General Studies

FRESHMAN ORIENTATION

Many of you first-time freshmen will be attending one of the university's special Freshman Orientation days. During your day, you will meet with a General Studies advisor to make up your first schedule of classes. As with all of your university-related work, preparation is the key to success. The following bits of information will help you help your advisor with your scheduling. These sheets do not need to be downloaded from this page if you plan to attend orientation. You will be given copies of these pages at your orientation meeting. It might be helpful, however, if you look over these pages to prepare yourself for your orientation day.

Those first-time freshman students who do not attend orientation may want to copy the following pages and fill them out before they schedule an appointment to see an advisor (in General Studies Office, Room 205 Elkins, 985-448-4459).

Attention all freshmen: Be sure to schedule an appointment before the end of your freshman year to sign your forms for declaring a minor. You must declare a minor before the end of your freshman year (before the end of your second semester at NSU).

Click here to find out how to avoid the long General Studies lines. (Link to Avoiding the Lines doc)

Welcome to Freshman Orientation

Today, you and your General Studies advisor will be deciding on what courses you will be taking during your first semester at Nicholls State University. You will be choosing a minimum of 15 credit hours of course work. While you are waiting to see your advisor, there are some things that you can get done:

1. Read and be familiar with Section 1: Important Information That Will Help You With Scheduling
2. Answer all of the questions on Section 2: (Important Questions) page that follows.
3. Fill out the sheets in Section 3 (Courses Available to First-Time Freshman). Choose six courses in your area of interest that could be used to fill in the time slots in your trial schedule. While you're choosing your courses, familiarize yourself with your University Bulletin and your newspaper-like Schedule of Classes.

Section 1
Important Information That Will Help You With Scheduling

• Most classes generally meet for a total of 3 hours each week. Classes may be scheduled on Monday-Wednesday-Friday, Tuesday-Thursday, or other combinations of meeting times. You usually get a "credit hour" for each hour you spend in class. Taking 15 credit hours, therefore, means that you will be scheduling about 5 classes, each meeting 3 hours a week.  This number (15) is above the number of credit hours (12) that will make you a full-time student. If you decide to drop a class later on, you will still be taking the number of hours that are necessary to be considered full-time. Those of you who qualified for grants and financial aid might have to keep your full-time status to continue to qualify. So scheduling at least 15 credit hours keeps you safe for the most part.

• Since your Math, English, and Freshman Studies courses will take up 9 or so credit hours of your time, you will need to come up with 2 more courses to complete your 15-hour schedule. To help your advisor, look over the list of courses in Section 3 (Courses Available to First-Time Freshman sheet below) and rank them using the numbers 1 through 6. In other words, put a 1 by your best choice for a class, put a 2 by your next favorite course, and so on.

• Some courses need "prerequisites" before you can take them. For instance, you can't take an English 102 class until you take the required English 101 class. English 101 is a prerequisite for English 102.

• Sometimes you are allowed to take a course if you have taken a prerequisite or if you are registered for the prerequisite at the time you are taking the course. You might hear the word "co-requisite " used to describe this situation. For instance, you can take Engineering Science 101 if you have credit for Math 101 or if you are currently enrolled in Math 101. Just remember, any course description that has "requisite" in it means that you are required to do something before you can register for that course.

• There are many courses that do not require any prerequisites whatsoever. These will be listed first in the following list of courses. You may choose any course on this list. Just be careful that you meet the prerequisite requirements wherever they are listed. Check your Bulletin for complete descriptions of these courses. Check your newspaper "Schedule of Classes" to see when and if these classes are being taught. The more scheduling you learn to do yourself, the more you will be helping your advisor get you closer and closer to that degree you are seeking. Remember: Your advisor is your assistant. You are responsible for scheduling the courses that you need to take to get that degree.  Your Bulletin contains a "map" of all the courses that you need to take, semester by semester. Check your Bulletin often to make sure you and your advisor are on track.

Section 2
Important Questions to Help Your Advisor

Are you planning to keep General Studies as your major?

If you plan to stay in General Studies, what is an area of interest that you might like to minor in?

What are some special questions concerning your college career that you would like answered?

Section 3
Classes Available to First-Time Freshmen

Directions: What follows is a list of courses open to freshmen. Put a number in the blank beside the course that you would like to schedule. Choose at least 6 courses, using the number 1 as your favorite choice, number 2 as your next favorite, and so forth. Note: Most of the courses on this list will apply toward a degree in General Studies or to degrees in other programs of study if you decide to change your major from General Studies.

The following courses require no prerequisites.
_______ AGSC 100 (Agricultural Science 100) Introduction to Agricultural Business.
_______ AGSC 102 (Agricultural Science 102) Introduction to Agribusiness Operations.
_______ ANSC 111 (Animal Science 111) Introduction to Animal Science.

_______ ART 110 (Art) Art Appreciation.
_______ ART 201 (Art) Beginning Drawing
_______ ART 211 (Art) Beginning Painting
_______ ART 221 (Art) Beginning Printmaking
_______ ART 231 (Art) Beginning Ceramics
_______ ART 241 (Art) Beginning Sculpture
_______ ART 251 (Art) Beginning Design
_______ ART 261 (Art) Beginning Photography
_______ ART 280 (Art) Art History Survey I
_______ ART 282 (Art) Art History Survey II

_______ ASTR 101 (Astronomy) Introductory Astronomy I

_______ BSAD 101 (Business Administration) Introduction to American Business

_______ CETC 101 (Civil Engineering Technology ) Introduction to Construction Drawings

_______ COMD 278 (Communicative Disorders)
Introduction to Speech - Language Pathology and Audiology

_______ CRJU 101 (Criminal Justice) Introduction to Criminal Justice
_______ CRJU 201 (Criminal Justice) Applied Criminology
_______ CRJU 202 (Criminal Justice) Public and Community Relations
_______ CRJU 203 (Criminal Justice) Criminal related Law
_______ CRJU 204 (Criminal Justice) Police Administration
_______ CRJU 205 (Criminal Justice) Introduction to Corrections
_______ CRJU 210 (Criminal Justice) Juvenile Justice
_______ CRJU 215 (Criminal Justice) Criminal Procedure
_______ CRJU 220 (Criminal Justice) Adjudication Process

_______ CULA 101 (Culinary Arts) Culinary History and Development

_______ FACS 130 (Family and Consumer Sciences) Orientation to Family and Consumer Sciences
_______ FACS 131 (Family and Consumer Sciences) Helping Individuals and Families
_______ FACS 133 (Family and Consumer Sciences) Child Guidance and Behavior
_______ FACS 231 (Family and Consumer Sciences) The Child
_______ FACS 232 (Family and Consumer Sciences) Approaches to Preschool Curriculum
_______ FACS 262 (Family and Consumer Sciences) Demonstrations (see Bulletin)

_______ FREN 101 (French) Introductory French Note: Foreign Languages may not be needed in degree programs other than General Studies.

_______ GEOG 103 (Geography) Physical Geography
_______ GEOG 104 (Geography) Cultural Geography

_______ GEOL 101 (Geology) Physical Geology

_______ GOVT 101 (Government) American National Government
_______ GOVT 252 (Government) State and Local Government

_______ H&PE 141 (Health and Physical Education) Personal and Community Health Problems
_______ H&PE 201 (Health and Physical Education) Aeorobic Dance
_______ H&PE 205 (Health and Physical Education) Badminton
_______ H&PE 207 (Health and Physical Education) Basketball
_______ H&PE 208 (Health and Physical Education) Bowling
_______ H&PE 210 (Health and Physical Education) Principles and Practice of Scuba Diving
_______ H&PE 211 (Health and Physical Education) Modern Dance
_______ H&PE 213 (Health and Physical Education) Jazz
_______ H&PE 216 (Health and Physical Education) Golf
_______ H&PE 219 (Health and Physical Education) Martial Arts I
_______ H&PE 223 (Health and Physical Education) Recreational Sports
_______ H&PE 227 (Health and Physical Education) Softball
_______ H&PE 228 (Health and Physical Education) Self Defense
_______ H&PE 229 (Health and Physical Education) Tennis
_______ H&PE 230 (Health and Physical Education) Volleyball
_______ H&PE 231 (Health and Physical Education) Weights
_______ H&PE 252 (Health and Physical Education) Introduction to Health and Physical Education
_______ H&PE 270 (Health and Physical Education) First Aid

_______ HIST 101 (History) History of Western Civilization
_______ HIST 102 (History) History of Western Civilization
_______ HIST 150 (History) World History
_______ HIST 255 (History) American History
_______ HIST 256 (History) American History

_______ LASS 101 (Legal Assistant Studies) Introduction to Legal Assistant Studies
_______ LASS 215 (Legal Assistant Studies) Legal Research
_______ LASS 220 (Legal Assistant Studies) Real Estate Law
_______ LASS 250 (Legal Assistant Studies) Personal Injury Law
_______ LASS 255 (Legal Assistant Studies) Domestic Relations Law

_______ LFSC 101 (Life Sciences) World Agriculture

_______ MACO 101 (Mass Communication) Survey of Mass Communication

_______ MUS 095 (Music) Introductory Performance
_______ MUS 101 (Music) Basic Piano
_______ MUS 105 (Music) General Music Appreciation
_______ MUS 109 (Music) English and Italian Diction (Fall only)
_______ MUS 119 (Music) Elementary Theory
_______ MUS 161 (Music) Performance Courses (for minors, majors, etc.)
_______ MUS 191 (Music) Marching Band (audition required)
_______ MUS 193 (Music) Chorus (audition required)
_______ MUS 196 (Music) Gospel Choir (audition required)

_______ OIS 101 (Office Information Systems) Keyboarding
_______ OIS 102 (Office Information Systems) Intermediate Keyboarding
_______ OIS 120 (Office Information Systems) Interpersonal Relations
_______ OIS 200 (Office Information Systems) Computers in the Office

_______ PLSC 121 (Plant Science) Introduction to Plant Science

_______ PSET 100 (Petroleum Services Technology) Orientation to Pet. Science Tech
_______ PSET 121 (Petroleum Services Technology) Petroleum Computational Methods
_______ PSET 231 (Petroleum Services Technology) Gas Production

_______ PSYC 205 (Psychology) Applied Psychology
_______ PSYC 211 (Psychology) Social Psychology

_______ SATC 230 (Safety Technology) Drug Abuse Industry

_______ SOCI 151 (Sociology) Introductory Sociology
_______ SOCI 204 (Sociology) Cultural Diversity in American Society
_______ SOCI 205 (Sociology) Social research I (for minors)

_______ SPAN 101 Note: Foreign Languages may not be needed in degree programs other than General Studies.

_______ SPCH 133 (Speech) Theater Workshop
_______ SPCH 134 (Speech) Theater Workshop
_______ SPCH 135 (Speech) Theater Workshop

If your ACT Comp score is 19-23 and you are taking no developmental courses, you qualify for the following course. (You also need to fill out the proper application form.)

_______ LDST 151 (Leadership 151) Leadership Studies

If you qualify for Honors classes, you may also consider the following. You qualify for Honors classes if your ACT comp score is 24 or above, and you are taking no developmental classes.

_______ ART 111 (Art 111) Honors Art Appreciation

_______ ENGL 111 (English 111) English Composition I
_______ ENGL 112 (English 112) English Composition II

_______ LDST 152 (Leadership 152) Honors Leadership Studies You must fill out application form.

_______ HIST 105 (History 105) HonorsWestern Civilization I

_______ MATH 114 (Math 114) Trigonometry

_______ MUS 107 (Music 107) Music Appreciation

_______ SOCI 155 (Sociology 155) Honors Introductory Sociology

You may also take the following courses if you meet the eligibility requirements or if you are taking the required pre- or co-requisite courses. Check the eligibility statement to see if you can enroll.

_______ BIOL 105 (Biology) Basic Biology I

Eligibility: Placed in English 101

_______ BIOL 114 (Biology) Human Anatomy and Physiology I

Eligibility: Placed in English 101

_______ BIOL 115 (Biology) Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab

Eligibility: Prior completion of or current enrollment in Biology 114

_______ BIOL 155 (Biology) General Biology I

Eligibility: Placement in English 101 and Math 101

_______ CHEM 101 (Chemistry) General Chemistry I

Eligibility: Completion of Math 101

_______ CHEM 105 (Chemistry) Introductory Chemistry I

Eligibility: 20 Math ACT or completion of Chemistry 101

_______ CMPS 120 (Computer Science) Introduction to Computing and Programming

Eligibility: Completion of Math 101

_______ CMPS 201 (Computer Science) Computer Literacy

Eligibility: Completion of Math 101

_______ ECON 211 (Economics) Principles of Microeconomics

Eligibility: Placed in Math 101

_______ EGSC 100 (Engineering Science) Introduction to Engineering

Eligibility: Credit or registration in Math 101

_______ EGSC 101 (Engineering Science) Engineering Graphics

Eligibility: Credit or registration in Math 101

_______ FACS 111 (Family and Consumer Science) Food and Nutrition

Eligibility: Placed in English 003 and Math 003

_______ FACS 200 (Family and Consumer Science) Applied Nutrition

Eligibility: Credit for (or are taking) English 101

_______ PHSC 101 (Physical Science) Introductory Physical Science

Eligibility: Completion of Math 101

_______ PSYC 101 (Psychology) General Psychology

Eligibility: Placement in English 101

_______ SPCH 101 (Speech) Fundamentals of Public Speaking

Eligibility: Placement in English 101

If you have taken or have been given credit for Math 101 or English 101, see your advisor for other possible class choices.