Computer Science Major: Avoiding the Pre-Med Problem?

<p>I wanna major in Computer Science, and double minor in Digital Arts and Business Management. Fine. But the CS major requires that you take one of the natural science sequences, and for that I wanna go for Physics. Also fine. But for the major's natural science requirements, I'd then have to take an intro course and lab in either biology or chemistry (leaning towards it), which I understand attract heavy amounts of pre-med students, many of whom will be weeded out by the sheer difficulty of the course because they're not suited to be a doctor in theory, but in practice may simply be caught in the crossfire. Is there a way I can avoid this somehow? Maybe one of the professors designs his section for non-med majors or something? (Know now that it's not that I wanna be lazy, but I'd rather have time focus on shining in my computer science courses, as I'd be taking this around the time when I get to portfolio territory.)</p>

<p>So this is weird. I’ve never noticed this before, but I’d just assume Physics would be required for CS, as it is required for all the engineering majors. Anyway, I looked online and saw this</p>

<p>“7. One of the following natural science sequences [Effective fall 2005]:
BIO 201, BIO 202, BIO 204 or BIO 201, BIO 203, BIO 204 or BIO 202, BIO 203, BIO 204 Fundamentals of Biology or CHE 131, CHE 132, CHE 133 or CHE 141, CHE 142, CHE 143 General Chemistry or PHY 131/PHY 133, PHY 132/PHY 134 or PHY 141, PHY 142 or PHY 125, PHY 126, PHY 127 Classical Physics”</p>

<p>From what I can tell, it seems you either need a Bio sequence, Chem sequence, or Physics sequence. I am advising you against the Bio one because its most definitely the most difficult out of those. I also advise against the honors chem or honors physics since those are a lot harder too, and its really unnecessary work (honors in college is a lot different than in high school).</p>

<p>Anyway, Chem IS in fact a HUGE pre-med course, but there is no way around it. I think there are two Chem lectures and each is about 500 students, where as for Physics there is 1 class of about 450. By doing just physics (if this is possible, which I think it is according to what I read online), you can avoid all those pre-med, but then youre with all the engineering, and most likely other CS kids, who are all pretty damn smart</p>

<p>Well then, I spoke too soon. Haha sorry bout that I stopped reading…</p>

<p>“8. Four additional credits from the above natural science courses
[Effective fall 2005]
These courses can be in biology, chemistry, or physics. Advanced natural science courses may be substituted with the prior approval of the Department of Computer Science.”</p>

<p>SO, I suggest doing as you had stated–</p>

<p>PHY 131/133 - Physics I and Lab
PHY 132/134 - Physics II and Lab (all of these in freshman year, one per semester)
CHE 131/133 (first semester sophomore year)</p>

<p>The good thing about this is that CHE 131 is a huuuuge freshman course, so you will be part of a minority of sophomores taking it. You’ll have an advantage over everyone else having done one year of college work already.</p>