Choosing which courses to take each semester can
be quite challenging. There are University Core
Curriculum requirements, college and major requirements, and
there are so many courses from which to choose! Here are some
ideas to help you decide which courses to take:
Interest
It is always important to choose a course that is
interesting to you. Try courses that explore a subject you loved
in high school, or select courses in new and intriguing
areas.
Skills
What skills do you want to acquire or improve? Do you want
to build on your writing or mathematical skills? Do you want to
develop computer skills or historical research skills? Choose
courses that will help you reach these goals.
Prerequisites
Some courses that you may want to take will
require you to have completed one or more prerequisites. A
prerequisite is a course that gives you the background knowledge
and skills you need in order to successfully complete another
course or sequence of courses. You should plan on taking
prerequisites early in your academic career.
Requirements
The University Core
Curriculum and specific college requirements are designed to
give you a well-rounded education and to prepare you for your
future. These requirements establish guidelines for choosing
courses and also offer the opportunity to explore majors you may
have never considered.
Majors
You should try to choose courses that help you
explore an area that you think you might like to declare as a
major. Most majors and programs of study offer introductory
courses that provide a general overview of the subject and may
encourage you to pursue that major. Pre-Major advisors are
familiar with introductory courses for each major and minor at
SIUC and can help you include them in your academic plan.
Careers
Look at courses--not necessarily in your
major--that may help you in your future career. Even if a career is directly related to a particular major, knowledge
and skills gained from work outside your major department can be
beneficial to your professional development.
