Freshman Academic Planning Guide
Step 8) Choose Possible Courses
To the right you will find links which will show you example first semester schedules for certain majors. Please carefully read the information provided below before following these links.
Your first semester schedule should consist of four or five classes for a total of 12-16 credits. Students may take no more than 18 credits without special permission for an “overload” from the Office of Academic Services. A full-time student has a schedule of 12 credits or more. Course descriptions can be found in the current University Catalog.
A good first semester schedule could look like any of these:
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As you can see, there are many ways to schedule courses and meet your graduation requirements. As previously stated, there is no one set path to graduation. Certain requirements must be met by all students, but it is not a rigid process meant to hinder you. It is a process meant to give you every opportunity to explore different disciplines and help you satisfy the breadth and depth of an education that meets the standards of a University of Mary Washington graduate.
Some of these courses may overlap requirements. Some courses may meet both a General Education and a Major Requirement. Some may meet a General Education and an Across-the-Curriculum requirement. Some may meet a Major and an Across-the-Curriculum requirement.
New students register for their first semester of classes online using Banner, the University's web-based records system on December 14 & 15. To make your registration process smoother be sure to fill out a Course Registration Request Form prior to December 14 and have it with you while registering online. This will ensure that you have all necessary course information throughout the process.
Special efforts are made to meet the needs of entering students. Many departments reserve seats specifically for new students. If one or more of your preferred courses is filled to capacity during your registration session, you will be able to consult with your Academic Advisor during the Add/Drop period. Although you are not permitted to declare a major until you have completed 28 graded credits, you should try to enroll in introductory courses within your prospective major, particularly in disciplines (such as Biology) that require a specific introductory course during the first semester. If you do not wish to remain in a particular course, your course schedule may be altered during the Add/Drop period at the beginning of the semester. New courses may be added until the last day of the first week of classes. New students will be informed about and guided through the Add/Drop process by their First-Year Academic Advisor. As a result, most students’ first semester course schedules are both appropriate and satisfactory.
Freshman must register for a freshman seminar course in either their first or second semester. If you have an area of academic interest, you should request courses recommended for that particular Major. You should then select other courses to begin fulfilling the General Education, Across-the-Curriculum and Elective requirements.