Freshman Academic Planning Guide
Step 4) Understand PreRequisites and vertically building coursework
While it is true that there is no one set sequence of courses to graduation, there is a vertically building nature to coursework, particularly in the major. Lower-level courses (those generally taken as an introduction to a subject/discipline) are numbered in the 100’s and 200’s and are respectively described as 100-level and 200-level courses. Upper-level courses (courses of a more advanced and in depth nature) are numbered in the 300’s and 400’s and are described respectively as 300-level and 400-level courses.
Some courses require prerequisites. A prerequisite is a course or requirement you must have already successfully completed in order to take another course. For example, in order to take Principles of Accounting II (BUAD 132), you must have already taken Principles of Accounting I (BUAD 131). Likewise, in order to take Photography (ARTS 241A), you must have already completed Design Principles (ARTS 105).
Other prerequisites are inherently built into "sequence courses." Sequence courses are courses in which the subject material extends from one semester to the next. An example of sequence courses would be courses that fulfill the Natural Science portion of the General Education Requirements. You must take two courses in the same sequence (e.g. BIOL 121 and BIOL 122) in order to complete the requirement. You cannot take one course from a sequence and one course from another (e.g. BIOL 121 and CHEM 112).
Some prerequisites are in place to make sure you take a course at a specific time in your college career (i.e. you must be at least a junior or a senior to take the course, or you must be a declared major in the particular discipline of the course). Such courses are generally 300 and 400-level courses.
A co-requisite is a course that must be taken either before or during the same semester in which you take the course requiring the co-requisite.
Within a major, you will advance to upper-level course work. There is generally more structure and specific requirements in the introductory-level coursework to the major, and more freedom of choice in the upper-level coursework. Since you must begin the major with a foundation of required prerequisites, it is important to take these courses as early in your college career as possible. Specific major requirements can be found in the current University of Mary Washington Academic Catalog.