Admitted Students for Fall 2012:  General registration information, prerequisites, and placement tests

The following majors have specific requirements for first-year students:

How courses are listed

Courses for first-year students are designated with the symbol “F” on the right side of the course listings page.

Courses are listed with a department abbreviation and a three-digit number (e.g., ECON 110). A hyphen and a fourth number indicate a separate section of the same course (e.g., ECON 110-1, ECON 110-2).

To keep in mind while registering

• If you cannot fit a certain course in your fall schedule, check the spring schedule to see if it’s offered then.
• Be careful not to register for courses whose meeting times overlap. Look at the day and time before you finalize registration.
• If you have Advanced Placement credit or are part of the International Baccalaureate program, check to see which courses you are eligible to take. Click here for more information about AP and IB.
• Courses with lab sections: If you register for courses with separate laboratory sections, you must register for both the lecture and the laboratory (e.g., BIOL 120L is the course for which BIOL 120X-1 or BIOL 120X-2 are the labs). The lecture and laboratory together count as ONE of your four classes.
• Finally, remember: you will be in college for four years; there will be plenty of opportunities later to take a course you may not be able to fit during your first year.

 

 Mathematics: Quantitative Readiness Assessment
June 4 - 18
This assessment needs to be completed before you have your initial discussion with your advisor.

This assessment measures your quantitative readiness to study college-level mathematics and science. Your advisor will use your score on the assessment, along with other information about your background in mathematics, to help you decide which courses to take.

 The assessment covers such topics as functions, college algebra, plane geometry, and basic trigonometry. The best review is to look back at your high school algebra, geometry, trigonometry and/or pre-calculus notes to refresh your memory on these topics. In addition,

• You will be given 55 minutes to complete 28 multiple choice questions
• You should plan to have an uninterrupted period of about 60 minutes, free from distractions, in which to log on and take the assessment
• No calculators are allowed but a pencil and scratch paper are encouraged
• You should not receive assistance with any questions on the assessment. Such assistance will invalidate the results and may lead to incorrect advising. You do not want to find your way into a college-level calculus class if you are not adequately prepared. 

If you have any questions about the assessment, please contact Julia Berkowitz- Coordinator for the Math Resource Center: berkowitz@lakeforest.edu

 Biology: Entry to Biology 120, Organismal Biology  (required for biology and neuroscience majors and minors, and health professions)

If you are interested in beginning the introductory biology course sequence (for biology or neuroscience majors or minors or health professions requirements), you must take a science placement test on campus during orientation. The purpose of this test is to assess quantitative skills and to help determine if you are ready for Biol 120 (Organismal Biology) and Chem 115 (Chemistry I). The test consists of 20 basic algebra problems and has proven to be an excellent measure of readiness and likelihood of success in our introductory Biology and Chemistry courses. Consult your advisor or the chair of the Biology Department for further explanation.

A score of 13/20 or better on the science placement test is required to enter Biol 120 and Chem 115 (see sample course sequences on the Biology Requirements page). Please note that if you intend to take Biol 120, you must take Chem 115 concurrently.

If your score on the science placement test is 12/20 or less, you will be placed into Chem 114 in the spring semester of the first year and are eligible to take Biol 105 or 106 in the spring semester.

How to register:  You will need to register online for both Biol 120 and Chem 115 prior to taking the science placement test in order to reserve places and block out time in your schedule for the labs. The placement test will determine if you will be admitted to Biol 120 and Chem 115.  If your score is 13/20 or above, you will remain in both courses, and in the sections of both course for which you registered. If your score is 12/20 or below, you will be automatically moved to Chem 114 (at the same lecture time as you chose for Chem 115, but with no lab) and dropped from Biol 120; you will need to enroll in another available course in place of Biol 120.

 Chemistry: Entry to Chemistry 115, Chemistry I
(required for Chemistry, Biology and Neuroscience Majors and Minors, and health professions)

Entering first-year students interested in introductory chemistry (Chem 115, Chemistry I) must take a science placement test to assess quantitative skills upon arrival on campus in August. This test consists of 20 basic algebra problems and is an established measure of readiness and likelihood of success in introductory chemistry courses.  A score of 13/20 or better on the test is required for placement into Chem 115.  Students with scores of 12/20 or less will be placed into Chem 114 in the spring semester of the first year.

Students wishing to enter Chem 115 in the fall of their second year and who have not completed Chem 114 must take the science placement test in the spring of their first year.

Students can complete the requirements for the chemistry major in four years regardless of placement in the first year. Consult your advisor or the chair of the chemistry department for further explanation

 Pre-Health Professions: Recommended Courses

Entrance requirements at most medical and health professional schools include one year or more of course work in biology, two years in chemistry (including organic chemistry), one year of physics, statistics and/or calculus, and English.  In some cases, psychology, economics, sociology, and additional biology courses also may be required. The ideal health care provider understands how society works and can communicate and write well. Speaking a second language such as Spanish is also desirable in the health professions, as are extracurricular experiences. Although students can major in any discipline, you should enjoy and do well in the sciences.

Regardless of your intended major and career goals in health care, it is important to begin the chemistry requirement in your first year of study by taking Chemistry 115 in the first semester, depending on results of the science placement test. If you are placed into Chemistry 114 instead of 115, it is still possible to pursue the health professions, but it may be exceptionally challenging to schedule your advanced courses as a result of the delay. It also is typical for the first year pre-health student to take Biology 120 and sometimes mathematics along with introductory chemistry. Click here for more information. Also, be sure to attend the pre-health orientation session to be held at the start of the fall semester.

 

Modern Languages and Literatures: Recommended courses

Students wishing to take French or Spanish may take an on-line assessment available after May 15 on Moodle, the College’s online course management system. It will help you and your advisor assess your language skills and choose an appropriate course.

Most students who have studied a language for several years in high school and wish to continue in college will take the second-year language sequence 210-212 (or 220). Students with an AP of 5 or very strong preparation will qualify for a 300-level course. Heritage speakers of Spanish are encouraged to sign up for SPAN313: Spanish for Heritage Speakers when available.

Economics, Business, and Finance: Recommended courses

 The Department of Economics and Business offers three majors: economics, business, and finance. The expected sequence for all three is almost identical in the first year. The first three courses to be taken should be Econ 110 (Principles of Economics) and Busn/Econ 180 (Quantitative Analysis), as well as a mathematics course.  Economics and Finance majors are required to complete Math 110 (Calculus), while business majors are encouraged to complete Math 110 but may instead opt for Math 160 (Finite Mathematics).  Please note that taking Math 160 will greatly reduce the number of upper-level electives that Business majors may take. These three courses should be completed by the end of the first year.

Engineering: Recommended courses

 First-year students pursuing the dual-degree program in engineering must enroll in MATH 110 in the fall and MATH 111 in the spring.

You must take the online Calculus Readiness Assessment before signing up for MATH 110. Learn more.

Other courses for first-year students depend on the field of engineering under consideration:

• Biomedical Engineering:  fall, BIOL 120 and CHEM 115; spring, BIOL 221 and CHEM 116
• Chemical Engineering: fall, CHEM 115; spring, CHEM 116
• Computer Engineering:  fall, CSCI 112; spring CSCI 212
• Computer Science: fall, CSCI 112; spring CSCI 212
• Electrical Engineering:  fall, PHYS 120; spring, PHYS 121
• Mechanical Engineering:  fall, PHYS 120; spring, PHYS 121
• Systems Science and Engineering:  fall, PHYS 120; spring PHYS 121

 

Education

 If you are interested in becoming a certified teacher for elementary, secondary or K-12 grade levels, you should carefully consider the requirements for the education major beginning in your first year. The education major is not a stand-alone major; it must be completed in combination with a second major. Elementary education majors may select any other major to accompany their major in education. Secondary education majors may select biology, chemistry, English, history, or mathematics as a second major. K-12 majors may select French, Spanish or Visual Art as a second major.

The education major has specific sequential requirements. You should consult carefully with your first-year studies advisor and seek additional advice from the Education Department Chair early in order to complete the courses required, even if you are unsure and simply exploring a major in education. If you choose courses wisely, beginning in the first semester, you are more likely to avoid summer school courses later in your career. You should also plan to attend the orientation session for prospective education majors during orientation week.

Note: You can complete the education major, and accompanying Illinois teacher certification, through either the 4-year BA program or the 5-year MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) program. See detailed requirements for more information.

Recommended Courses for Elementary Education Majors: It is strongly recommended that elementary education majors enroll in courses that will fulfill the elementary education requirements, while at the same time fulfilling GEC requirements. These courses include: MATH 104; MATH 150; PSYC 110 (recommended in the spring); BIO 109; CHEM 109; POLS 120; HIST 110; HIST 120; EDUC 215; ENGL 216 or ENGL 217; PHIL 220 or HIST 270.

 Recommended Courses for Secondary Education Majors: Students should begin the introductory course sequence for the major in the teaching subject area of choice (e.g., HIST 110 or 120 for those interested in teaching history; MATH 110 for those interested in teaching mathematics). Other options: PSYC 110 (recommended in the spring); EDUC 215; PHIL 220 or HIST 270.

Recommended courses for K-12 certification programs—Students should take the same recommended courses as those listed above for secondary education majors, including the introductory sequence for the major in the teaching subject area of choice (Spanish, French or studio art).

Choosing a music course or lesson?

 A student may register for music ensembles and/or private lessons in addition to four other course credits.

A student enrolling in music ensembles (Music 104-106: Choral Ensembles; Music 107: Concert Band; Music 108: Chamber Orchestra; Music 109: West African Drumming Ensemble; and Music 110: Jazz Ensemble) will earn 0.25 credit for every semester of participation. Music ensembles may also be taken for 0 credit if approved by the ensemble director. A student enrolling in private lessons (Music 111, 112, 211, 212, 311, 312, 411, and 412) will earn 1/2 course credit for each semester of private lessons. Music 150 is a pre- or co-requisite for lessons taken for credit, unless the music chairperson consents to waive this requirement. A student taking more than 4.75 credits during a semester will be billed an overload fee. Lessons can also be taken for no credit, in which case a fee is charged per lesson.

Questions about taking a music course or lesson? Consult the department chair, Professor Nick Wallin, at wallin@lakeforest.edu, or your advisor.