Advice by Subject Area

This page contains advice by subject area for incoming students to help you identify the courses you will need to take during your first year at the University of Rochester. Your choices will depend on several factors, including your initial ideas about possible majors and minors, your curiosity about exploring unknown subjects, departmental placement recommendations, and course availability.

Please note: This is not a list of undergraduate majors, but rather a list of subject areas offered in the College. For a comprehensive list of majors, please refer to the major/minor search tool and select the Undergraduate and Major filter options.

American Sign Language

Programs offered

About American Sign Language
American Sign Language is the predominant sign language of the deaf and hard of hearing community in English-speaking North America. Because that community is diverse, our American Sign Language program is integrative. It combines modern language, literature, and culture with linguistic and scientific approaches.

Information for incoming students

  • ASLA 101: Beginning American Sign Language I is designed for students who have little or no experience with American Sign Language (ASL). You are welcome to try it out to see if you like ASL!
  • Students with previous ASL experience should contact the program at asl@rochester.edu to take a placement test to figure out which course is the best fit for them. 

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Anthropology

Programs offered

About anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity, past and present, in an attempt to document the way people behave and why. This includes classical questions about family and kinship, myth and ritual, ethnicity and race. We also analyze contemporary topics like food, environment, law, religion, science, and technology.

Anthropology is one of the most flexible social science degrees. Because anthropology majors build generalizable skills like critical thinking and analysis, cross-cultural and interdisciplinary comparison, and the ability to design and conduct research, they are suited to successfully pursue a variety of careers, including: nonprofit and NGO work, advertising, market research, and consulting. Many others enter graduate programs in medicine, law, education, museum studies, or public health.

Information for incoming students

  • ANTH 101: Being Human: Cultural Anthropology provides an overview of the discipline and a gateway into the program. It can be used towards the major, both minors, and all anthropology clusters.
  • Students considering a concentration in anthropology should take ANTH 101 during their first year and ANTH 200 in the fall of their sophomore year. 
  • The department also offers other introductory courses (ANTH 102, 104, and 105) intended primarily for first-year students and sophomores, in addition to a variety of 200-level electives that are open to first-year students. 

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Archaeology, technology, and historical structures

Programs offered

About archaeology, technology, and historical structures
This program is designed for students interested in:

  • Humanities (archaeology, architecture, art history, classics, history), with a desire for critical insight into the material culture and technology of pre-industrial societies
  • Mathematics or natural sciences, with a desire to study the impact of technology on ancient and pre-industrial cultures
  • An interdisciplinary engineering field emphasizing technology, design, materials, structures, and architecture in the context of historical monuments

Students may pursue one of two tracks: Track A, a course-based path requiring 11 courses, or Track B, a research-based path comprising of nine courses plus an eight-credit senior project (subject to faculty approval). 

The major offers pathways in:

  1. Engineering
  2. Archaeology and architecture
  3. History
  4. Science, technology, and society

Information for incoming students

  • Foundation courses provide basic competencies in engineering structural analysis, archaeology, and architectural history common to all pathways.
  • Depending on course selection, the major may be designed to satisfy any of the three divisions of the College: humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences/engineering, as well as to prepare students for graduate studies in archaeology, architecture, civil or mechanical engineering, art history, classics, or history.
  • This is not a professional program in engineering or in architecture and does not prepare graduates for licensure in either of those professional areas.

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Art and art history

Programs offered

About art and art history
Our 100-level courses provide a foundation for art media such as photography, painting, sculpture, video, and drawing, our 200-level courses make available the experimental and interdisciplinary approaches often utilized in contemporary art production. Advanced studio courses focus on interdisciplinary, allowing students to expand their artistic expression to incorporate other interests and disciplines.

Courses in art history are designed to give students an understanding and appreciation of works of art, individually, in relation to each other, and in their social and historical contexts. Introductory courses cover broad historical periods and serve to introduce the methods and problems of art history. They are useful to both first-year and upperclass students who want a general overview. Seminars are indicated by the 300 level and are open to advanced students from other disciplines as well as to art history majors.

Information for incoming students
Incoming students who have had a course in art history or some other relevant preparation, may begin taking art history courses at the 200 level, as well as the 100 level. The 200-level courses offer similar introductions but in much more defined areas. These are useful courses for those students studying a specific period or culture in another discipline and are also the building blocks for any major or minor within the department.

Because studio class size is limited, incoming students should contact the department to enroll in studio courses.

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Audio arts and technology

Programs offered

About audio arts and technology

A BA in audio arts and technology (AAT) provides students with the creative and expressive abilities and technical skills to build productive careers in many fields in which sound and audio are central including:

  • Music recording and media production
  • Sound design for media and games
  • Live event support
  • Broadcasting
  • Acoustic analysis and design of the built and natural environments
  • Consumer product design and development—areas ranging from healthcare to law

The program offers a high degree of flexibility to enable students to combine studies in audio arts and technology with music, business and economics, media studies, studio arts, English and film studies, biology, psychology, and many other areas that intersect the field of sound and audio.

The BA AAT program requires 54 credit hours in the major, including a two-credit upper-level writing course, either WRTG 277 or WRTG 273. All students must complete the primary writing requirement, WRTG 105, typically taken in their first year of studies. The balance of the 128 credit hours required for graduation also must include two clusters, one in the humanities and one in a social science.

Typical first-year course schedule

  • First semester: ECE 101, MATH 141 or 161, WRTG 105, cluster elective
  • Second semester: ECE 112, MATH 142 or 162, PHYS 121, cluster elective

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Audio and music engineering

Programs offered

About audio and music engineering
Audio and music engineering combines studies in engineering and applied sciences with music and audio production to give students a technically rigorous, design-based education in the field of audio, music, and sonic engineering. The major's curriculum is built on a foundation of basic math and science and integrates elements of music, audio content production, acoustics, fundamental engineering science, signal processing hardware, and software, electronics, and software engineering. Through a series of design and project courses integrated with their other coursework, students build a project portfolio throughout their studies capped by a senior design project.

The major requires coursework five subject areas:

  • Recording arts and sound design
  • Acoustics
  • Audio electronics
  • Signal processing
  • Software design

The curriculum provides a broad education in the fundamentals of audio and music engineering, as well as in-depth studies and design experiences.

Information for incoming students

  • First-year coursework in the AME major focuses on providing a hands-on introduction to work in the field of audio, including acoustics and electronics labs, audio programming, and working in a recording studio. The department also sponsors many events, including guest speakers from the industry and an Audio Engineering Society Student Chapter.
  • AME students also have the opportunity to study abroad, typically for one semester, usually during the spring semester of their junior year or the fall semester of their senior year. Birmingham City University is our recommended study abroad location, although other international programs are available.
  • The typical first-year course schedule is as follows:
    • First semester: AME 140, MATH 141 or 161, MUSC 109, MUSC 111, WRTG 105, 
    • Second semester: AME 141, AME 191, MATH 142 or 162, MUSC 113, PHYS 113 or 121

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Biology and biological sciences

Programs offered

About biology and biological sciences
From cells to ecosystems, cancer therapies to climate change, biology is the study of life and living things—all in an effort to understand our world. Biology is one of the most popular programs at Rochester, and our students have access to a range of biological and biomedical expertise. Plus, as a top-tier research university, distinguished faculty and pioneering research are hallmarks of our program.

Information for incoming students
Incoming first-year students planning to major in the biological sciences should take introductory biology and chemistry courses during their first year:

  • Fall semester: BIOL 110L: Principles of Biology I or BIOL 112L: Perspectives in Biology I with past or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 131: Chemistry Concepts and System Practices I or an approved equivalent.
  • Spring semester: BIOL 111L: Principles of Biology II or BIOL 113L: Perspectives in Biology II with past or concurrent enrollment in CHEM 132: Chemistry Concepts and System Practices II or an approved equivalent.

Please note: the BIOL 110 spring offering does not provide a lab. Therefore, prospective biology majors should take BIOL 110L in the fall semester.

Transfer students should contact the curriculum advisor via email at cfratian@ur.rochester.edu for assistance determining course placement.

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Biomedical engineering

Programs offered

About biomedical engineering
The interdisciplinary nature of biomedical engineering requires expertise in both the biological and engineering sciences. The major curriculum emphasizes fundamental engineering and design principles taught in the context of current problems in medicine and biology.

Students are equipped with the biomedical engineering knowledge, technical expertise, and professional skills essential for successful careers ranging from engineering practice in industry or clinical settings to advanced research. Biomedical engineers find employment in a wide range of companies and are also well prepared for graduate education, including PhD programs and medical school or other health professions, such as physical therapy, nursing, or dentistry.

As part of a top-tier research institution, the University of Rochester biomedical engineering program is committed to providing undergraduates with meaningful exposure to the research process. Our students have opportunities to work side by side with award- winning faculty and research leaders at the University of Rochester to make significant contributions to biomedical research fields. Recent projects include:

  • Experiments in bone tissue engineering
  • Wearable hemodialysis device research
  • 3-D liver transplant modeling
  • Analysis of tendon injury
  • Neutrophil adhesion dynamics
  • Sensory decision processing
  • Ultrasound elastography
  • Hearing

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Black Studies

Programs offered

About Black Studies
The Frederick Douglass Institute and Department of Black Studies (BLST) serves as the university's focal point for Black study, a scholarly endeavor which explores and addresses a range of issues—including, but not limited to, diaspora, citizenship, identity, antiblackness, and the afterlives of slavery and colonialism. BLST offers uniquely interdisciplinary courses which engage film, music, performance and literature, historical archives, voting patterns, visual culture, and the everyday lives of Black people around the world. Our curriculum is global and spans a wide range of regions, including the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe. Students follow a rigorous and closely-monitored major, designed to provide both broad exposure to and in-depth knowledge of global Blackness.

Students who are interested in pre-med, pre-law, or pre-grad school will find that the BLST major highly complements their future academic and career goals. Students majoring in STEM fields such as engineering, biology, and computer science have also found the major in Black Studies to be an enriching opportunity. Whether one majors or minors in Black Studies, courses like Black Feminist Theory & Criticism, Black Mexico, Black Sexual Worlds, and Contemporary African Film & Fiction provide students with indispensable global perspectives, knowledge, and analytical skills to further their lives academically and professionally.

Information for incoming students
While there are no prerequisites for any Black Studies courses, we encourage interested first-year and transfer students to enroll in Introduction to Black Studies (BLST 110). From Africa to the Americas to Europe and beyond, this course introduces students to the field of Black Studies in its global scope, acquainting them with a diverse selection of subjects that can be pursued further across the range of courses offered in the Department of Black Studies at UR. Through the lens of history, visual culture, music, anthropology, political economy, and other disciplines, this annually offered course is organized around a host of possible topics, such as the creative expressions of Black artists, Black feminisms, Black liberation movements, Black sexualities, mass incarceration, systemic antiblackness, and the interrelation of colonialism and the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

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Brain and cognitive sciences

Programs offered

About brain and cognitive sciences
How do we see and hear, make decisions, and understand language? How are we able to learn and perform complicated behaviors? Short answer: the brain, nature’s most complex and compelling computer. Our brain and cognitive sciences major offers a rigorous but accessible science education, plus research opportunities alongside leading faculty.

Information for incoming students

  • Students who are interested in studying the brain and behavior should try to take one or both of our foundation courses, or the following electives, during their first year, as they have no prerequisites:
  • BCSC 110: Neural Foundations of Behavior (offered fall and spring; can be taken after BCSC 111)
  • BCSC 111: Foundations of Cognitive Science (offered fall and spring; can be taken before BCSC 110)
  • BCSC 183: Animal Minds (offered fall)
  • BCSC 172: Development of Mind and Brain (offered spring) also have no prerequisites.
  • Students who are planning to do research in the field may find it valuable to take statistics and computer programming early in their academic program. An introductory statistics course is required for the brain and cognitive sciences major. Recommended courses include STAT 180 or STAT 190.
  • Computer science is recommended for students completing the BA degree and required for students completing the BS degree. CSC 161 is the recommended starting point for most students, but those intending to continue to advanced courses in artificial intelligence may want to choose CSC 171.
  • Students completing the BS degree may also want to consider taking BIOL 110, LING 110, or MATH 141/161 in their first year to satisfy general science foundation requirements.

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Business

Programs offered

  • Majors: business (BA), business (BS) with tracks in accounting, business analytics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, and marketing
  • Minors: business

About the Barry Florescue Undergraduate Business Program
As a joint program with the internationally recognized Simon Business School, the Undergraduate Business Program equips the next generation of entrepreneurial and innovative minds with the analytical tools needed for success. Through rigorous academics, extracurricular opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences developed by the same faculty who teach our MBA and MS programs, students build a foundation based on the principles of quantitative and applied economics—preparing them for the business world of tomorrow.

Information for incoming students
The business major requires that students satisfactorily complete one year of calculus before declaring the major (MATH 141–143 or MATH 161–162 sequences are both acceptable).

Students planning to major in business should complete the following courses by the end of their sophomore year:

  • Prerequisite calculus sequence
  • One acceptable statistics course
  • ECON 108: Principles of Economics
  • ECON 207: Intermediate Microeconomics
  • ACC 201: Financial Accounting

Transfer students should confirm the status of their transfer credit as soon as possible, as class-year status and coursework recommendations are determined on a case-by-case basis. Please see the transfer credit page on our website for more details.

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Chemical engineering

Programs offered

About chemical engineering
Chemical engineering applies the basic sciences to convert raw materials into valuable products while protecting and improving the environment. At Rochester, we are working to develop more efficient and sustainable chemical processes, find alternative energy solutions, and apply the fundamentals to biology, pharmaceutical sciences, and medicine. Meanwhile, our students have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research projects in labs featuring state-of-the-art equipment.

Chemical engineers need a strong foundation in chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Moreover, because the solutions to society's problems frequently involve questions that transcend technical considerations, the curriculum includes a balance of humanities and social science courses, as well.

Information for incoming students
The department provides new students with a better understanding of what chemical engineers do by organizing several informal meetings throughout the school year in conjunction with the student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).

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Chemistry

Programs offered

About chemistry
As a close-knit department at a top-tier research university, students interested in independent research have the opportunity to work alongside award-winning faculty and with state-of-the-art facilities. The drive for discovery underpins research projects and coursework across all disciplines in the Department of Chemistry, enabling students to engage with faculty both in the classroom and as scientists in the laboratory.

The Department of Chemistry offers both BA and BS degrees. The BS degree is intended for students who want to focus on the chemistry curriculum in preparation for a career in the field, whereas the BA degree offers more flexibility and enables students to incorporate more coursework in other disciplines.

Information for incoming first-year students

The chemistry department offers three courses for first-year students in the fall semester:

  • CHEM 131: Chemical Concepts I
  • CHEM 137: Chemical Principles for Engineers
  • CHEM 171: First-Year Organic Chemistry I

Both CHEM 131 and CHEM 171 are appropriate for students majoring in chemistry or related sciences. CHEM 131 is part one of a two-semester sequence in general chemistry and is appropriate for students who did not have an AP-chemistry course (or equivalent) in high school.

Students with high AP/IB/Cambridge scores can obtain transfer credit for CHEM 131 and then choose to either:

  • Start their chemistry sequence in their spring semester with CHEM 132
  • Enroll in CHEM 171, the honors organic chemistry course in their fall semester

CHEM 137 is a one-semester introduction to general chemistry designed specifically for engineering students. The course fulfills the engineering curricular requirement for a single semester of chemistry.

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Classics

Programs offered

About Classics
The ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome have influenced all successive western societies, leaving a legacy that includes ideas about democracy, empire, myth, society, race, gender, and philosophy. At the University of Rochester, the study of ancient Greece and Rome is not merely a matter of antiquarian interest; rather, our courses enable students to explore the past in ways that allow them to critique the past, understand the present, and imagine the future. Students study the foundational texts and significant artifacts of the ancient Mediterranean world in order to understand them on their own terms and in their ancient contexts as well as to develop a deeper awareness of the ways in which classical antiquity has shaped and continues to influence contemporary society.

Students can approach the study of the ancient world in a range of ways; some students focus on the history, culture, and archaeology of Greece and Rome, while others concentrate on the study of languages and literature; and, of course, many students do both. Therefore, in addition to developing a solid foundation in Greek and Latin language, students may select from courses in ancient drama, mythology, and poetry as well as from courses that focus on ancient Greek and Roman history, religion, philosophy, and culture. The department also offers courses on more specific topics such as the ancient city; Greek and Roman ideas about race and ethnicity; issues related to gender, sexuality, and family life; specific mythological or historical figures such as Hercules or Alexander the Great; and even on ancient techniques of engineering.

Students primarily interested in the study of ancient languages and texts major in classics. Students primarily interested in the study of history and culture of the ancient world major in classical civilizations. Students may also minor in cassics or classical civilizations as well as in Greek and Latin.

Finally, each year, students in any classics program have the opportunity to study abroad in Greece or Rome on faculty led trips during spring break.

Information for incoming students

  • First year students are advised to enroll in CLST 101: Introduction to the study of Antiquity, but they may also take any course that is of interest to them, including Elementary Latin or Introduction to New Testament and Classical Greek.
  • For students who want to begin with the study of Greek and Latin language, CGRK 101 and LATN 101 assume no previous knowledge and are intended for students with little to no experience of the language. Students who are considering entering the sequence at a higher level than 101 in Greek or Latin are strongly encouraged to consult with Professor Nicholas Gresens as soon as possible. Students are not permitted to register for or receive credit for a language course if they have already achieved proficiency at the level of that course.
  • Advanced Placement (AP): A score of 4 or 5 on the Latin examination will earn credit for LATN 102. Students who complete a second Latin AP examination with a score of 4 or 5 may earn credit for LATN 208 upon completion of a Latin course numbered 103 or above with a minimum grade of “B.”
  • International Baccalaureate (IB): Students who receive a score of 5 or above on the higher-level examination are awarded credit for LATN 102.
Clinical and translational sciences

Programs offered

About clinical and translational sciences
Translational science includes each stage of research along the path from the biological basis of health and disease to clinical and public health interventions that improve the health of individuals and populations.

The clinical and translational sciences (CTS) major provides students with in-depth instruction in the fundamental skills, methodology, and principles of clinical and translational research.

It is designed to equip students with the ability to formulate meaningful hypotheses, design and conduct interpretable experiments, analyze results critically, understand and communicate the broad significance of research findings, and uphold the highest ethical standards in research.

Information for incoming students
Students interested in clinical and translational sciences are strongly urged to begin their exploration with:

  • PHLT 103: Concepts of Epidemiology (offered in both the fall and the spring semesters)
  • BIOL 110L: Principles of Biology I (fall semester)
  • CHEM 131: Chemistry Concepts of System Practices I (fall semester)

Students interested in CTS should complete their introductory biology and chemistry courses during their first year.

The CTS major is an excellent way to explore an interest in the health professions or a career as a clinician-scientist. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with a health professions advisor in the Gwen M. Greene Career and Internship Center to explore such career paths.

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Computer science

Programs offered

About computer science
With the pervasive role of computers in our lives today—from mobile apps to video games, robots to operating systems—an education and career in computer science is more relevant and exciting than ever. The University of Rochester provides an in-depth background in computer science principles, including crucial mathematical foundations.

Information for incoming students

For intended majors:

  • First-year students should take CSC 171: Introduction to Computer Science and MATH 150: Discrete Mathematics. Please note that MATH 150 is not a calculus course. Students wishing to apply AP, IB, and/or A-level credit toward a major should discuss with their College advisor.
  • Transfer students should confirm the status of their transfer credit as soon as possible, as class-year status and coursework recommendations are determined on a case-by-case basis.
    • Please note: It is only possible to complete a BS in computer science in two years if all pre-major requirements are fulfilled via transfer credit; even so, completing the BS in two years is discouraged unless a student has additional transfer credit in both computer science and math. Please contact your faculty advisor or undergraduate coordinator for more information.

For non-majors:

  • CSC 160: AI for All is an experimental course that explores how AI can be safely, ethically and effectively leveraged by students to enhance their ability to learn. This course is open to all students and is available to be used in computer science clusters.
  • CSC 161: Introduction to Programming is recommended as a gentler introduction to the discipline, especially for students who aren't pursuing a major in computer science. All computer science clusters include CSC 161 as an introductory programming course.

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Dance and movement

Programs offered

  • Majors: dance (BA) with two concentrations available: creative expression and performance and interdisciplinary dance studies
  • Minors: dance, movement studies

About the Program of Dance and Movement
Our dance and movement program offers a range of courses, workshops, and performances featuring different styles, techniques, and disciplines. With the University and the city's vibrant arts, cultural, and festival scenes, Rochester is an outstanding place to study, practice, and perform dance.

Information for incoming students

  • Incoming students are welcome to take any of the DANC classes that are available to first-years.
  • For dancers who hope to be involved in the program long term and/or want to meet other first-year dancers, we recommend taking DANC 250: Contemporary Dance: Context and Practice or DANC 266 Intermediate Contemporary Dance.
  • For those beginning their dance journeys, check out the multitude of 100- and 200-level DANC courses offered.

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Data science

Programs offered

About data science
Data science is an interdisciplinary field about principles and algorithms for extracting knowledge and insights from many kinds of data, including financial data, scientific data, natural language text, images, and video.

Students learn to use techniques and theories drawn from mathematics, statistics, and computer science including machine learning, data mining, artificial intelligence, inferential statistics, databases, and data visualization. In addition, students delve deeply into a concentration area where data science can be applied and work on sponsored projects as part of the capstone course.

There is an extremely high demand in business, health care, technology, and government for data scientists. The data science BA and BS degrees can prepare students for a variety of careers including data analytics and data engineering and for graduate study in the physical, life, social, or computational sciences.

Information for incoming students

  • Students considering majoring in data science should take MATH 150/150A: Discrete Mathematics and start a calculus sequence and CSC 171/CSC 172 introductory computer science sequence as soon as possible. These prerequisite courses must be completed before declaring the major.
  • CSC 161: Intro Programming in Python is not a pre-requisite or a requirement of the major, but it is a common language in data science and can also be taken to explore interest in this discipline.
  • Application area courses at 200-level or above might require additional prerequisite courses that could be taken during the first year (eg. ECON 108, BCSC 110, PHYS 099 or 121).

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Digital media studies

Programs offered

About digital media studies
Digital media studies (DMS) is a 14-course interdisciplinary major that introduces students to thinking about and making digital media through iterative refinement as they develop and reflect on what they produce and consume.

DMS is where students collaborate to use digital media and solve real-world problems. We emphasize experiential, community-engaged learning for all students. Whether you identify as an artist, a storyteller, a programmer, a designer, or a developer, you can find your home in DMS.

Students can use their DMS major to satisfy either the humanities or the natural science divisional area requirement. Students choose their divisional area when they declare their major. Seven of a DMS major’s fourteen courses must be in the divisional area they declare.

Information for incoming students
Students interested in pursuing digital media studies as a major or minor are strongly encouraged to begin their coursework with the program’s core courses:

  • DMST 101: Introduction to Digital Media Studies
  • DMST 102: Programming for Digital Media
  • DMST 103: Essential Digital Media Toolkit
  • DMST 104: Design in the Digital Age

DMS’s core courses are offered in both fall and spring semesters. Students do not need to take these courses consecutively. In fact, many students take them out of sequence.

Students are encouraged, but not required, to complete their core coursework before the end of their sophomore year. The major is flexibly designed, and students are welcome complete their production and media theory electives concurrent with their core coursework.

The DMS major culminates in a yearlong capstone project which must be completed during a student’s senior year. The capstone has two prerequisites:

  • DMST 103: Essential Digital Media Toolkit (must be completed by the end of sophomore year)
  • DMST 200W: Digital Portfolio (must be completed by the end of junior year)

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Earth and environmental sciences

Programs offered

About earth and environmental sciences
Earth and environmental sciences (EES) integrates chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, and computer sciences into the study of Earth and planetary systems, including atmospheric, aquatic, terrestrial, geologic, and climate systems. Global systems studies probe the processes that form and modify planets, from the earliest planetary origins to today, and use that knowledge for future forecasting. The mission of the EES department integrates scientific research and teaching of the highest order to better understand our planet, its climate, and other planetary bodies, and to prepare our students for success in an ever-changing world.

Information for incoming students

  • All students interested in majoring in the department are strongly encouraged to take one of the department’s 100-level courses in their first year. These courses are:
    • EESC 101: Intro to Earth Science (fall); for geomechanics (BS), environmental studies (BA), geological sciences (BA), Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences (BS) majors.
    • EESC 105: Intro to Climate Change (fall); for environmental studies (BA), Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences (BS) majors
    • EESC 100: Intro to Oceanography (spring); for environmental studies (BA) majors
    • EESC 103: Intro to Environmental Science (spring); for environmental studies (BA) majors
    • EESC 201: Evolution of the Earth (spring); for geomechanics majors
  • For students intending to pursue a BS in Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences, a typical first-semester course schedule includes chemistry, calculus, earth science, and an elective.
  • Students intending to pursue a BA in geology are not required to take certain courses in their first semester but should take chemistry, Earth science, and calculus during the first two years.
  • For students intending to pursue a BA in environmental studies, a typical first-semester course schedule includes chemistry, calculus, and an elective, with an intro EESC course taken in one of the first two semesters.

Note: students who have AP credit for CHEM 131 and opt to take CHEM 171: First-Year Organic Chemistry will be exempted from the CHEM 132 requirement.

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East Asian studies

Programs offered

About East Asian studies
For students interested in the languages, histories, and cultures of China, Japan, and Korea, we offer East Asian studies, a flexible and collaborative program. In addition to learning Japanese, Korean, or Mandarin Chinese, our students experience the literature, history, religion, culture, and other aspects of the region, on campus and abroad.

Information for incoming students
Students begin their study of East Asia by taking three introductory courses, arranged historically, on the literature, history, religions, visual culture, and other foundational aspects of the region. Students pursuing the major are also encouraged to begin their prerequisite language studies.

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Economics

Programs offered

About economics
From local supermarkets to global stock markets, economics underpin countless aspects of our lives. Rochester’s economics department is ranked nationally—and recognized internationally—as a leader in economic research and training. We teach the modern tools of economic analysis, and then apply those analyses to contemporary policy issues.

Information for incoming students
Students planning to major in economics should complete at least three of the following courses by the end of their sophomore year:

  • ECON 108: Principles of Economics, ECON 207: Intermediate Microeconomics, or ECON 207H: Intermediate Microeconomics Honors
  • ECON 209: Intermediate Macroeconomics or ECON 209H: Intermediate Macroeconomics Honors
  • A semester of statistics (ECON 230: Economic Statistics is recommended; STAT 213: Elements of Probability, Math Statistics or MATH 203: Introduction to Mathematical Statistics are acceptable)

By the end of your sophomore year, you should also complete at least one semester of the calculus sequence. One year of calculus is required to major in economics (MATH 161–162 is preferred; MATH 141–143 is acceptable).

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Electrical and computer engineering

Programs offered

About electrical and computer engineering

Electrical and computer engineers design, build, and test the future of the digital age, from integrated circuits and microprocessors to wireless networks and robotics. Our students learn the fundamentals of circuits and systems, electromagnetics, microelectronics, digital systems, computer architecture, mechatronics, signals and communications. They also work alongside faculty members and industry partners in research and hands-on design projects.

The electrical and computer engineering (ECE) major's curriculum is based upon a foundation of seven required natural sciences courses consisting of four mathematics courses on calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra and three physics courses on mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics. The department's curriculum provides a broad education in the basics of electrical and computer engineering, as well as in-depth studies and design experiences in one or more areas such as:

  • Computer engineering
  • Semiconductor devices
  • Integrated circuits
  • Waves and fields
  • Signals, communication, and image processing
  • Robotics

Thus, after completing their undergraduate degree, graduates are prepared to immediately enter the workforce or pursue further study at the graduate level. The flexibility in the program also offers students the opportunity to prepare for careers in law, business, or medicine and other alternative career paths.

Information for incoming students
Students who are interested in pursuing the undergraduate program in ECE are assigned faculty advisors to help with academic program planning throughout their four years of studies. Students will work with their assigned faculty advisor to choose a sequence of advanced electives that aligns with their technical interests and discuss strategies for pursuing technical internships and research positions.

Typical first-year course schedule

  • First semester: ECE 101, MATH 141 or 161, WRTG 105, cluster elective
  • Second semester: ECE 112, MATH 142 or 162, PHYS 121, cluster elective

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English

Programs offered

About English
The Department of English offers undergraduates the chance to explore a wide array of literary works—poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction—from the traditions of British, American, and Anglophone literature. They also have a variety of offerings in creative writing, film and media, journalism, rhetoric, and theater. Students in our courses:

  • Explore works of poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction from all the traditions of British and American literature
  • Study films and works in other media
  • Develop their talents as creative writers and as performers in theater
  • Pursue the study of journalism, rhetoric, and debate

All of our classes encourage exploratory thinking and critical conversation, always aiming to increase students' knowledge, skills in critical analysis, and strengths as readers and as writers.

Information for incoming students
Classes such as ENGL 112, 113, 114, and 115 provide broad surveys of English and American literature—and their historical backgrounds—and are especially useful to those students considering the major in English literature or creative writing. Two of these classes are in fact required for these tracks in the major, and they can also be counted for requirements in the theater and language, media, and communication tracks. It's important to note, however, that neither these, nor any of the 100-level classes we offer, are in any way prerequisites for upper-level courses.

The department has no hard and fast rules that prohibit them from taking most English courses at the 200 level, except for 200-level creative writing courses. If an upper-level course on, say, Shakespeare, the Victorian novel, modern poetry, post-Colonial literature, or contemporary film looks interesting, you should consider enrolling—although you might want to check with the professor if you have any questions about your preparedness.

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Environmental humanities

Programs offered

About environmental humanities
Environmental humanities is the study of ecological issues with humanities methodologies of interpretation, critique, historiography, and creative inquiry. At the University of Rochester, the Environmental Humanities Program offers courses in English, art history, studio art, history, philosophy, film and media studies, digital media studies, and more.

Courses in environmental humanities teach students how to investigate the roles of culture, history, and imagination in shaping our understandings of ecological issues and to interrogate how environmental problems and solutions have been narrated, defined, identified, and framed.

Questions that animate the University of Rochester’s environmental humanities courses include:

  • What is nature?
  • What is as an environmental fact?
  • How are facts experienced?
  • How does history inform our understanding of contemporary environmental issues?
  • How can we theorize modernity and modernization from an environmental perspective?
  • How can writers, artists, and philosophers help us think through the roles of race, class, sexuality, and social justice in environmental issues?
  • What does it mean to be an inhabitant of the new geologic era of the Anthropocene?
  • How have the sciences defined how ecological crises, such as climate change, are perceived?

A goal of the environmental humanities program is to emphasize the imagination's role in understanding alternative, marginalized environmental perspectives and in developing new possibilities and practices that have not yet been articulated.

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Film and media studies

Programs offered

About film and media studies
Our students explore film, television, video, and digital media as art forms and cultural phenomena through two tracks: a production track focused on making media, and a theory track focused on the history of media. In these tracks, students study film, television, and digital media through coursework, special collections, internships, and the department's annual film festival. The city of Rochester also plays a historic role in media history, especially through Kodak and Xerox. This history is carefully documented at the George Eastman Museum. The major and minor consist of courses offered by both the program and participating departments. Film and media studies (FMS) also provides opportunities for screening and discussing important films and videos in the history of cinema from the FMS Special Collection.

Many students go onto film or television school, pursuing graduate work in production, direction, screenwriting, cinematography, editing, acting and/or other creative aspects of media. Others choose to pursue graduate study of media history, theory, and criticism in master’s or doctoral programs. Media law and business also present exciting opportunities for postgraduate study. The major can also lead to careers in print and digital journalism, public relations and communications, arts and museum management, film preservation and curation, library science, and multimedia work.

Information for incoming students
Incoming students should take one of the two introductory core courses:

  • FMST 131: Introduction to Media Studies
  • FMST 132: Introduction to the Art of Film

After taking one of these courses, student will be ready for more advanced or specialized courses in film history, criticism, theory, and production.

Intended majors should also take a film history course, before developing their special interests in advanced courses. Courses in art history, photography, painting, music, literature, anthropology, and history provide strong support for various film courses, and these should be explored during a student's first two years.

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Gender, sexuality, and women’s studies

Programs offered

About gender, sexuality, and women's studies
Gender, sexuality and women's studies focuses on the experiences of diverse groups of women. We analyze the changing cultural, economic, political, and psychological relations between the sexes. At Rochester, we also offer our students opportunities to expand and apply their learning—from internships and art exhibitions, to conferences and student organizations.

Information for incoming students

  • Students interested in pursuing a major or minor in gender, sexuality, and women's studies are encouraged to start with GSWS 105: Sex and Power and GSWS foundation courses during their first and second years to become acquainted with GSWS topics and fulfill basic requirements.
  • We also suggest that students explore cross-listed courses offered by other programs and departments to help complete their elective requirements and develop deeper understandings of the ways ideas central to gender, sexuality, and women's studies are applied in other disciplines.

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History

Programs offered

About history
The Department of History offers programs of study leading to a BA degree and a BA degree with honors. The department also offers a minor in history. We provide our undergraduate students with opportunities to complete internships, seminars, and honors theses. They can also take advantage of a series of distinguished outside speakers, as well as symposia and workshops that address graduate students' research, teaching, and career concerns. Non-majors are welcome in most history courses and often become enthusiastic, successful students of history while pursuing other interests.

The history major offers students the analytic skills to interrogate our understanding of the past from medieval times to the present. History is a flexible major that consists of 10 courses and the minor is only six courses, although many students exceed that number. Through close collaboration with history faculty, our majors learn to conduct independent research on subjects like environmental history, colonialism, immigration, race, science, warfare, food systems, and witchcraft.

Moreover, students learn how to develop argumentative reasoning techniques and hone their writing skills whether working on digital databases, rare archival materials, primary source readers, or literary collections. History students also have considerable research opportunities through the HOUR Program, the Honors Program, and other initiatives.

The history concentration is valuable not only for those considering the historian’s vocation, but also for those pursuing careers in law, business, museums and archives, civil service, research and intelligence analysis, journalism, politics, secondary school teaching, public history, libraries, administration, sales, management, and community and social services.

The department also offers several clusters for non-majors that fulfill the social sciences divisional requirement. These clusters consist of carefully selected sets of courses, and include both geographical (e.g., American history) and topical (e.g., war and revolution) groupings.

Information for incoming students
The department offers a wide range of courses in its undergraduate program that encompass social, economic, cultural, intellectual, political, and psychological approaches to historical problems and periods. Most of our 100- and 200-level courses are accessible to students with little prior knowledge of history.

Students interested in history should enroll in one or two 100- or 200-level HIST courses during their first year. These courses provide a foundational base of knowledge for advanced seminars.

First- and second-year students as well as transfer students who are interested in majoring in history are especially encouraged to enroll in HIST 200: Gateway to History, which introduces students to the practice of history, prior to taking 300-level seminars. Gateway courses explore what professional historians actually do and how they do it.

Transfer, AP and IB Credit
No more than four courses taken outside the department can be counted toward the major and no more than two courses for the minor. This includes study abroad courses, cross-listed courses taught by faculty not formally associated with the Department of History, and no more than a combined total of four elective credit hours (the equivalent of one course) for AP and IB exams.

AP credit will be granted for a score of 5 on the American, European, or World History exams. Credit will be granted for only one AP course. This credit is elective credit and may not be used to satisfy the geographical or chronological distribution requirements in the major or minor or to satisfy the focus requirement in the major.

Transfer students majoring in history are required to take a minimum of five courses in the department, thus meeting half the major requirements in residence.

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International relations

Programs offered

About international relations
With globalization, developing an understanding of world politics, international relations, and policymaking is invaluable. At Rochester, international relations majors explore world affairs. We combine theory and practice: our students study abroad, complete international internships, and take courses taught in a modern foreign language.

Information for incoming students

  • In your first year, take two to three introductory (100-level) classes to explore the international relations major and its three tracks.
  • PSC 200: Data Analysis I is also an appropriate course for incoming students.
  • Students might also consider beginning or furthering their study of a modern spoken language other than English. We also recommend exploring the Center for Education Abroad to begin learning about opportunities for study abroad. Most students go abroad in their junior year, but some go as sophomores.

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Jewish studies

Programs offered

  • Minors: Hebrew, Jewish studies

About Jewish studies

Housed in the Department of Religion and Classics and supported by the Center for Jewish Studies, the program is designed to enable students to familiarize with the history, religion, philosophy, literatures, languages, and politics of Judaism. As Jewish civilization developed across a variety of geographical and cultural areas of the world and over thousands of years, the program's course offerings reflect the complex, multifaceted, and heterogeneous dimensions of the Jewish experience with classes on:

  • The Hebrew Bible
  • Ancient, medieval, and modern Jewish history
  • The Holocaust
  • Gender studies
  • American Judaism
  • Pre-modern and modern Jewish literature
  • Classical and modern Hebrew

As an interdisciplinary program, Jewish studies brings together faculty from different departments, including History and Modern Languages and Cultures, whose interests are diverse and cross-cultural and favor a variety of approaches to the study of Jewish life and different aspects of Jewish culture (such as food, cinema, and the arts). Students of all backgrounds are welcome to take Jewish studies courses and participate in the program.

Information for incoming students

  • First-year students are encouraged to begin with a 100-level course in Jewish Studies, such as JWST 100/RELC 109: Jewish Living: Past and Present, JWST 106/RELC 101: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, or JWST 113/RELC 103: History of Judaism.
  • Students with no or only little previous exposure to Hebrew can enroll in HBRW/JWST 101: Elementary Modern Hebrew I. Placement is necessary for all other levels.

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Latin American studies

Programs offered

About Latin American studies
Latin America continues to rise as an important geopolitical presence on the international stage. A minor in Latin American studies offers students a broad view of Latin American cultures and their relations to the United States and the rest of the world. A total of five courses related to Latin American people, their languages, their cultures, and their experiences are required for the minor. Two courses must be from two different academic areas, such as anthropology, dance, economics, history, international relations, political science, Portuguese, religion, or Spanish. Students wishing to satisfy the humanities or social sciences division requirement must take three of the five classes from that division.

Students are permitted to use up to two study abroad courses with approval of the program coordinator. Students may also develop a community-engaged project and pursue related internships and research to satisfy requirements with approval from the program coordinator.

Information for incoming students

  • Students interested in pursuing the Latin American studies minor are encouraged to take 100-level and 200-level courses related to the region.
  • Students are also encouraged to pursue language study as one of the following language pre-requisites must be successfully completed before students can declare the minor:
    • PORT 152: Intermediate Portuguese II
    • SPAN 152: Intermediate Spanish I
    • SPAN 153: Intensive Intermediate Spanish
  • Students who are placed in SPAN 200: Advanced Spanish Composition, may use this course to satisfy their language requirement.

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Linguistics

Programs offered

About linguistics
Linguistics offers students an opportunity to engage in the scientific study of human language. This includes the structures underlying sound (phonetics and phonology), form (syntax, morphology), and meaning (semantics, pragmatics). Our department emphasizes a balance of theoretical and empirical work that encourages the use of first-hand evidence and gives our students the ability to understand, challenge, and defend theoretical claims.

Information for incoming students

  • Students planning to major, minor, or cluster in linguistics should start with LING 110: Introduction to Linguistic Analysis, which is a prerequisite for all of the 200-level linguistics courses.
  • Students who are planning to major in linguistics should take LING 210W: Introduction to Language Sound Systems and/or LING 225: Introduction to Semantic Analysis in the fall of sophomore year and LING 220W: Introduction to Grammatical Systems in the spring of either freshman or sophomore year in addition to any 100-level elective courses they are interested in (e.g. 102, 104, 105).
  • We recommend meeting with the director of undergraduate studies for linguistics to plan your major track.

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Mathematics

Programs offered

About mathematics
Math students at Rochester enjoy the challenge and fascination of mathematics. We offer multiple tracks in math, including a bachelor of arts that complements any number of other majors, from financial economics to physics. That flexibility lets our students pursue the degree that best matches their interests and goals. Plus, our students learn from—and alongside—leading math researchers who love teaching.

Information for incoming students

  • One of the primary factors conducive to success in mathematics is placement in the appropriate course. All incoming students are provided a mathematics placement based previous coursework. For more information on math placement, as well as AP credit, see our placement page.
  • The Department of Mathematics has several introductory calculus sequences to suit students' interests and goals:
    • The sequence MATH 161–162, is the standard introductory calculus sequence for students who intend to major in mathematics, a physical science, engineering, or another technical field.
    • The sequence MATH 141–143, covers the same material as MATH 161–162 but at a slower pace (in three semesters rather than two), using the same textbook. Students that have not taken pre-calculus should take MATH 140: Foundations of Calculus.
    • The department also offers the honors calculus sequence MATH 171–174 for talented students interested in mathematics or its theoretical applications to other fields.
  • Computer science and data science majors should also consider MATH 150: Discrete Mathematics. All students are welcome to sign up for MATH 190: Topics in Problem Solving, a one-credit course geared as preparation for math competitions.

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Mechanical engineering

Programs offered

About mechanical engineering
Design, manufacturing, industry collaborations, research innovations—mechanical engineering combines these and more. Our students apply the latest software to solve problems of solids and fluids, energy, materials science, mechanical systems, and advanced power. They do so through extensive hands-on work as well as design and experimental projects.

Information for incoming students

  • By the beginning of sophomore year, students need to complete the following courses to fulfill prerequisites for upper-level engineering classes:
    • MATH 161-162 (recommended) or equivalent calculus sequence
    • PHYS 113 or PHYS 121 (recommended) or PHYS 141
  • To officially declare a mechanical engineering major, typically done at the end of sophomore year, students must have completed the following courses: ME 120, ME 121, ME 123, ME 226. Students should consult with their faculty advisor and undergraduate coordinator at least once a semester to track their degree progress.

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Medieval and early modern studies

Programs offered

About medieval and early modern studies
Study the historical and cultural production of Europe and the Mediterranean, from the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of Islam to the mid-seventeenth century. Rochester's minor in medieval and early modern studies comprises courses from a range of disciplines, including art history, English, modern languages and cultures, music, and more.

Information for incoming students
The medieval and early modern studies minor requires six courses, one of which must be classical and scriptural backgrounds. At least three of the six courses should be at the 200 level or above. A maximum of four courses may be taken from any one academic department, and at least four of the six courses for the minor need to be in either the humanities or social sciences division.

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Modern languages and cultures

Programs offered

About modern languages and cultures
Are you eager to learn more than one language? How much do you know about other cultures? In the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, we encourage the broadening of current linguistic skills in languages other than English, as well as the acquisition of new languages, from elementary to advanced levels of study.

Information for incoming students
The fall semester is the best time to begin or to continue with the study of languages and cultures, as all the national programs in the department offer elementary, intermediate, and advanced courses at the start of the year. Students with no previous experience in a particular language may register for any 101 course; placement is necessary for all other language courses and levels. The 101 and 102 courses constitute the first year of language study. Courses numbered 151–159 are at the intermediate or second-year level while those at the 200 level are advanced.

The Advanced Placement scores or International Baccalaureate rankings assist departmental advisors in finding the right course level for you. For those wishing to continue with the study of a language, the first step is to take the online placement exam or contact the program advisor (depending on the language).

There are many courses in MLC taught in English under the comparative literature rubric (for example, RUSS 231/CLTR 255A: Great Russian Writers). Courses in comparative literature are taught in translation and are a great way to broaden your acquaintance with literatures and cultures from around the world prior to or without studying the language of that culture. Comparative literature refers both to the study of literature as it is traditionally conceived—genres such as fiction, drama, and poetry—as well as the investigation of questions of theory and cultural production more broadly.

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Music

Programs offered

About music
The music program at Rochester combines performance and academic study within a liberal arts setting in subjects ranging from medieval plainchant to modern day hip-hop. This flexible degree program offers concentration in eight different tracks, including musical theater, performance, and music in world cultures.

Information for incoming students

  • Every student should take at least one music course during their time at Rochester. Music department courses accommodate a wide range of interests for students with no background in music to those interested in making music their livelihood.
  • We strongly encourage students considering a major in music to take music theory during their first year. Students interested in registering for a music theory course should take the Music Theory Placement Exam, available on Blackboard.
  • Students who read music and perform at an intermediate level can audition for applied music lessons through the Eastman School of Music by signing up through this web form.

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Neuroscience

Programs offered

About neuroscience
Rochester is the ideal place to study the nervous system. We offer a neuroscience specialty within our biological sciences degree program. Our students access resources from across departments, including biology, and brain and cognitive sciences. They also conduct research alongside leading faculty from the River Campus and the Medical Center.

Information for incoming students

  • Students who are interested in neuroscience should take the introductory biology sequence (BIOL 110 and BIOL 111 or BIOL 112 and BIOL 113) and the introductory chemistry sequence (CHEM 131 and CHEM 132) in their first year.
  • NSCI 201: Basic Neurobiology is not open to first-year students; it has a prerequisite of BIOL 110 and is typically taken in fall of sophomore year. There are some brain and cognitive science (BSC) courses that are available to first-year students who want a course on the brain and behavior; these courses do not fulfill neuroscience major requirements, but may be applicable to a minor in BCS or psychology. Such courses include:
    • BCSC 110: Neural Foundations of Behavior (offered fall and spring)
    • BCSC 111: Foundations of Cognitive Science (offered fall and spring)
    • BCSC 172: Development of Mind and Brain (offered spring)
    • BCSC 183: Animal Minds (offered fall)
  • Neuroscience majors may also fulfill some of their allied field requirements during the first year. Students who are planning to do research in neuroscience or a related field may find it valuable to take statistics and computer programming early in their academic program. A course such as STAT 180 or STAT 190 will fulfill the introductory statistics requirement of the major.
  • CSC 161 is the recommended starting point in computer science for most neuroscience majors, but those intending to continue to more advanced programming may want to choose CSC 171. Either CSC 161 or 171 can fulfill an allied field requirement.
  • Pre-med students may use the calculus and physics courses required for medical school admission to fulfill allied field requirements; however, it is not necessary to start these sequences in the first year.

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Optics

Programs offered

About optics
From the early days of quantum mechanics to the modern advent of the observation of gravitational waves, light has been central to our understanding of the world. Optics, the science of light and its interaction with matter, is a remarkably diverse field that has applications in almost every field one can dream of. With two majors offered, the best place to prepare for a career is The Institute of Optics, the first of its kind and a leader in quantum optics and laser physics.

What differentiates the two majors are the culminating classes during the senior year. Both optics and optical engineering students spend their first three years immersing themselves in the study and applications of light and light-based technology. Optics students, use their research skills and complete a senior thesis on a topic of their choice. Optical engineering students apply their knowledge and research skills to construct solutions for optics-related problems in a senior design project.

All students have the opportunity to work with our corporate partners for internships and co-ops, conduct faculty-led independent research, specialize in various areas, and work in faculty labs.

Information for incoming students

  • A first-year student entering optics or optical engineering typically takes a basic chemistry course, calculus, a writing or cluster course, and OPT 101: Introduction to Optics.
  • The second semester continues with calculus, physics, a writing or cluster course, and a departmental introduction to scientific computing (OPT 211).

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Philosophy

Programs offered

About philosophy
Is science incompatible with religion? Do animals have moral rights? What makes a belief justified or rational? Philosophy is the search for answers to fundamental questions about the nature of knowledge, science, justice, religion, law and morality, the mind and language, and more. Our program engages students in the analysis of historical and contemporary answers to these questions. We also offer opportunities for guided in-depth research.

Many philosophy majors go on to law school, where they find the analytic and critical skills emphasized in philosophy most useful. Others go on to medical school, business school, graduate school in other fields, or various professions. Some go on to do graduate work in philosophy.

Information for incoming students
All incoming students who wish to take a philosophy course should begin with any of our introductory courses, which are the 100-level courses along with 201 and 202. PHIL 101 is our broadest survey of philosophy and is also a requirement for the major, so that is an excellent way to begin. But if you are interested in the topic of another introductory course then you are welcome to start there, as well. Once you've taken at least one introductory-level course you may explore more advanced-level courses according to your interests (keeping in mind relevant cluster, minor, or major requirements).

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Physics and astronomy

Programs offered

  • Majors: physics (BA, BS), physics and astronomy (BA, BS)
  • Minors: astronomy, physics

About physics and astronomy
From subatomic particles to supernovas, at Rochester we study, explain, and predict the behavior of the physical world. As a moderately sized department at a major research university, we offer a nationally ranked research program, accessible faculty who love teaching, and multiple on-campus resources, including the Laboratory for Laser Energetics.

At Rochester, you can also combine physics with astronomy in order to help us understand the universe. We offer a nationally ranked PhD program as well as numerous opportunities for undergraduates to conduct physics and astronomy research. As a result, our students master the fundamentals of the discipline while developing into capable scientists.

Information for incoming students

  • Students interested in majoring in physics or physics and astronomy, as well as students with interests in science, mathematics or engineering, are encouraged to register for PHYS 141: Mechanics-Honors in the fall semester of their first year, followed by PHYS 143: Waves and Modern Physics-Honors in the spring semester, and PHYS 142: Electricity and Magnetism-Honors in the fall semester of their sophomore year. Additionally, students wishing to major in physics and astronomy are encouraged to take AST 111 in the fall semester of their first year.
  • Students without previous experience in calculus and/or physics are advised to delay their first physics course until the spring semester, when PHYS 121 is offered. Students who do well in PHYS 121 and wish to pursue introductory physics in greater depth can then switch to PHYS 142 (honors) in the fall semester of their sophomore year. The regular continuation of PHYS 121, PHYS 122 and PHYS 123, is also suitable for physics and engineering students.
  • PHYS 113 and PHYS 114 is a calculus-based two-semester course sequence appropriate for majors in the life sciences and others desiring a working knowledge of basic physics.  

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Political science

Programs offered

About political science
One of the University's largest majors, political science at Rochester emphasizes the scientific underpinnings of the discipline, including systematic testing, analysis, and theory. Using cutting-edge analytic tools, our students study and analyze important issues facing contemporary societies in the United States and abroad.

Information for incoming students

  • In your first year, take two to three introductory (100-level) classes to explore the political science major and its five tracks.
  • First-year students interested in the data and modeling track or in the BS major are encouraged to take PSCI 107: Introduction to Positive Political Theory and PSCI 200: Data Analysis I. (First-year students interested in the BS major should also consider beginning their calculus sequence. Note that calculus is required only for the BS major.)

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Politics, philosophy, and economics

Programs offered

About politics, philosophy, and economics
Politics, philosophy, and economics (PPE) is an interdisciplinary course of study that prepares students to approach real-world problems from three very different but complimentary perspectives. This not only equips students with tools and methods from three disciplines, but also trains them to recognize the kinds of errors that each of these disciplines is likely to make when used alone. The PPE major provides students with tools of ethical, microeconomic, and quantitative analysis, and teaches them to apply these tools to a wide array of fundamental social, political, and economic problems in the contemporary world. Ultimately, students design their own thematic concentration, where they apply these tools to an urgent problem of their own choosing.

The PPE major prepares students for a broad range of careers, from law, to politics, to business, to policy, and beyond. It provides students with both excellent preparation for graduate work, and with a skill set to dive directly into their careers.

Information for incoming students
Incoming students are encouraged to begin by taking a Gateway course in each discipline. Available Gateway courses are:

  • Economics—ECON 108: Principles of Economics
  • Philosophy—either PHIL 102: Introduction to Ethics or PHIL 103: Contemporary Moral Problems
  • Political Science—either PSCI 101: Introduction to Comparative Politics, PSCI 104: Introduction to Political Philosophy, PSCI 105: Introduction to American Politics, or PSCI 107: Introduction to Positive Political Theory
Psychology

Programs offered

About psychology
Do incentives motivate people to act or participate? How does exposure to neglect or violence impact a child’s development? Why do women feel threatened by other women wearing the color red? At Rochester, we study psychology as a natural science and social science, while also considering the discipline's real-world applications. Coursework includes theoretical and empirical emphases, as well as the application of psychology to human services professions.

Student experiences may range from lecture courses, many with small recitations, to individual laboratory, practicum, and internship opportunities. Individual programs, including a major, minors, an honors program, and several clusters, may be tailored to provide excellent background for postgraduate work in psychology, medicine, education, business, social work, counseling, and other related social and natural sciences, as well as entry into various occupations, particularly those involving delivery of human services.

Students planning to pursue graduate studies in psychology are advised to seek general breadth and focused depth in their knowledge of psychology as well as a working familiarity with research skills.

Information for incoming students

A score of 4 or 5 on the AP psychology examination or of 6 or higher on the higher-level IB psychology examination will earn a four-credit equivalent of PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology which can be applied to the psychology major or psychology minor.

A limited number of seats are held in PSYC 170: Child Development each fall for first-year students with AP or IB credit. This is often a good next step for students entering the College with credit for PSYC 101.

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Public health

Programs offered

About public health
The study of public health integrates a wide range of disciplines; it requires, for example, the ability to:

  • Use and understand statistics
  • Understand how human and environmental factors contribute to human exposure to environmental toxins and pathogens
  • Empathize with people from different backgrounds and cultures
  • Understand social institutions that structure health care
  • Analyze complex ethical situations

For that reason, all of the public health programs require a set of core competencies in a variety of disciplines, and each of the majors incorporates courses from many different departments to support its intellectual goals. Indeed, the majors fall into different divisions of the College: epidemiology; health policy; and health, behavior, and society (and their associated minors) are in the social sciences division; bioethics (and its minor) is in the humanities; and environmental health is in the natural sciences.

A public health–related major or minor is an ideal way to explore an interest in the health professions of medicine, dentistry, and nursing. To integrate fully an interest in public health with admissions requirements for professional schools, students are strongly encouraged to meet with a health professions advisor in the Gwen M. Greene Career and Internship Center.

Information for incoming students

There are multiple avenues to start exploring public health programs, depending on what your interests are. We’ve included some suggestions here, but students are welcome to reach out to the public health program as well.

Public Health
For students interested in exploring the broader topic of public health, we recommend starting with PHLT 101: Introduction to Public Health I (fall and spring). This is a broad survey course designed to introduce beginning students to public health history, concepts, and contemporary issues locally, nationally, and globally. In addition to PHLT 101, PHLT 103, and PHLT 116 (described below) are also great general introductions to the topics of public health.

Epidemiology
PHLT 103: Concepts of Epidemiology (fall and spring) is an excellent course for students interested in learning more about epidemiology. This course provides students with the fundamental concepts needed to understand health-related information and health policy and introduces them to the history of epidemiology and the basic methodological principles used to describe disease occurrence in populations and identify causes of disease.

Health Policy or Health, Behavior, and Society
Whether you’re interested in health policy or health, behavior, and society, PHLT 116: Introduction to the U.S. Health System (fall) is a good course to get you started. This course examines the organization, financing, and functioning of the United States health care system. It also explores historical perspectives and the insights of international comparisons. Topics include the economics of the U.S. health system, access to care, health policy and politics, and disability and disability politics.

Environmental Health
PHLT 201W: Environmental Health (spring) is a great place to start for students interested in environmental health. This course covers the basic principles used to evaluate the potential human health risk of exposure to environmental contaminants in air, water, and food. PHLT 201W course pre-requisites include: BIOL 110; CHEM 131; PHLT 103.

Bioethics
Students interested in bioethics should consider taking PHIL 103: Contemporary Moral Problems (fall and spring). This course is an introduction to moral philosophy as applied to current topics.

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Religion

Programs offered

About religion

Religion is a major force in the world, both in the past and in the present. It plays a key role in shaping the lives of individuals as well as societies and cultures. Religion has been and can be a source of peace and compassion or an impetus for division and war. Students of religion learn to employ a variety of theoretical methods and interpretive approaches to understand religion in the diverse forms it has taken in different cultures and historical periods. Students can major in either religion or in religion, politics, and society.

The concentration in religion focuses on the study of the world’s major religions through analyses of their histories, texts, rituals, institutions, and practices that are embedded in complex cultures, societies, and political systems. Students can also take courses in which some aspect of religion, such as ritual, pilgrimage, mysticism, or myth, is studied thematically and comparatively.

The concentration in religion, politics, and society focuses on the many ways in which religious ideas and practices intersect with other aspects of human culture and society. For example, the department offers courses that examine the intersection of religion and different genres of music such as hip-hop or blues. Other courses explore the ways in which religion has influenced the law and shaped societal understandings of guilt and punishment, nationalism, global violence, and peacemaking, etc. Still others focus on the ways in which different religious traditions have shaped human understandings of the nature of the body and the self and have informed everyday bodily practices related to eating, dressing, and sexuality.

Students have considerable independence in shaping and structuring their major so that they can focus on those areas of the study of religion that are of greatest interest to them while also developing a strong foundation in the study of religion generally and a mastery of the methods and theories used by scholars to understand religion in all its fascinating complexity.

Students in the Department of Religion and Classics are encouraged to do independent research, both in their classes and during the summer. Over the past 10 years, many students in the department have presented their research at the University of Rochester Research Exposition as well as at national conferences and have been awarded significant prizes in recognition of their work. Recent graduates of the program in religion have an excellent record of admission to top-tier graduate schools as well as to medical schools and law schools.

The program in religion is housed in the Department of Religion and Classics, which also offers a major in classics as well as minors in Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, classics, classical civilizations, Latin, and Greek.

Information for incoming students

  • Students should take courses that interest them, and, thus, there are no prerequisite courses that first-year students need to take in the religion concentration before moving on to a course that fits their interests.
  • First-year students are however encouraged to begin with a 100-level course. Many students initially take a course in religion to fulfill their cluster requirement in the humanities and then go on to declare a minor or major in religion or in classics.
  • Language placement for Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin are done on an individual basis. First-year students are encouraged to contact the director of undergraduate studies with any questions.

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Statistics

Programs offered

About statistics
Statistics is the mathematical science of analyzing and presenting data. At Rochester, our statistics students learn from a team of leading faculty who love to teach and incorporate practical experience analyzing data into their classes. Many of our statistics majors also double major in related areas of interest to them, such as economics, business, biology, public health sciences, and more.

Information for incoming students
Students looking to major in statistics should complete:

  • An introductory statistics course (STAT 180 or STAT 190, with STAT 190 being ideal for students planning to double major economics, business analytics, finance, or computer science) and two courses in a calculus sequence (MATH 161-162 or MATH 171-172 preferred, MATH 141-143 acceptable) by the end of their first year.
  • An intermediate-level applied course such as STAT 216 or STAT 218 is also recommended, particularly if students have AP or transfer statistics credit.
  • For students looking for a first theory course in statistics, we recommend STAT 201, which should be completed by the end of sophomore year at the latest.

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Sustainability

Programs offered

About sustainability
How can we preserve and conserve our planet’s resources while meeting the needs of people around the world? At Rochester, we believe environmental sustainability is best studied from multiple perspectives, integrating the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. The result is collaborative solutions and innovative ideas for global change that make Earth more sustainable.

Information for incoming students
The minor in sustainability is intentionally interdisciplinary and includes courses from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The goal of the minor is to provide a curriculum that encourages students to learn to communicate and to solve problems of societal relevance that straddle disciplinary boundaries in sustainability and global change. Students wishing to satisfy the natural sciences or social sciences divisional area of the Rochester Curriculum must take at least three of the six classes from that division.

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Writing Studies (in the Writing, Speaking, and Argument Program)

WSAP clusters and minor tracks offer students a flexible writing curriculum that allows them to select the curricula that best fits their academic and professional interests. Three clusters parallel three minor tracks and go by the same name: General Writing Studies; Language, Linguistics, and Writing; Digital and Multimodal Communication. WSAP also offers a fourth cluster, Community Engagement and Communication, and a fourth minor track, Theory and Practice in Writing and Speaking.

About Writing Studies
Writing studies draws on theory, research, and practice related to how we write and speak in different disciplines, professions, and environments (e.g., at home, at school, online). Our goal is to help students develop as academic communicators in ways that honor their language backgrounds and identities. We recognize that effective communication varies with situation and always involves a negotiation between individual and community identities, goals, and ways of communicating. As a whole, writing studies courses

  • Build systematic language knowledge at all levels of a composition (phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, full work) so that writers may recognize different language choices and their effects on different audiences
  • Draw on WSAP’s cross-disciplinary faculty and writing curriculum to enable students to craft a cluster or minor that reflects their academic and professional goals
  • Recognize and value diverse voices and lived-identities in listening, reading, and research
  • Involve practice in speaking and writing that draws on multiple voices and lived-identities—including students’—in ways that are purposeful and attentive to different rhetorical contexts and serve the larger community
  • Develop awareness of and an ability to participate in communications that are increasingly multi-modal, digital, and global

These aspects are emphasized to different degrees in each cluster and minor track.

Information for Incoming Students
The majority of 100-level courses relate to completing the primary writing requirement. One 100-level course (WRTG 108, Workshop in Writing), which does require completion of the primary writing requirement, is open to students in their first and subsequent years. In this P/F 2-credit course, students set their own writing goals and work toward them with a small group of peers and instructional support.

WRTG 200-level courses focus on different areas in writing studies; all may be used toward a cluster or minor; and the majority may be taken by first-year students. Many 200-level courses are open to students in their first and subsequent years and do not require completion of the primary writing requirement:

  • Fall: WRTG 251, The Playful Sentence; WRTG 269, Studies in Translation
  • Spring: LING 161/WRTG 250, Modern English Grammar; WRTG 265, Argument and Evidence Across Contexts; WRTG 290B, Writing about and With Artificial Intelligence

Other 200-level courses are open to students in their first or subsequent years and do require completion of the primary writing requirement.

  • Fall: WRTG 253, Cognition and Writing; WRTG 260, Writing Across Technologies
  • Spring: WRTG 252, Principles & Practices of Copyediting; WRTG 261, Writing in a Digital World; WRTG 262, What Do You Mean I Can’t Do That? Learning to Write Like an “Insider” in Your Disciple(s); WRTG 266, Words Have Power: Writing for Social Change

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