<p>If you’re in a major that outright requires calc then things are pretty straightforward. If not, things could get interesting in a hurry.</p>
<p>Based on DD1’s high 600’s SAT math, she did not have to take college algebra. The class is not required in architecture, but required college-wide as part of their core curriculum (1 math class, 1 science, yada yada). So, DD1 strolled by freshman advising and was told that there’s mystery calc 1 and mystery calc 2 in the plan of study. Such classes could be AP’d out or placement tested out and according to the dept of architecture, ‘most kids coming in already had AP credit so we don’t specifically require them, but we nudge-wink require them’. In such cases calc becomes a ‘required elective’. </p>
<p>The deep reason is that sometime in junior year they take a couple classes cross listed with civil engineering, and the engineers naturally had kittens when they realized the architects could not integrate to save their life. Also, many arch grad schools seem to require 1 year of calc these days, as well as a year of physics. So, the ‘required elective’ was created. With a bit of luck, college algebra satisfies the math requirement (part of core) and DD1 gets credit for it.</p>
<p>A similar logic in physics. One semester is required, but most grad programs require a year… Physics 1 is in the curriculum, Physics 2 is a mystery required elective… The curriculum requires phys 1 sophomore fall year and has a nice elective spot spring of sophomore year for the phys 2…</p>
<p>The same (otherwise well functioning and respected) state flagship requires everyone to take an art or history of art class. Architecture students there take a minimum of three, typically four classes, yet none of these can be used to satisfy the art requirement. DD1 ended up taking it at the local community college…</p>
<p>Bottom line - even if you can see the PDF with the plan of study, make sure you walk thru it with some carbon-based adviser life form to identify such misadventures, especially when planning for a major where math requirements are not always cast in stone (vis-a-vis electives outside the department, grad school, and so on).</p>