters in the same ensemble. Two half-unit MSAP lessons fulfill the Integrated Focus: Embodied Communication requirement.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    MUS 110: Tonal Harmony I (offered in the spring)

    Notes

    Please contact Dr. Riehl if you have any questions about the music curriculum. All music students are encouraged to sign-up for private lessons for credit and enroll in an ensemble or chamber music class their first semester on campus.

  • Philosophy

    First course to take

    PHIL 101, PHIL 271, or a FYS taught by a member of the Philosophy department.

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, 101 meets the Area of Inquiry: Literary & Textual Analysis (AILT) and Integrated Focus: Written Communication (IFWC) requirements. 271 meets the Area of Inquiry: Literary & Textual Analysis (AILT) requirement.

  • Physics

    First course to take

    PHYS 131

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area of Inquiry: Natural Science (AINS) requirement.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    PHYS 132

    Notes

    Students with excellent preparation should contact the department chair.

    We strongly encourage potential physics majors and engineers to complete both PHYS 131 and 132 by the end of their first year, because the first courses (PHYS 131, 132, 301) must be taken in sequence, and are prerequisites for all advanced courses. Also, PHYS 301 is usually only offered in the fall.

  • Political Science

    First course to take

    PLSC 220

    Is this a General Education course?

    No

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    PLSC 220 (US government), PLSC 240 (Comparative government)

    Notes

    After completing PLSC 220, students take 2 courses from PLSC 240, 250, or 260.

  • Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law (PPEL)

    First course to take

    ECON 101, PHIL 120, or PLSC 220/240/250/260

    Is this a General Education course?

    ECON 101 meets the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) requirement. PHIL 120 meets the Integrated Focus: Power, Equity, Identity, & Culture (IFPE) requirement. Some PLSC courses fulfill general education requirements; please refer to the university catalog for details. 

    Notes

    PPEL 261 and 262 would ideally be taken in the second year. Both 261 and 262 have pre-requisites (one course from any two of the following disciplines: Philosophy, Political Science, Economics, or Leadership Studies). Students are encouraged to review sample paths to the PPEL major, keeping in mind that there are many other combinations of classes students may choose in order to complete it.

  • Psychology

    First course to take

    PSYC 100

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) requirement.

    Next course to take if have AP/IB credit

    PSYC 200 or 299

  • Religious Studies

    First course to take

    A FYS taught by a department faculty member or any of the 200-level courses

    Is this a General Education course?

    Some 200-level Religious Studies courses fulfill general education requirements; please refer to the university catalog for details.

    Notes

    FYS courses taught by department faculty (only 1 counts towards major) or 200-level courses count as electives in the major and minor.

  • Rhetoric and Communication Studies (RHCS)

    First course to take

    Any 100-level course is an appropriate first course in RHCS

    Is this a General Education course?

    RHCS 102 and 105 fulfill the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) and Integrated Focus: Power, Equity, Identity, & Culture (IFPE) requirements. 

    Notes

    First-year students interested in enrolling in 200-, 300-, and 400-level courses should contact the department chair for more information.

  • Russian Studies

    First course to take

    RUSN 101-102

    Is this a General Education course?

    No

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    Contact department chair for more information.

    Notes

    Some introductory courses on Russian history and culture are taught in English.

  • Sociology

    First course to take

    SOC 101

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) and Integrated Focus: Power, Equity, Identity, & Culture (IFPE) requirements.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    SOC 211, 221, or another 200-level course

    Notes

    SOC 211 and 221 are pre-reqsuisites for all 300-level SOC courses

  • Sustainability minor

    First course to take

    SUST 101

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course meets the Integrated Focus: Power, Equity, Identity, & Culture (IFPE) requirement.

  • Teacher Education (Elementary, Secondary, or Comprehensive) minor

    First course to take

    EDUC 217 or 218

    Is this a General Education course?

    No

  • Theatre

    First course to take

    THTR 207 or THTR 208

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, both courses meet the Area of Inquiry: Visual & Performing Arts (AIVP) and Integrated Focus: Embodied Communication (IFEB) requirements.

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    AP/IB credit not accepted for major

    Notes

    There are also 200- and 300-level courses that first-year students can take, contact the department chair for more information.

  • Visual and Media Arts Practice

    First course to take

    VMAP 211 or 212

    Is this a General Education course?

    No

    Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

    Contact Studio Art department chair.

    Notes

    Students can also take a required art history survey (ARTH 121 or ARTH 122).

  • Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS)

    First course to take

    WGSS 200

    Is this a General Education course?

    Yes, this course fulfills the Area of Inquiry: Social Inquiry (AISO) and Integrated Focus: Power, Equity, Identity, & Culture (IFPE) requirements.