SLIGHTLY confused SEAS student.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hey</p>

<p>i would appreciate it if someone could clear some things up for me.</p>

<p>I will be in SEAS next year and am confused about the whole core deal.</p>

<p>According to this website (i plan to major in OR:FE)</p>

<p>(<a href="http://www.engineering.columbia.edu/students/academics/dept/ieor.php?tab=undergradreqs#or_fin_chart1%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.engineering.columbia.edu/students/academics/dept/ieor.php?tab=undergradreqs#or_fin_chart1&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/p>

<p>I will and should take-</p>

<p>Calc2
Intro to Mechanics and Thermo
General Chemistry II
University Writing
Econ
Physical edu</p>

<p>etc etc etc.</p>

<p>What im wondering... HOW does the famous columiba CORE fit into all this?</p>

<p>I have heard some stuff about Lithum and CC and 3 major blah blah, but do i need to just take one first semester? 2 in a year?</p>

2

<p>University writing is a core class
And I think you still have to take Frontiers as a freshman.</p>

<p>As SEAS student, you choose between Lit Hum and CC, both of which are two-semester courses, which you will probably end up taking sophomore year.</p>

<p>Re-read the academic planning pamphlet that was sent to you. It's all very clearly outlined.</p>

3

<p>I'm pretty sure SEAS students don't need to take Frontiers. Most of your "Core" classes will be taken during your sophmore year.</p>

4

<p>^Oops. You're right. SEAS kids take Gateway instead.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.columbia.edu/cu/orientation/Docs/First%20Year%20Academic%20Planning%20Guide.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.columbia.edu/cu/orientation/Docs/First%20Year%20Academic%20Planning%20Guide.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>An entire guide to help you chose classes. I'm sure it's somewhere in your giant pile of CU mailings.</p>

5

<p>Ok, so when people say the columbia core they usually mean the columbia college core, there is a seas core also, which has many aspects of the college core, but varies a little from major to major, like most seas majors need to take an intro comp sci class except chemical engineering majors, but basically you will have to take the above classes, plus: </p>

<ol>
<li>gateway lab (1 semester)</li>
<li>a year of contemporary civilizations or lit hum or major cultures, ( i think this means two semesters in a row usually sophmore year)
3.either art hum or music hum - 1 sem</li>
<li>another semester of PE</li>
<li>a comp sci class - 1 sem</li>
<li>a preprofessional course, in any of the engineering disciplines - 1 sem</li>
</ol>

<p>no frontiers of science, it's quite meaningless for seas kids (and for many cc kids also :p)</p>

<p>i might be missing some stuff out</p>

<p>and of course you have to take classes in freshman and sophomore year that go towards your major (like mech E majors have to take a physics sequence) it will all become very clear once you get to columbia, or check out the bulletin, either way dont sweat it.</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
4. another semester of PE
5. a comp sci class - 1 sem

[/quote]
</p>

<ol>
<li><p>it's 2 semesters of pe (which is what i assume you mean but im just making it clear)</p></li>
<li><p>no, this isnt a core req.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>other than that, it's all correct</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
2. a year of contemporary civilizations or lit hum or major cultures, ( i think this means two semesters in a row usually sophmore year)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>u do not have to take the two semesters consecutively in either CC or SEAS</p>

<p>
[quote]
5. no, this isnt a core req.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>i guess u can argue its not a core requirement because there is an exception but it is, as was mentioned, required for every major but chem E.</p>

<p>
[quote]
like mech E majors have to take a physics sequence

[/quote]
</p>

<p>everyone has to take some sort of chem, physics and math sequence in seas...this can range from 1 class to three classes for chem and physics and may include lab and at least four math courses....but you can place out of (i think) up to three of them.</p>