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Academic Planning &
Advising (APA) Guide
Welcome to Rutgers and the beginning of your college career!
This booklet is a roadmap for your Academic Planning & Advising experience. We trust that you have some
ideas about your personal interests and educa onal goals. You’ll now use this guide to learn how to explore
them through the academic opportuni es available at the School of Arts and Sciences.
Our work—helping you understand the philosophy of a liberal arts educa on and carefully plan your courses–
begins now!
The Big Picture
School of Arts and Sciences students must earn at least 120
credits to graduate.
You’ll earn credits by taking courses to complete the SAS
Core Curriculum, a major, a minor, and elec ve credits.
Every course you take moves you closer to comple ng your
degree, so you can feel comfortable studying a variety of
subjects here!
How do I get started?
Your course requests should reflect your academic interests, your thoughts about post-college plans, and the
many opportuni es at Rutgers. Advisers will help you, but here’s how you’ll get started:
1. Review informa on about majors and minors on pages 2-5.
2. Explore elec ves and interests on pages 6-7.
3. Get acquainted with the SAS Core (see separate Core Curriculum booklet).
4. Consider including special academic op ons for first-year students such as our Byrne Seminars, First-Year
Interest Group Seminars (FIGS), and/or Learning Communi es in your schedule (separate booklets for
each).
5. Complete your course request form.
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Warning: Wordiness Ahead
This booklet contains a lot of words. We have tried to add pictures and color to break up the text, but words
are the currency of educa on. We are hopelessly stuck with communica ng important informa on about
your educa on through words. Please be pa ent with us, read carefully, and ask good ques ons.
Your First Semester Schedule
Use your first few semesters to explore your academic interests. Request courses that interest you and that
provide you with informa on about possible majors and minors. In general, your first semester schedule will
look something like this:
Course Name or Department
Credits
How to choose*
Expository Wri ng
3 cr.
Based on placement
Course for major explora on
3-4 cr.
See pages 4-5
Course for major explora on
3 cr.
See pages 4-5
Minor course/SAS Core/Elec ve
3-4 cr.
See pages 6-7 and Signature course booklet
Byrne Seminar/First-Year Interest
Group Seminar (FIGS)
1-2 cr.
See separate Byrne and FIGS booklets
=12-16 credits
*Advisers will review your requests and make necessary adjustments based on placement test results, AP/IB
scores, prior college coursework and appropriateness based on department recommendaons.
A few words about minors
A minor is an important component of your degree. Minors do not need to “go with” or match your major
and there is a strong argument that, in fact, they shouldn’t.
Most minors are 18-21 credits and provide an opportunity to demonstrate a diversity of intellectual curiosity,
and pursue a discipline that either supports or is unrelated to your career plans. A minor is required, except
for the following:
•
Students comple ng credit-intensive majors are strongly encouraged to complete a minor, but are not
required to do so. Credit-intensive majors are indicated as such at sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/majors.
•
Students comple ng mul ple majors are not required to complete a minor.
•
Students who complete the 5-year teacher educa on program through the Graduate School of Educa on
are not required to complete a minor.
Exploring Majors
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School of Arts & Sciences students can choose from over 160 majors, minors, specializa ons, and cer ficates.
We’ve grouped the majors into broad academic areas below. Match the background color of that box with
the header color on one of the grids on the next two pages for informa on on suggested course requests.
Visit sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/majors for a full list of programs.
Life and Natural Sciences
Social Sciences & Humanies
Biological Sciences
Biomathema cs
Cell Biology & Neuroscience
Ecology, Evolu on, & Natural Resources
Exercise Science - op ons in Applied Kinesiology, Exercise
(Majors in bold require study of a foreign language)
Physiology, and Exercise Science
Gene cs
Geological Sciences
Marine Sciences
Medical Technology
Microbiology
Molecular Biology & Biochemistry
Public Health
Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathemacs (STEM)
Astrophysics
Chemistry
Computer Science
Informa on Technology & Informa cs
Mathema cs
Physics
Sta s cs
Sta s cs/Mathema cs
Business & Communicaon
Communica on
Economics
Exercise Science & Sports Studies-Sport Management
Human Resource Management
Informa on Technology & Informa cs
Journalism and Media Studies
Labor Studies & Employment Rela ons
Pre-Business Majors (transfer to RBS)
Fine Arts
Art
Music
Dance
Theater Arts
African, Middle Eastern & South Asian Languages &
Literatures (AMESALL)
Africana Studies
American Studies
Anthropology
Art History
Chinese
Classics
Compara ve Literature
Criminal Jus ce
East Asian Languages & Area Studies
English
European Studies
French
Geography
German
History
Italian
Italian Studies
Jewish Studies
La n American Studies
La no & Hispanic Caribbean Studies
Linguis cs
Medieval Studies
Middle Eastern Studies
Philosophy
Poli cal Science
Portuguese
Psychology
Public Health
Public Policy
Religion
Russian
Social Work
Spanish
Women’s & Gender Studies
Exploring Majors
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These pages offer SUGGESTIONS for planning your fall schedule; they are not prescribed schedules and
can vary to accommodate your interests. The first row color corresponds to the academic areas listed on
the previous page.
We’ve also included grids for students planning to transfer to the School of Nursing and School of Engineering. Students planning to transfer to the School of Pharmacy should follow the Life Sciences grid.
You should explore the majors in which you’re interested by reques ng a course or two within that
department. Some majors also require courses offered by academic departments other than the major; that
informa on is noted in italics in each grid.
Science, Technology & Mathema cs
Business & Communica on
Expository Wri ng (3 cr.)
Expository Wri ng (3 cr.)
Calculus I for Math & Physical Sciences (4 cr.)
Course for major explora on (3 cr.)*
Course for major explora on (3 cr.)*
Course for major explora on (3-4 cr.)*
Course for major explora on (3 cr.)*
SAS Core/Signature course/Elec ve (3-4 cr.)
- See elecve suggesons on pages 6-7
Byrne Seminar (1 cr.)
Byrne Seminar (1 cr.)
First-Year Interest Group Seminar (1 cr.)
First-Year Interest Group Seminar (1 cr.)
*Recommendaons for specific majors:
*Recommendaons for specific majors:
Computer Science: speak to an adviser about your
background in programming.
Informaon Technology & Informacs: Calculus not
required.
Stascs or Stascs/Mathemacs: Intro to Computers
110 or Intro to Computer Science. 111
All other majors, request courses within the department
on the Course Request Form.
Pre-business and Economics: Calculus I and Intro to
Microeconomics.
Exercise Science—Sport Management Opon: Intro to
Communicaon or Intro to Media Systems & Processes,
General Psychology or Intro to Sociology.
Human Resource Management: General Psychology, Intro
to Sociology. For spring: Intro to Human Resource Mgmt.
All other majors, request courses within the department
on the Course Request Form.
Transfer to School of Nursing
Transfer to School of Engineering
Expository Wri ng (3 cr.)
Expository Wri ng (3 cr.)
Sta s cs I
General Chemistry for Engineers (3 cr. )
Intro to Sociology
Analy cal Physics 1A (2 cr.)
Elec ves in History, Poli cal Science, or Anthropology
Calculus I for Math & Physical Sciences (4 cr.)
Byrne Seminar (1 cr.)
Byrne Seminar (1 cr.)
First-Year Interest Group Seminar (1 cr.)
First-Year Interest Group Seminar (1 cr.)
For summer: Anatomy & Physiology
For spring: Engineering Orientaon Lecture
5
Undecided and Exploring
Life Sciences
Expository Wri ng (3 cr.)
Expository Wri ng (3 cr.)
Course for major explora on (3 cr.)*
General Biology (4 cr.)*
Course for major explora on (3-4 cr.)*
General Chemistry (4 cr.)*
SAS Core/Signature course/Elec ve (3-4 cr.)
- See elecve suggesons on pages 6-7
Calculus I (4 cr.)*
Byrne Seminar (1 cr.)
Byrne Seminar (1 cr.)
First-Year Interest Group Seminar (1 cr.)
First-Year Interest Group Seminar (1 cr.)
*Don’t rush to meet SAS Core learning goals at the
expense of your explora on—we’ll ask you to declare your
major in 3 to 4 semesters, but you have un l gradua on to
complete the SAS Core.
*Recommendaons for specific majors:
Biomathemacs: Request Calculus I for Math & Physical
Sciences
Exercise Sciences For Spring: appropriate Stascs course.
Public Health: Request Intro to Planning, Policy & Health
instead of General Chemistry.
Social Sciences & Humani es
Marine Sciences: also request Intro to Oceanography.
Expository Wri ng (3 cr.)
Course for major explora on (3 cr.)*
Course for major explora on (3 cr.)*
SAS Core/Signature course/Elec ve (3-4 cr.)
- See elecve suggesons on pages 6-7
Byrne Seminar (1 cr.)
First-Year Interest Group Seminar (1 cr.)
All other majors, request courses within the department
on the Course Request Form.
Health Professions: We generally recommend students
take General Biology and General Chemistry in their first
term; however, that is a challenging course load for new
students. Students concerned about taking a heavy science
course load in their first term should speak with an adviser
about alternate ways to complete the science courses.
Review the Health Professions Office website at
hpo.rutgers.edu.
*Recommendaons for specific majors:
Majors in bold on page 3: Request related foreign
language course.
Fine Arts
Expository Wri ng (3 cr.)
American Studies: Development of US I.
Course for major explora on (3 cr.)*
European Studies and Medieval Studies: Development of
Europe I, Emergence of Middle Ages, Foreign Language
Course for major explora on (3 cr.)*
Psychology: Plan to take Quantave Methods in Spring.
SAS Core/Signature course/Elec ve (3-4 cr.)
- See elecve suggesons on pages 6-7
Public Policy: Intro to Planning, Policy & Health; Biology,
Society & Biomedical Issues; Intro to Microeconomics.
Byrne Seminar (1 cr.)
All other majors, request courses within the department
on the Course Request Form.
First-Year Interest Group Seminar (1 cr.)
*Contact the appropriate MGSA department in the summer regarding porRolio review or audi on.
Incorpora ng Elec ves
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What is an Elec ve? An elec ve is a course that does not fulfill a requirement within a student’s major,
minor, or SAS Core, but earns credit toward gradua on. All students need elec ves to graduate.
We can’t stress this enough: Explora on is the key to craSing a meaningful academic experience. The
Course Request form includes over 200 classes, all of which will help you broaden your thinking about your
academic plans. As you review the form, you’ll start to no ce that topics in which you may be interested are
some mes found in unexpected places.
We know that many high school students may not have had opportuni es to consider courses beyond their
requirements, and advisers will help you become more comfortable with that freedom.
To get you started, we’ve created some groupings here to illustrate that topics might be found in
unexpected places on the Course Request Form. Feel free to use these as a guide...or just as a springboard
to create your own groupings!
Film & Cinema Studies
Global Climate Change
Law, Jus ce, Poli cs
Global Climate System (Geography)
Naguib Mahfouz’s Egypt (AMESALL)
Israeli Film (Jewish Studies)
Sea Change: Rise & Fall of Sea
Level & the Jersey Shore (Geology)
Jus ce)
Intro to Film (English)
Energy & Climate Change
Current Moral & Social Issues
Being Human (Compara ve Literature)
(Interdisciplinary)
(Philosophy)
Conserva on (Geography)
Intro to Ethics (Philosophy)
Black Experience & Film Medium
(Africana Studies)
A-Bomb Literature & Film in Japan
Law & Poli cs (Poli cal Science)
(Japanese)
Literature
Korean Cinema (Korean)
Jesus in the Movies (Religion)
Offerings in Comparave Literature
and English, plus:
Classical Literature of Africa,
Middle East & South Asia (AMESALL)
Health Professions
Intro to Human Evolu on
(Anthropology)
Being Human (Compara ve Literature)
Science & Society (History)
Current Moral & Social Issues
(Philosophy)
Intro to Ethics (Philosophy)
General Psychology (Psychology)
Death & ASerlife (Religion)
Sociology of Medicine &
Health Care (Sociology)
Intro to Criminal Jus ce (Criminal
General Psychology (Psychology)
Intro to Religious Social PaTerns
(Religion)
Intro to Social Jus ce (Social Jus ce)
Intro to Sociology (Sociology)
Intro to the Literatures of Africa
Social Analysis of Social Problems
(AMESALL)
(Sociology)
Chinese Literary Wri ngs (Chinese
Studies)
Major French Writers in Translaon: Desire in Literature (French)
A-Bomb Literature & Film in Japan
(Japanese)
Modern Jewish Culture: Key Texts
& their ASerlives (Jewish Studies)
Korean Literature in Transla on
(Korean)
Intro to the Bible I: Torah and
Prose (Religion)
New Testament (Religion)
Art & Arts
Baroque Magnificence (Art History)
Chinese Drama & Performing Arts
(Chinese)
Theater of France (French)
Italian Opera (Italian)
Art & Visual Culture of the
Caribbean (La no Studies)
7
Technology & Data
Business
Intro to Computers & Their Applica ons (Computer Science)
Intro to Microeconomics (Economics)
(Africana Studies)
The Contemporary American
Intro to Mul media Composi on
(American Studies)
(English)
America: Past and Present
Black Experience in America
Asian American Experiences (Asian
(History)
Science & Society (History)
General Psychology (Psychology)
Informa on Technology &
Informa cs (ITI)
Intro to Labor Studies &
Employment (Labor Studies)
Work & Society (Labor Studies)
American Government (Poli cal
Science)
Minority Groups in American
Society (Sociology)
Intro to Interna onal Rela ons
(Poli cal Science)
Studies)
Planta on to the White House
Intro to Ethics (Philosophy)
Development of the Labor
Movement (Labor Studies)
Current Events
The Contemporary American
(American Studies)
Also consider studying a foreign
language!
The Cultural History of Now
(English)
France in the World—the World in
France (French)
The Power of Language
Language & Society of Africa, Middle East & South Asia (AMESALL)
Music
History & Culture of Hip Hop
Planta on to the White House
(American Studies)
(History)
Popular Music in the US (History)
Intro to Modern Middle East
(Middle Eastern Studies)
Intro to Music Theory (Music)
Work & Society (Labor Studies)
Intro to Linguis c Anthropology
(Anthropology)
Language, Power & the Power of
Language (Arts & Sciences)
Language & Iden ty in Modern
China (Chinese)
Being Human (Compara ve Literature)
Literature Across Borders: Hate
SAS Signature courses
Signature courses are foundaonal courses covering topics of grand
intellectual sweep and enduring importance. They are taught by awardwinning instructors.
Ex nc on (Anthropology)
Once Upon a Time: Why We Tell Stories (English)
(Compara ve Literature)
Conserva on (Geography)
The World in France—France in the
World (French)
Sea Change: Rise & Fall of Sea Level & the Jersey Shore (Geology)
Energy & Climate Change (Interdisciplinary)
Intro to Linguis c Theory (Linguis cs)
Explora on using Byrne Seminars & FIGS
See the Byrne Seminars and First-Year Interest Group Seminars
(FIGS) books for interes ng topics; these popular 1-credit op ons
also help you explore your academic interests!
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A few final thoughts about reques ng courses….
⇒
Ask ques ons! Talk to advisers to iden fy courses and subjects in which you are interested.
⇒
Don’t overextend yourself! We recommend 4-5 courses (12-16 credits) in your first semester. Four
courses will NOT put you behind for gradua on. One college credit requires one hour of classroom me
and two hours of independent studying each week. That’s at least a 9 hour commitment each week for
one 3 credit course and 36 hours per week for a 12 credit registra on!
⇒
Enjoy your summer! Once you’ve made your choices, the deans will review your requests, placement
test results, AP scores, and prior college courses to design a schedule for you. We’ll email you on August
20 when it’s ready to view online. You will have the op on to make changes during add/drop in the first
week of classes. Plan to aTend a Registra on Workshop during Fall Orienta on to learn more about that
process.
What R U doing this summer?
The first-year deans generally suggest that you use your summer to relax, work, or spend me with friends
and family before you start the hec c life of a college student! We do not recommend summer courses, but
if you are considering them, please contact us. Any summer classes MUST be preapproved or you risk the
credits not transferring.
Go to nyurl.com/ruthinkingofsummer to see our blog post on summer classes and email us with ques ons!
Thinking ahead to the fall….
It’s no secret that college students struggle in their first year. Many students, including those with strong
grades in high school, some mes earn low grades in their first semester because they don’t know how to
study effec vely, they underes mate how many hours of studying are necessary to succeed, or they get
caught up in the new freedoms in college.
Visit an academic coach or aTend a workshop at the Rutgers Learning Centers (rlc.rutgers.edu) in your first
semester for help with structuring your me or improving your study strategies.
[email protected]
@SASAdvising
SAS Academic Services
Office of Academic Services
Busch Student Center
School of Arts and Sciences
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
604 Bartholomew Road, Room 172
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8074
sasundergrad.rutgers.edu
p: 848-932-8888
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