Recommended first courses in major/minor(s)

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

First course to take

CHIN 101-102

Next course to take if you have AP/IB credit

CHIN 301 or higher

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).

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.

First course to take

CRWR 300

Is this a General Education course?

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

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.

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. 

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

First course to take

EDSO 220

Is this a General Education course?

No

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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 

First course to take

GREK 101

Notes

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

First course to take

HS 100 or HS 101

Is this a General Education course?

No

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

First course to take

EDUC 217 or 218

Is this a General Education course?

No

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.

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).

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.