<p>Ok so i just got my FYS packet in the mail today and I'm totally confused about a couple things. </p>
<p>It says that the university, regardless of what college you're going into, requires that each student take "foundations of Theology" and "Introduction to Philosophy." There are both seminars and electives with these names...does it matter whether you take the seminar or regular class in terms of fulfilling the requirement?</p>
<p>Freshman seminars are unique classes in that they are the only class that satisfies two requirements - both your freshman seminar and whatever they are crosslisted as. For example - my freshman seminar was a Ancient Irish Literature class, and I used that for not only my freshman seminar but also an Irish Studies elective. </p>
<p>So, what does this mean for you? It means that you are required to take your freshman seminar. If you take a freshman seminar that happens to be a philo or theo crosslist, it will satisfy either your Foundations of Theo or Intro to Philo, respectively. Or, you can choose to take a different seminar, and ALSO a Philo or Theo elective, like I did.</p>
<p>I would recommend taking separate classes if you don't really know what you want to do. The freshman seminar is a very special opportunity, to take something that you really want to do. The Ancient Irish Literature seminar was an eye-opening experience, and to waste something like that on just something that "I had to do," would be unfortunate. But, hey, that's just me. It worked out really well, but I have heard horror stories from other people.</p>
<p>One other thing, before I forget. I would recommend getting both your Intro to Philo and Foundations of Theo out of the way freshman year. The freshman level courses are... easier, based on my experience and what other people have said. It lets you have much more leeway after your freshman year without the cloud those two classes hanging over your head.</p>
<p>Also, I would try to hold off registering for your seminar until second semester, when you can do it yourself. Then you're more likely to get something you're truly interested in, instead of something that is sorta-kinda-maybe-like what you want that you counselor put you in.</p>
<p>how do you influence whether your seminar is first semester or second semester?</p>
<p>to kevdude:
if i would like to fulfill the theo or philo requirement in my junior or senior year, can i still choose lower level courses like theo 10xxx and philo 10xxx?</p>
<p>Well, you need to fulfill two theology and two philosophy courses by the time you gradute (the foundations of each and an elective of each). There is a listing as PHIL 10101 and PHIL 20101, both of which are essentially the same class, except PHIL 10101 only has First year students while PHIL 20101 is reserved for everyone else.</p>
<p>CitricAcid said what mostly needed to be said. But I would add that there are a total of 4 classes you need to take, which is a lot of hours, and a lot to be hanging over your head when you're registering and FINALLY have a good DART time to get into the classes you really really want. Why waste it on a requirement if you could easily get into it as a freshman or sophomore because there are 150+ spots? I can tell you for a fact that it's very liberating to have both of my Theo classes and one of my Philo classes done (although I enjoyed all of them), and I still have 2 years to finish the last Philo class.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>is it possible to take 6 classes?</p></li>
<li><p>So it's better to do Foundations of Theology (1 sem) and Intro to Philo (2 sem) during freshman year than to wait until sophomore year why?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>indie-are you trying to take 6 classes? You likely will be taking 6 classes, if you include PE. And, you can say that it's just PE, but I recall our student saying that while PE requires really not much more than to "show up", it did take away some of his time which could have been used doing work for other classes. I don't think that he was knocking the PE class, it's just that it was an additional class that took up time. Also, if you are taking any classes with a lab, that will almost feel like an add'l class. And, most of the Math Classes as well as any of the science/chem classes will likely have tutorials (which will in some cases seem like another class, according to our son). In addition, the Phil/Theo classes may also have discussion groups; once again another class essentially. </p>
<p>As far as the Foundations of Theo class/Intro to Philo; our student took both during fall sem of his freshman year. The Philo was the seminar class and he took the Found of Theo class. He did very well in both classes as a freshman/fall semester. He will finish his requirements this fall (as a JR) taking the 2nd Phil and having fulfilled the 2nd Theo req last fall. It has not been that difficult--according to son. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>I don't recommend taking 6 classes freshman year (plus, I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to anyway). </p>
<p>To answer you second question, in short; The freshman year Theo and Philo are usually easier than if you were to take them later.</p>