First-Year Courses
Start exploring your options
Weinberg students have until the end of their sophomore year to select a major. Until then, we encourage first-year students, especially, to explore the wealth of options available to them in the College.
Not sure where to start? Choose a department and visit their First-Year Focus page! You’ll find information on course offerings—including the best classes to take first—research opportunities, and even the kinds of career paths that students who major in that field tend to follow.
Fall quarter classes
Picking classes can seem daunting, but most students’ fall-quarter schedules look something like this:
- A language class: In order to earn a Weinberg degree, students must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. If you plan to continue studying a language you started in high school, you will have to take a placement exam in that language. If you’re planning to start a new language—and there are so many choices!—there’s no need to take a placement, just enroll in the first class in the sequence. The Language Resource Center offers comprehensive information on languages taught at NU, placement exams, and whether/how you might be able to use AP or IB credit.
- College Seminar: With the exception of students in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences (MMSS), all beginning Weinberg students take a College Seminar in their fall quarter. (Students in MMSS should consult with their program adviser as to their requirements and options.) Get started choosing your College Seminar.
- Two additional classes. As for your third and fourth classes…the world is your oyster! If you have a possible major in mind, check the First-Year Focus page for that department to see which classes they recommend for entering students. If you’re unsure where to start, let the Foundational Disciplines be your guide! There is no better way to get a sense of the options available to you as a Weinberg student.
Typical class schedule for pre-health students
Students who are considering a pre-health path have a little less flexibility when filling their two additional classes, as they generally take both Calculus and Chemistry starting in their first quarter. Learn more about the first year of a pre-health curriculum.
Whichever path you are planning to pursue, you will have plenty of time to discuss your options with an adviser before registering.