The Rochester Curriculum

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 comfort with 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.

African and African-American studies

Programs offered

Major: African and African-American studies (BA)
Minor: African and African-American studies

About African and African-American studies
The Frederick Douglass Institute for African and African-American Studies serves as the University's focal point for African and African-American studies, a scholarly field that speaks uniquely to the issues of diversity, diaspora, citizenship, race, and identity that continue to be among the most important faced by our nation and our world. The major in African and African-American studies provides an interdisciplinary program studying people of African descent in the Atlantic world, including the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and the African continent. Students follow a rigorous and closely-monitored major, designed to provide both broad exposure to and in-depth knowledge of the field. The major has three tracks:

Race and social issues
Visual, performing, and literary arts
Slavery and its legacies

The major appeals to students with primary interests in African and African-American studies as well as students working in more traditional, discipline-specific majors who find it an attractive, complementary option. Students majoring in engineering or the natural sciences may find a major in African and African-American studies an enriching opportunity, as well.

American Sign Language

Programs offered

Major: American Sign Language (BA)
Minor: American Sign Language

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.

Programs offered

Major: anthropology (BA)
Minors: anthropology, medical anthropology

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.

Archaeology, technology, and historical structures

Programs offered

Major: archaeology, technology, and historical structures (BA)
Minor: archaeology, technology, and historical structures

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:

Engineering
Archaeology and architecture
History
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.

Art and art history

Programs offered

Majors: art history (BA), studio arts (BA)
Minors: art history, studio arts

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.

Audio and music engineering

Programs offered

Major: audio and music engineering (BS)
Minor: audio and music engineering

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 major focuses on providing a hands-on introduction to work in the field, including electronics labs, audio programming, and working in a recording studio. The department also sponsors many events, including guest speakers from the industry, as well as and an Audio Engineering Society student organization.
We encourage our students to study abroad, typically for one semester. The ideal semesters for our students to study abroad are 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, though there are other international programs available.

Typical first-year course schedule
First semester	Second semester
MATH 161 or 141	MATH 162 or 142
AME 140	AME 141
WRTG 105	AME 191
MUSC 111	PHYS 121 or 113
MUSC 109	MUSC 113

Biology and biological sciences

Programs offered

Majors: biology (BA), biological sciences: general track (BS), biological sciences: biochemistry track (BS), biological sciences: cell and developmental biology track (BS), biological sciences: computational biology track (BS), biological sciences: ecology and evolutionary biology track (BS), biological sciences: microbiology track (BS), biological sciences: molecular genetics track (BS), biological sciences: neuroscience track (BS)
Minors: biological sciences, computational biology

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 make an appointment with the program coordinator/curriculum advisor for help determining course placement during their first semester. Interim Transfer Credit Evaluations (emailed to students upon enrollment from Admissions) and a syllabus of the biology courses taken at other institutions are helpful in this process.

Biomedical engineering

Programs fffered

Major: biomedical engineering (BS)
Minor: biomedical engineering

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

Brain and cognitive sciences

Programs offered

Major: brain and cognitive sciences (BA, BS), biological sciences: neuroscience (BS)
Minors: brain and cognitive sciences, research in visual science, visual science

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 212 and BIOL 214.
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.

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 Barry Florescue Undergraduate Business Program prepare students for the business world of tomorrow. The undergraduate program builds on the principles of statistics, economics, and other social sciences. Students at Rochester also study business-related disciplines such as finance, accounting, marketing, operations management, and organization theory.

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

Chemical engineering

Programs offered

Major: chemical engineering (BS)
Minor: chemical engineering

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).

Programs offered

Majors: chemistry (BA, BS)
Minor: chemistry

About chemistry
Chemistry at Rochester emphasizes hands-on research. As a close-knit department at a top-tier research university, they offer students the chance to work alongside award-winning faculty and with state-of-the-art facilities. The drive for discovery underpins everything they do, so students get the best of their faculty as both scientists and teachers.

The Department of Chemistry offers both BA and BS degrees. The BS degree is intended for students who want to go on to a career in the field, whereas the BA degree offers more flexibility and enables a student to pursue more interests 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
Rake CHEM 171, the honors organic chemistry course in their fall semester

CHEM 137 is a one-semester introduction to general chemistry specifically for engineering students whose majors require a single semester of chemistry.

Computer science

Programs offered

Majors: computer science (BA, BS)
Minor: computer science

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 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.

Dance and movement

Programs offered

Majors: dance (BA) with a concentration in creative expression and performance available
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 385: Dance Performance Workshop. This course will allow students to perform in a faculty piece during the fall semester and hear directly about the opportunities that arise in the Program of Dance and Movement.
For those beginning their dance journeys, check out the multitude of 100- and 200-level DANC courses offered.

Programs offered

Majors: data science (BA, BS)

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, and images and video.

Students learn to use techniques and theories drawn from mathematics, statistics, and computer science, including machine learning, data mining, inferential statistics, databases, and data visualization. In addition, students delve deeply into a concentration area where data science can be applied.

There is 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 in data analytics 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 are at the 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).

Digital media studies

Programs offered

Major: digital media studies (BA)
Minor: digital media studies

About digital media studies
Digital media consists of computer-based technologies for representing and imagining the world. We incorporate the theory and production of digital media from its two principle perspectives: science and technology, and art and humanities. With state-of-the-art technologies and facilities, Rochester is the ideal place to study this 21st-century discipline.

Information for incoming students
Students interested in digital media studies are strongly urged to begin core coursework with:

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

These core courses are offered in both fall and spring semesters and do not need to be taken consecutively.

Since these courses prepare students for the variety of upper-level courses that make up the major, students are encouraged to complete this core coursework before the end of their sophomore year. Because the major is flexibly designed, however, students can begin taking production courses while they are working on core courses. Thus, in the spring semester a student might take DMST 104 in conjunction with a course on digital art, for example, or one on machines and consciousness.
In the sophomore year, students continue the core and production courses, begin advanced-level media history and theory work, and may enroll in the required digital applications course.

Earth and environmental sciences

Programs offered

Majors: environmental science (BS), environmental studies (BA), geological sciences (BA, BS), geomechanics (BS)
Minors: climate change science, Earth and planetary sciences, environmental geology, geological sciences

About earth and environmental sciences
Earth and environmental sciences is the integration of chemistry, biology, and physics applied to Earth and planetary systems. Wind, water, earthquakes, volcanoes, and human activities constantly modify Earth. Global systems studies probe the processes that form and modify the planet, from cycling of water and human interactions, to magmatism and faulting at plate boundaries, as well as recycling of plates within the convecting mantle. Understanding these systems requires measurements of our planet's present-day structure, as well as records since its formation 4.5 billion years ago.

Information for incoming students

For students intending to pursue the bachelor of science degree in geology, a typical first-semester course schedule would be chemistry, geology, calculus, and an elective. Beyond the second year, specialty tracks within the major enable students to emphasize the relationships between geology, biology, geology and/or chemistry, and are structured to provide students with flexibility to select upper-level courses in the department that best align with individual interests.
For students intending to pursue the bachelor of science degree in environmental science, a typical first-semester course schedule includes calculus, chemistry and/or biology, and an elective.
Students intending to pursue the bachelor of arts degree in geology are not required to take certain courses for their first semester but should take chemistry, geology, and mathematics during the first two years.
Students intending to pursue a bachelor of arts degree in environmental studies might take chemistry, calculus, economics or political science, and an elective in the first semester.

East Asian studies

Programs offered

Major: East Asian studies (BA)
Minor: East Asian studies

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.

Programs offered

Majors: economics (BA), financial economics (BA)
Minors: economics

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).

Electrical and computer engineering

Programs offered

Major: electrical and computer engineering (BS)
Minor: electrical and computer engineering

About electrical and computer engineering
Electrical and computer engineering is the bedrock of the digital age from communications and networks to robotics, media, and consumer electronics. Our students learn the fundamentals of circuits and systems, electromagnetics, microelectronics, digital systems, computer architecture, signals and communications. They also work alongside faculty members and industry partners in research and hands-on design projects.

The electrical and computer engineering major's curriculum is based upon a foundation of mathematics and the physical sciences with a total of five mathematics and three physical science courses required. 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:

Signals and communications
Computer architecture
Robotics
Electronics and integrated circuit design

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
The program of study for the major is built on a foundation of basic math, science, programming, and includes advanced coursework in fundamental engineering science. 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
Fall semester	Spring semester
MATH 161 or MATH 141	MATH 162 or MATH 142
WRTG 105	ECE 112
ECE 101	PHYS 121
Cluster elective	Cluster elective

Programs offered

Major: English (BA) with four tracks to choose from: British and American literature; creative writing; language, media, and communication; theater
Minors: creative writing, English literature, journalism, theater

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.

Environmental humanities

Programs offered

Minor: environmental humanities

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.

Film and media studies

Programs offered

Major: film and media studies (BA)
Minor: film and media studies

About film and media studies
Our students explore motion pictures, television, and media as art forms and cultural phenomena. They study their production and creation through coursework, special collections, internships, and the department's annual film festival. The city of Rochester also plays an active role in today’s media landscape. The major and minor consist of specific courses offered by participating departments and provide opportunities for screening and analysis of centrally 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 media journalism, arts and museum management, film preservation and curating, 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.

Gender, sexuality, and women’s studies

Programs offered

Major: gender, sexuality, and women's studies (BA)
Minor: gender, sexuality, and women's studies

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.

Programs offered

Major: history (BA)
Minor: history

About history
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, 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
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 Seward Family Project, the Honors Program and other initiatives.

Information for incoming students

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-year students are especially encouraged to enroll in HIST 167M: Meliora Seminars. Prospective majors should complete HIST 200: Gateway to History, which introduces students to the practice of history, prior to taking 300-level seminars.

International relations

Programs offered

Major: international relations (BA)
Minor: international relations

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.

Programs offered

Minors: Hebrew, Jewish studies

About Jewish studies
Learn 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:

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

As an interdisciplinary program, Jewish studies brings together faculty from different departments whose interests are diverse and cross cultural and favor a variety of approaches to the study of Jewish life and culture. 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 RELC 101: Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, or RELC 113: History of Judaism.

Latin American studies

Programs offered

Minor: Latin American studies

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.

Programs offered

Minor: legal studies

About legal studies
For undergraduate students interested in law, our legal studies minor enables you to develop your interest in the field, whether or not you wish to attend law school afterward. The minor in legal studies is an interdisciplinary program of study that gives students the opportunity to examine law from a variety of perspectives. While the minor should be useful for those who may be thinking of attending law school, it should not be considered a program in pre-professional training.

Information for incoming students

Since many of the courses in the program are upper-level courses in the departments involved, first-year students who are interested in the minor may wish to begin by taking appropriate introductory courses in some of the relevant departments.
Most legal studies minors do not declare the minor until their sophomore or junior year.

Programs offered

Major: linguistics (BA)
Minor: linguistics

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.

Programs offered

Majors: applied mathematics (BS), mathematics (BA, BS), mathematics and statistics (BA)
Minor: mathematics

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.

Mechanical engineering

Programs offered

Major: mechanical engineering (BS)
Minor: mechanical engineering

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.

Medieval and early modern studies

Programs offered

Minor: medieval and early modern studies

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.

Modern languages and cultures

Programs offered

Majors: comparative literature (BA), French (BA), German (BA), Italian (BA), Japanese (BA), Russian (BA), Russian studies (BA), Spanish (BA)
Minors: Chinese, comparative literature, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Russian studies, Spanish
Additional Languages Offered: Korean, Polish, Portuguese

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 foreign languages, 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 a language and culture, 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 151–153 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—as fiction, drama, and poetry—as well as the investigation of questions of theory and cultural production more broadly.

Programs offered

Major: music (BA)
Minor: music

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.
Note to brass musicians: unlike other instrumental areas, the brass auditions include musical excerpts to be prepared in advance. Please contact the performance program manager in the music department to obtain PDF files of the required excerpts.

About naval science at the University of Rochester
Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Rochester leads 70 men and women (midshipmen) to earn a college degree and a commission in the Navy or Marine Corps. We develop academic, moral, and physical excellence. Staff mentorship and fellow midshipman camaraderie ease the transition to college and set a framework for future success. Midshipmen normally take one naval science course per semester. Additionally, a weekly lab period covers topics of interest to the military service:

Leadership seminars
Speakers on cultural studies
Visits from officers serving in the feet

Outside the classroom, activities include intramural sports and community service. In regional military drill and athletic competitions, we consistently place among the top three. An integral part of the University and community, midshipmen participate in the full range of Rochester activities.

Information for incoming students

Our classes are available to any student interested in learning about military service, regardless of the intent to join. Some courses meet cluster requirements for graduation; check with your College advisor for details.
First- and second-year students interested in becoming officers in the Navy or Marine Corps are encouraged to explore the opportunities our program offers. Most scholarships are awarded in high school, however, students may affiliate on a non-scholarship basis through the “NROTC College Program” for additional opportunities to earn a commission and/or a scholarship.

Programs offered

Major: biological sciences: neuroscience track (BS)

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
- BCSC 111: Foundations of Cognitive Science
- BCSC 172: Development of Mind and Brain
- BCSC 183: Animal Minds
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 212 or BIOL 214 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.

Programs offered

Majors: optical engineering (BS), optics (BS)

About optics
Optics is about the science of light and the interaction of light with matter. 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. The best place to prepare for a career in this field is The Institute of Optics, the first of its kind and a leader in quantum optics and laser physics. Optics majors complete a senior thesis and have the opportunity to work with corporate partners for internships and co-ops before embarking on graduate studies or entering the workforce.

Optical engineering is the discipline of solving problems with optics and photonics. It involves studying, designing, building, and testing the optical and photonic components of devices or instruments like lasers and cameras. To be a good optical engineer, you need grounding in the science of light. The Institute of Optics was the first of its kind and remains a leader in quantum optics and laser physics. In addition to completing senior design projects, our students have the opportunity to work with our corporate partners for internships and co-ops.

Information for incoming students

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

Programs offered

Major: philosophy (BA); politics, philosophy, and economics (BA)
Minors: ethics, history of philosophy, philosophy, philosophy of science

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).

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.

Political science

Programs offered

Majors: international relations (BA), political science (BA); politics, philosophy, and economics (BA)
Minors: international relations, political science

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 are encouraged to take PSCI 200: Data Analysis I.

Programs offered

Majors: psychology (BA)
Minors: clinical psychology, health psychology, organizational psychology, psychology, psychology as a natural science, psychology as a social science, social and emotional development

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
PSYC 101: Introduction to Psychology, is waived as a prerequisite for the major and the minors in psychology for students who receive a score of 4 or higher on the AP Psychology examination or a 5 or higher on the higher-level IB examination. A score of 4 or 5 on the AP examination or of 6 or higher on the higher-level IB examination will earn college credit for PSYC 101.

Programs offered

Majors: bioethics (BA); environmental health (BS); epidemiology (BA); health, behavior, and society (BA); health policy (BA)
Minors: bioethics; epidemiology; health, behavior, and society; health policy

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.

Religion and classics

Programs offered

Majors: classics (BA), religion (BA)
Minors: Arabic, classical civilization, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, religion

About religion
By analyzing the texts, rituals, practices, and institutions of religions around the world, we see how religion plays a key role in shaping history and culture. At Rochester, we offer courses in ritual, pilgrimage, mysticism, and myth, as well as classes that focus on the intersection of religion with music, food, sexuality, law, and more. Our goal is to explore how religion has framed questions about the meaning of life, the role of evil and suffering, and what we mean by the "good."

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 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 have an excellent record of admission to top-tier graduate schools as well as medical and law schools.

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 in order to fulfill their cluster requirement in the humanities and then go on to declare a minor or major in religion or in classics.

Programs offered

Major: statistics (BA, BS)
Minor: statistics

About statistics
Statistics is the mathematical science of analyzing and presenting data. At Rochester, our statistics students learn from a team of leading math faculty who love to teach. Many of our statistics majors also double major in related areas of interest to them, such as psychology, business, data science, and more.

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

An introductory statistics course (STAT 212 or STAT 213, with STAT 213 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.

Programs offered

Majors: environmental health (BS), environmental studies (BA)
Minors: environmental humanities, sustainability

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.