Information for New Undergraduate Students

Academic Planning Guide

Please read this guide carefully, and — to prepare for your individual advising session — plan to print out and complete the worksheet, or e-mail a list of possible course choices to your adviser. You will be notified of your adviser's name in early August.

The most important thing you will do during your first days at Wake Forest is choose your courses for the fall semester. Advisers will help you with this, but the ultimate responsibility for the choices you make is yours. If you wait until you arrive here to begin thinking about this matter, you will be at a considerable disadvantage. Your early days here will be full of activity and will offer little opportunity for reflection. Unless you have thought about your choices before meeting with your advisers, you will not be able to answer the questions they will ask you or know what questions to ask them.

To get started, please review the Undergraduate Bulletin. The Bulletin lists the official policies and requirements for graduation and describes the courses offered in the Undergraduate Schools. The purpose of the informal instructions that follow is to help you, before you leave home, make use of the Bulletin to work out a possible schedule for your first semester. You will receive a printed copy of the Bulletin when you arrive on campus.

All students must fulfill the Basic and Divisional Requirements (together known as Core Requirements). The Divisional Requirements ensure that students encounter a wide spectrum of fields, while generally being allowed to choose within and among them. Since many of the courses in the Core Requirements lay the foundation for concentration in a major subject or serve as prerequisites for later work, much of your early work will be in these courses. For these reasons you are encouraged to take as many of the core courses as is feasible each semester, and to complete as many of the requirements as possible in your first two years. However, you may also, in consultation with your adviser, choose elective courses as well as courses leading to a potential major as part of your first and second-year programs.

When you see a course you think you may wish to take, list it in the proper place under "Possible Courses" on the First Semester Work Sheet. The courses you and your advisers eventually agree upon may differ in some respects from those you work out for yourself, but the fact you have thought about the matter in advance should ensure that your final selection is a better one than it otherwise would be.

A note on course planning for the first semester: please plan to be flexible in your thinking, and recognize that not every course you might want in the first semester will be either appropriate or available for you. Please also note that there should be plenty of options in your schedule to take electives outside either the core or major requirements. Your advisers will help you identify some excellent options for a strong first-year experience.

You will first meet with your faculty and student advisers and your orientation group (about 11 new students) on Friday, August 21. You will have the opportunity to meet individually with your advisers on Saturday, August 22 and/or Monday, August 24, and at other times as needed before you register for your first-semester courses on Monday, August 24, and Tuesday, August 25. Classes begin on Wednesday, August 26. In addition to course advising, you will have dinner at your faculty adviser's home or other location on Sunday, August 23, with your faculty and student advisers and members of your group.

Please note that before subsequent registration periods you will be required to have additional face-to-face meetings with your adviser.

Basic Requirements

All students must complete five required basic courses (unless exempted through procedures established by the departments concerned) described below. (AP and IB may be used to complete ENG 111. AP may also meet the Foreign Language Requirements.)

• FYS 100 (First-Year Seminar)
• ENG 111 (Writing Seminar)
• Foreign Language (literature), one course from among:
  • Arabic 213
  • French 212, 213, 214, 216, 217F
  • Italian 212, 213, 216, 2173
  • Spanish 212, 213, 216
  • German 210, 212, 2147
  • Russian 210, 212
  • Chinese 201, 220, 230, 231, 250, 252, 255
  • Japanese 201, 220, 230, 231, 250, 251
  • Greek 211, 212
  • Latin 211, 212, 216, 218, 555
  • Near Eastern Languages and Literatures 211 or 212 (Hebrew)
  • Portuguese 212
• Health and Exercise Science 100 and 101

First-Year Seminar

All first-year and transfer students (with fewer than 25 semester-hours) must enroll in and pass (on a graded basis) a First-Year Seminar (FYS). Please see the list of First-Year Seminars being offered this year. Each First-Year Seminar is considered a Basic Requirement for graduation, is one semester in duration, and counts three (3) hours. It is essential that students take the First-Year Seminar during their first year.

Students who have already been awarded 25 or more hours in transfer work and not received transfer credit for a FYS must take either a FYS or an alternative course that emphasizes reading, writing and participation in class discussion. The alternative course will be selected after consulting with your academic adviser and with the concurrence of Paul N. Orser, Associate Dean for Student Academic Initiatives. The alternative course cannot fulfill other basic, divisional, major or minor requirements, nor may it primarily consist of individual research that culminates in a single project or an independent rather than a seminar experience.

Writing Seminar

The great majority of entering students take English 111 (Writing Seminar), a four-hour course. Please see the list of Writing Seminars being offered this year. All students who have not submitted an Advanced Placement score of 4 or 5 in English or an IB score of 6 or 7 (on the Higher Level) will select an English 111 section in either the fall or spring semester. Students whose test scores or high school performance indicate problems with standard English will be notified over the summer to attend an English 105 Self-Directed Placement session during Orientation to determine if this course is appropriate for them. English 105 (Introduction to Critical Reading and Writing) carries three hours credit toward graduation. Since this course does not satisfy the Basic Requirement, students taking it will then go on to take English 111.

Foreign Language (Literature)

You may fulfill the Basic Requirements in foreign language either by continuing a language you have already begun or by taking a new language at Wake Forest. You must take the language placement test in a foreign language you have taken in high school (see page 60 of the Bulletin), unless you are already placed into a specific level of foreign language study by transfer credit or AP credit.

Many students (those taking French, Spanish, Italian, German or Latin) will be able to take the language placement test online from home this summer. If you have not already done so, you are strongly encouraged to take your Foreign Language Placement Test. Students needing to take placement tests in languages other than those mentioned above, and those who cannot take the test from home, will have time to do so on campus during Orientation.

Your score on the language placement test will determine the level at which you would begin the study of the language here, should you decide to continue it. (Generally, one year of a language in high school equals one semester of that language in college.) You would then take it through the first course in literature in order to meet the Basic Requirement. You usually need to take four semesters of a foreign language in courses numbered 111, 112, 153 and one literature course at the 200 level. There are exceptions in a few languages where the first year's elementary courses (111 and 112) can be replaced by an accelerated course (113) which meets five times a week and completes the first year's work in a semester (consult the Bulletin for specific courses).

Wake Forest has a strong commitment to the study of foreign languages and literature. The requirements can be met in 12 different languages. Moreover, the College has programs abroad in Austria, Benin, China, Cuba, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco and Spain. In deciding which language to take, you should gauge your interests and future needs. Do you hope to go to graduate school? What languages are most useful there? Do you hope to work abroad at some point? Where? Are you interested in a study-abroad program? Are you interested in the literature of a particular culture? You may well want to continue studying a language you have already begun, but you may discover reasons to take a new one. As a general rule, you should not continue your previous language simply because it is the quickest way through the Basic Requirements.

There are good reasons not to delay your study of a foreign language. If you are continuing a language you took in high school, you may want to do so while it is relatively fresh in your mind. If you are beginning a new language, which will take several semesters' work, you will want to get it underway soon and not chance the development of a snag somewhere down the line. Note also that it is not always possible to take the first-semester course in the spring semester due to fewer section offerings or the sequential nature of the courses. Of course, you must balance these considerations against your other academic needs and interests.

Health and Exercise Science

All entering students are required to complete two one-hour courses in health and exercise science: Lifestyle and Health (HES 100) and Exercise for Health (HES 101). You may enroll in these courses in any sequence you prefer; both courses may be taken in the same semester. No elective work in this department may be taken until both of these courses have been completed. You must finish this two-course requirement by the end of your sophomore year.

Divisional Requirements

All students must complete courses as specified below in each of the five divisions of the undergraduate curriculum, unless exempted through procedures established by the departments concerned or by participation in the open curriculum. (No AP or IB courses may be used to meet Divisional Requirements. However, hours earned with AP or IB will count toward graduation.)

Division I. The Humanities: Religion, Philosophy and History

You must complete two courses from different departments. All the courses listed are open to first-year students. To see what the courses are about, look up their descriptions under the respective departments in the Bulletin.

• Religion  101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112
• Philosophy  Any course 221 and below
• History  101, 102, 1027, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 120

Division II. The Humanities: Literatures

You must complete one course from among the approved offerings. The division includes courses in British, American and foreign literatures (in English translation), as well as other courses in comparative literature.

• English  150 - 190 or 301 - 396 (Except 383, 386, 388; No 200 level courses)
• Foreign literature in translation
  • Classical languages  255, 261, 263, 264
  • East Asian languages  219, 221
  • German  340, 390, 392, 393, 394, 396
  • Russian  341
  • Humanities  213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 221, 222, 223

Division III. The Humanities: Fine and Performing Arts

You must complete one course from among the four disciplines (Art, Music, Theatre and Dance). All the courses listed are open to first-year students. Refer to the Bulletin for course descriptions.

• Art  Any 100 level studio art course or any art history course through 288; also 2320, 2693, 2712, 2767
• Music  101, 109, 131, 181, 182, 183, 203, 207, 208, 209, 210, 213, 231, 284A, 284B, 284C, 284D, 284E, 284F
• Theatre  110, 150, 240, 245, 246, 250, 251, 252, 255, 259, 2650, 2660, 310, 311, 344
• Dance  202 or 203

Division IV. The Social and Behavioral Sciences

You must complete two courses from different departments. All the courses listed are open to first-year students. For descriptions of the courses, consult the Bulletin under the respective departments.

• Anthropology  111, 111G, 112, 113, 114, 150, 381, 382, 383, 384
• Communication  100, 102, 110, 113, 114, 245, 246
• Economics  Any three hour course
• Education  201
• Political Science  113, 114, 115, 116
• Psychology  151 or above except 270, 280, 282 and 392
• Sociology  151, 152, 153, 154, 155

Division V. The Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science

You must complete two courses from different departments. Refer to the Bulletin for course descriptions.

• Biology  101, 111, 112, 113, 137, 216
• Chemistry  108, 111, 120, 122 or 123
• Computer Science  101, 108, 111, 112, 211 or 221
• Mathematics  Any three or four hour course numbered 107 – 359
• Physics  109, 110, 113, 114, 120, 215, 230, 262, 304, 307, 310, 320, 340, 341, 343, 344, 352, 354, 385

Biology — Biology offers six courses, numbered 101, 111, 112, 113, 137 and 216, which can be used to meet the divisional requirement. BIO 112 and 113 are required for the biology major, while 101 and 111 do not count toward the major. The Biology Department strongly encourages prospective majors to select either 112 or 113 as their first course (Bulletin, p. 81-82). BIO 112 and 113 can be taken in either order.

Chemistry — Chemistry offers five courses meeting the Division V requirement: CHM 108, 111, 120, 122 and 123. CHM 108 is appropriate for those who seek only a single semester of chemistry, and it does not count towards the major. Note that CHM 111 is normally offered only in the fall, and CHM 122, CHM 120 and CHM 108 are normally offered only in the spring.

Physics — Physics offers a number of courses that satisfy the Division V requirement. PHY 109 and 110 are courses for non-science majors. PHY 113-114 is a two-semester sequence for science and pre-medical students.

Computer Science — Computer Science offers six courses satisfying the Division V requirement. CSC 101 offers a general overview of the field. CSC 108 provides an interactive introduction to programming concepts through the use of multimedia tools such as Flashscript. CSC 111 is recommended for those with interests in programming or in majoring in the field.

Mathematics — Any course numbered 107 to 359 will satisfy the Mathematics Divisional requirement. Here are descriptions of the most basic options.

MTH 107 is about learning proof and problem-solving techniques within the context of beautiful mathematics. The level of difficulty is similar to that of calculus. This course does not count as credit towards a math major.

MTH 109 provides a fundamental understanding of the statistical concepts that are necessary in many disciplines.

Wake Forest has a three-semester calculus sequence that starts at the very beginning with differential calculus (MTH 111) and continues through integral calculus (MTH 112) and on to multivariable calculus (MTH 113). In many cases, proper placement in the calculus sequence will be determined through Advanced Placement credit or through discussion with a member of the department. Any student who desires should consult with a member of the department as to the appropriate starting point in calculus.

MTH 117, a course in discrete mathematics, which involves the basic techniques and modes of reasoning of combinatorial problem solving, is designed for students who plan to major or minor in math or computer science. It also serves as a good course for earning divisional credit for students with a strong interest in mathematics. The course requires about the same level of mathematical maturity as calculus.

Either MTH 111 or 112 satisfies the requirements for the major in business, finance or accountancy. MTH 112 is required for the major in mathematical business.

Additional Requirements

There are two additional requirements for graduation: one course fulfilling the Quantitative Reasoning (QR) requirement and one course fulfilling the Cultural Diversity (CD) requirement (see page 62 in the Bulletin). Courses satisfying these requirements are designated throughout the Bulletin. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to take major, minor, elective and other courses that will fulfill these requirements.

Divisional Requirements and AP Credit

Students are not allowed to exempt from divisional core requirements through the Advanced Placement Examination, the College Level Examination Program or the International Baccalaureate. Although students who complete AP courses earn credit towards the 120 hours needed for graduation, AP courses do not satisfy the core requirements as the student must complete the required core courses while enrolled at Wake Forest. There are two exceptions to this restriction: students who score a 4 or 5 on the AP English exam or 6 or 7 on the higher-level IB test receive credit for and are exempt from the English 111 writing seminar; and students may also exempt from the Foreign Literature requirement. Refer to the AP and IB exemption policies for additional information.

Typically, more than half of incoming first-year students have AP credit. If you are one of these students, you may want to take a more advanced course in a field in which you have credit. If so, you should see which other courses are open to you that will meet the Divisional Requirement. If it is a field in which you plan eventually to major, during Orientation you may wish to talk with someone in the department involved. You may be interested in the Interdisciplinary Honors seminars, which are described on page 163 of the Bulletin. In these courses students are encouraged to read and research a subject in depth, do further exploration on their own, and bring their findings back to the seminar via papers and discussion. At times one of the courses may be used to meet a Divisional Requirement. If you are interested, please contact Professor Barry Maine, Department of English.

Your First Semester

At Wake Forest you do not declare your major — your field of specialization — until the spring semester of your sophomore year. Before doing so you will have taken courses in a variety of subjects to try to ensure that you make the best possible choice. On the other hand, you may already have some idea of a probable major. If you do, obviously there are good reasons to take a course in the subject your first semester. (This does not apply to the Schools of Business, where courses are not open to first-year students.) Since presumably you are particularly interested in the field, your chances of doing well in it should be enhanced. If it turns out that it is not for you and that you need to look elsewhere, then the sooner you know this, the better.

We urge you to take advantage of the broad array of department open houses to be hosted on Monday, August 24, from 1 &ndash 3 p.m. These opportunities will allow you to learn more about a potential major, to make some informal advising contacts within a prospective department, and to do a last check on the scheduling of any needed first-year courses.

With regard to scheduling courses in your eventual major, it makes little difference in many departments whether you begin course-related work in your first semester or not. In some subjects, however, it can make a BIG difference. The ones involved are those in which learning is so sequential — in which you must master one thing thoroughly before you can go on to another — that if you are to major in them, the sooner you begin them, the better. Foreign languages and the natural sciences tend to be this way, and one department with a definite first-year requirement for majors is music. The Music Department recommends that students planning to major in music take Music Theory I (MUS 171), Ensemble and Individual Instruction their first semester.

The Biology Department expects its majors to have taken four courses (BIO 112, 113, 213 and 214) in the first two years. The department also urges prospective majors to select either Biology 112 or 113 as their first course in biology. Most prospective majors also should take Chemistry 111, 111L and 122, 122L in their first year; the majority continue with two additional physical sciences with labs as sophomores. (Students taking the Medical College Admission Test in their junior year have usually taken chemistry in both their first and second years.)

The Chemistry Department recommends that prospective majors take Chemistry 111 and Math 111 in their first semester; the Physics Department, Physics 113 and Math 111; the Mathematics Department, Math 111 or 112 depending on prior experience.

If there is some likelihood that you may major in one of these subjects, obviously you need to consider the recommendation of the department concerned. If the recommendation produces problems for you, you should talk the matter over with your advisers and possibly with someone in the department. In addition, students with pre-medical and other health career plans must attend the Health Careers Session on Saturday, August 22, at 1 p.m. Such students must also consult the Health Professions Program for appropriate first-year schedules.

All students even potentially interested in majoring in business should attend the information sessions scheduled on Monday, August 24 (1 or 2 p.m.).

Your Schedule

You are now almost ready to go to the bottom half of the First Semester Work Sheet and fill out a proposed schedule. However, before deciding how many courses from your list you should actually take, you need to understand how semester hours work. On page 59 of the Bulletin under "General Requirements," you will find that you need 120 hours to graduate. If you divide by eight (the normal number of semesters), you will discover that 15 is the average number of hours you need to complete per semester.

The value of courses varies, but, as you should have seen by now, most courses you are likely to take are worth three or four hours. Four such courses then, plus a 1 or 1.5 hour course, would generally constitute an average course schedule. Possible courses worth 1 or 1.5 hours include Health and Exercise Science 100 and 101, Military Science 114, Music Ensembles, Library Science 100, and Women's and Gender Studies 101. These can be very useful additions to an exciting and challenging first-year program. LIB 100 is a particularly valuable course for first-year students and is described in the Bulletin on page 260.

You may register for up to 17 hours each semester. More than 17 hours requires the written permission of your adviser and the Office of Academic Advising. On the other hand, you may take as few as 12 hours per semester and still be considered a full-time student. If you receive any state, federal or institutional gift assistance (need-based aid or merit scholarships), you must take at least 12 hours each semester. Your reasons for wanting to take more or less than the normal load may be good ones. After you arrive at Wake Forest, you should discuss them with your adviser. At this point you should simply make your own guess about the matter.

Keeping in mind the various considerations mentioned earlier and your own particular needs, you should now reduce your list of possible courses to a manageable number. On the "Proposed Schedule," list the 3 and 4 hour courses you think you would be most likely to take. If you think you will take some 0.5, 1 or 1.5 hour courses, list them also. In the "Value" column, list the number of hours the courses are worth, and add the total. If it is more or less than you feel you should take, make the necessary adjustments.

Under "Alternate Courses," list the ones you were most reluctant to leave out of your proposed schedule. In reviewing your schedule you might ask yourself these questions: Does it include something in which I am particularly interested? Is it balanced? Does it include a variety of fields? Will it challenge me? Will it overwhelm me? Should I include an elective course in my schedule? You should write out such questions and bring them to your advising session. We are confident that, together with your faculty and student advisers, you will work out an exciting, creative and challenging first-semester plan.

Download the First Semester Work Sheet »