I’m an incoming freshman who hates math. I think I read that there’s a math requirement as part of the Core Curriculum.
But are the math classes required to fulfill the requirement the same courses we had in high school (calculus, trig, multi variable) or do other less math-intensive courses count toward the requirement? I’d just really love to take more classes that interest me instead of classes I hate.
Side question: if you take a placement test and do poorly, does that count against you in any way? I was thinking about taking the Spanish placement test, but I have no idea how I’ll do. If I have nothing to lose and may get rid of a requirement, I would do it. So is it best to take as many exams as possible?
It’s really going to depend on the concentration you ultimately choose. If you decide that your concentration is going to be romantic languages or theater/film/dance or English or History, then no, there isn’t a “calculus, trig, multi variable” class you must take. However, you must complete the General Education Requirements, which include Empirical and Mathematical Reasoning, Science of Living Systems, Science of the Physical Universe – all of which require some math knowledge, but you could take the “Math for poets” type of class to satisfy those requirements.
In answer to your side question: it depends upon your concentration. If you are on the humanities track, taking the math placement test will not count against you, so take it.
I’m most likely gonna study Government, but Sociology and History are other options. I was interested in Economics, but if intensive math is required that’s a deal breaker.
How much math is required for Economics or (if this is even possible) a secondary concentration in Computer Science? I definitely wanted to study Government and something else, at least a minor.