<p>So Tech requires 3 semesters of lab sciences. What are the options? For someone who holds no interest in natural sciences, which course would be the best (easiest to manage)? </p>
<p>Is EAS 1600 a lab science?</p>
<p>I will be a CS major next year.</p>
<p>I believe that CS majors are required to take PHYS 2211 and two lab sciences in the same subject.</p>
<p>I have taken CHEM 1310 and PHYS 2211, so I only have firsthand experience with those two classes.</p>
<p>I found 1310 to be easier than 2211, but neither is too intense. I did not have to study a whole lot to make a high A in 1310. The labs in that class are pretty time consuming, though. It wasn’t unusual for me to spend anywhere from 3-6 hours per week writing a lab report (it seemed like most people were not nearly this thorough in writing their reports). 2211 is a completely different animal. In that class, the homework load is pretty constant. In my section at least, homework was due 4 nights a week, and it wasn’t unusual to spend around an hour a day working on homework. Studying for tests in that class for me involved working problems from old tests over and over again. Labs are shorter and easier than most other labs, but, depending on how the TA grades, it can be harder to get good grades on lab reports than in other lab classes, due to the limited nature of the reports that are required.</p>
<p>The general consensus around campus seems to be that PHYS is generally the most challenging of the core sciences. Intro BIOL and CHEM courses tend to be looked at as pretty similar in challenge (most probably think BIOL classes are more time consuming though). EAS classes are kind of a joke, with many opting to use their lab science electives on these courses.</p>
<p>I would probably recommend that you take CHEM 1211K and 1212K as your two lab electives. The two classes cover basically the same curriculum as 1310, just in more depth. Just from my high school chemistry class (which was not AP), I coasted through the first 60% of the class with little problem. The labs will be as intensive as you want them to be. If you try to do the reports the right way (in my opinion), you’ll have to put a lot of time into them, but it’s possible to do relatively well in lab with much less effort.</p>
<p>Maybe this will be helpful…</p>
<p>Thanks! Shame that PHYS 2211 is required. I think I will opt for EAS courses. They seem more interesting than Chem for me at least. Took AP Bio junior year so I’ve had enough of that.</p>
<p>I was assuming that EAS courses would be ones that you considered natural sciences, hence the main reason that I recommended CHEM over EAS.</p>
<p>Two of EAS 1600/1601/2600 are probably about as easy/straightforward as lab sciences come here at Tech.</p>