Question: popular courses for college freshmen (degree, psychology, school, anthropology)

[Justme2010]

What are they? Would college course registry office an excellent source for a good answer? And if so would they be open to such inquiry or turn you down with privacy consideration or excuse?

I know city-data may not be THE forum to ask this question, what forum out there for this sort of question might be a good bet?

Thanks for your time.

[altlover85]

I think you could just call admissions at the school you are interested in and ask them.

However, when I was a freshman I took some 101 classes, like Introduction to Biology or World Art History III: The Modern Level. I would look for classes with 100 as the prefix. You could also look at typical degree programs and the schedule of classes that they suggest students take.

I hope this helps!

[Justme2010]

Thanks, I'm not going to be a freshman myself would like to maximize my time investment, calling each college would take tons of time if I have other options...

[Teak]

Usually, in the USA, a college freshman has to take some basic core classes and a few electives. Here is a typical list:

English Composition
Speech or Literature
Math (some level: Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus)
Natural Science elective
Social Science elective
Physical Education
Intro to Your Choice of Field (unless you are an undeclared major)

If you are a hard science or engineering major, you will have to take Physics and Chemistry. If a soft science, Biology and Chemistry.
Art and Business majors seem to have greater flexibility in what they can take in their first year.

Hope this helps. I teach at a college, and can only really answer in a general sense since the first year depends upon your declared major.

[Ceece]

GE classes mostly. Whatever you need English/Math wise is usually top of the list. I know at my daughters college a course called "Magic, Witchcraft and Religion" was a the most popular beginning Anthro class and, according to my daughter, not nearly as fun as it sounded.

[kodaka]

Popular by what definition? By the highest enrollment? By reported student satisfaction surveys? By number of time slots offered? Longest wait list?

I think a registrar's office would decline to answer because they just wouldn't know how to answer. You need to be more specific. The answers to any of the above definitions of popularity would not reveal confidential student information. But it would be proprietary to the university, and for that reason they would probably require a formal written request rather than a telephone call, along with a better explanation of the type of data you are looking for, and an explanation of how you intend to use the data. If you're just writing a school essay they might be fine with sharing it. If you're looking to write an editorial for a newspaper they might decline your request.

If you just want to know which courses see the highest enrollment, you'd probably be ahead to just request a course catalog and see whcih courses have the most time slots.

[charolastra00]

Varies greatly.

My college didn't really have general education, so there were no "freshman" classes. I took entry level classes my senior year and high level seminars my freshman year.

Some of my freshman year classes included: Intro to Anthropology (prereq for my major), Macroeconomics, Aesthetics of Art and Film (philosophy course), Revolutions in the 3rd World, Latin American Female Icons (seminar), Chemistry of Sustainability, and the Political Economy of Argentina and Brazil. Your mileage may vary.

[altlover85]

Aesthetics of Art and Film sounds awesome. I'm jealous.

[HippieMom06]

Originally Posted by Teak

Usually, in the USA, a college freshman has to take some basic core classes and a few electives. Here is a typical list:

English Composition
Speech or Literature
Math (some level: Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus)
Natural Science elective
Social Science elective
Physical Education
Intro to Your Choice of Field (unless you are an undeclared major)

If you are a hard science or engineering major, you will have to take Physics and Chemistry. If a soft science, Biology and Chemistry.
Art and Business majors seem to have greater flexibility in what they can take in their first year.

Hope this helps. I teach at a college, and can only really answer in a general sense since the first year depends upon your declared major.

This person is right. There will be a "core" list of classes then you take your major requirements. Take intro to/general psychology!! Interesting and fulfills social science elective! Also try yahoo answers with this question.

[lisdol]

I agree with the others who told you to:

look at the core requirements
look at the course schedule for the classes with the most time slots


This is where you will, in general, find a lot of the freshmen. Pretty much everyone has certain classes they need to complete or test out of. (like English, College Algebra or Calculus, social science - Psych is usually popular but Soc can be too, some sort of Art Appreciation - Music Appreciation was the popular one to fulfill this at my school, and so on...).

Are you still trying to develop your interactive study/notes software? - have you considered a niche market like pre-Nursing or pre-Med? There are people out there desperate for any tool that will help them with courses like Anatomy and Physiology and Chemistry.