The freshman Academic Planning Guide
Fall 2008

This Guide is meant to help freshmen plan their first semester courses at the University of Mary Washington. A freshman is defined as someone entering college for the first time as a degree-seeking student. You are still a freshman if you have AP, IB, or dual enrollment credits. Transfer students should refer to the Transfer Student Academic Planning Guide.

This Guide is not an exhaustive representation of the UMW requirements for graduation. Those regulations are discussed in depth in the current University of Mary Washington Academic Catalog. Upon entering the University, you will receive a 2008 Catalog containing all of the specific academic policies of the University. Your Freshman Academic Advisor will also help you understand the full degree requirements laid out in the Catalog during meetings held over your freshman year. The Freshman Academic Planning Guide is meant to simply help you think about the courses you will take for your first semester.

Your goals after reading this publication are to prepare a Course Registration Request Form and then register online for your first semester at UMW using Banner, the University's web-based records system on June 12 - 18. The Office of Academic Services recommends that you read this Guide in its entirety and complete a course registration request form BEFORE June 12 to help your registration run more smoothly.

Please keep in mind that college is different from high school. Some courses need to be taken in order, but there is no set path that every student must take to graduation. There are specific requirements you must meet, but this does not mean that you will necessarily be “behind” if you do not get into your first choice of classes in your first semester. The point of these requirements is to make sure that you experience a wide range of courses, including electives, to find out where your interests lie and what may be a better fit to your personal and professional goals than you originally thought. As you think about the coming academic semester, remember that the University of Mary Washington encourages students to follow wide-ranging interests. This is the hallmark of a liberal arts education, which encourages you to pursue not only an academic major but also studies in the arts, humanities, and sciences. It is important to build a variety of courses into your schedule. No matter what your intended major, you will have time to experiment with new courses. Do not be concerned if you do not have a major in mind at the present time! You can still construct a schedule that will fulfill requirements and help you define your interests. As you encounter subjects, explore career possibilities, and clarify your goals, you will be able to choose a major that best suits your needs.

Before you select your courses, use this guide to become familiar with the degree requirements at the University of Mary Washington. Fulfilling the Major Requirements is only part of your total academic experience. You also will need to satisfy the General Education, Across-the-Curriculum, and Elective Requirements. The courses you select should start to meet some of these requirements; some courses will overlap requirements.

If, after reading the Freshman Academic Planning Guide in its entirety, you still require assistance or academic advice, please take advantage of the various services that the Office of Academic Services offers new students as they plan for their first semester.

The information contained in the fall 2008 Academic Planning Guide was the best information available at the time of publication. Please verify any General Education or Across the Curriculum Requirements with each professor during the first week of classes.